Understanding how Hardy presents the consequences of war in 'A Wife in London'
I can explain how Thomas Hardy presents the devastating consequences of war.
Understanding how Hardy presents the consequences of war in 'A Wife in London'
I can explain how Thomas Hardy presents the devastating consequences of war.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Hardy wrote 'A Wife in London' two months after the start of the Second Boer War.
- Hardy was strongly opposed to war - he viewed it as a monumental waste of life.
- The poem sees a wife receive a telegram informing her of the death of her husband.
- The wife then receives a letter from her husband before he died, detailing his hopes for their future together.
- The poem contrasts the hope of a returning soldier with the devastating loss of the wife who has been left behind.
Keywords
Foreboding - when we get the feeling something awful is about to happen
Telegram - a piece of paper with a message on sent by a telegraph
Futile - pointless
Devastating - highly-destructive or damaging
Tragedy - an event that causes great distress or suffering
Common misconception
Pupils often think that the wife receives two letters.
The wife receives a telegram and a letter. Both the irony and the tragedy are in the fact that, due to the quick nature of telegrams, the wife receives news of her husband's death before she receives his letter.
To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: Understanding how Hardy presents the consequences of war in 'A Wife in London', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: Understanding how Hardy presents the consequences of war in 'A Wife in London', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 4 english lessons from the Poetry anthology unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of the Eduqas poetry anthology for this lesson.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
when we get the feeling something awful is about to happen
when something feels pointless
highly-destructive or damaging