Understanding ideas of war in Hardy’s ‘Drummer Hodge’
I can explore how Hardy presents ideas of war in ‘Drummer Hodge’.
Understanding ideas of war in Hardy’s ‘Drummer Hodge’
I can explore how Hardy presents ideas of war in ‘Drummer Hodge’.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- ‘Drummer Hodge’ depicts a soldier’s unceremonial burial in a foreign country.
- Hardy was referencing the events of the Second Boer War (1899-1902).
- Potentially, we might read ‘Drummer Hodge’ as a criticism of sending young men away to die in war.
- We might interpret Hardy as suggesting that Hodge is now a part of the foreign land.
- Specifically, we might see Hardy as criticising the Boer War and colonialism through ‘Drummer Hodge’.
Keywords
Unceremonial - done in a rude, sudden, or informal way
Constellation - a group of visible stars that form a perceived pattern or outline, typically representing an animal
Colonialism - domination of a people or area by a foreign state or nation
Afrikaans - a language of southern Africa, derived from the form of Dutch brought to the Cape by Protestant settlers
Common misconception
Soldiers were always aware of what they were signing up for.
Many men and boys who signed up to fight for the British Empire were unaware of the realities of war and what it would mean for them.
To help you plan your year 10 English lesson on: Understanding ideas of war in Hardy’s ‘Drummer Hodge’, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 English lesson on: Understanding ideas of war in Hardy’s ‘Drummer Hodge’, 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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Explore more key stage 4 English lessons from the Poetry anthology (Assessment from summer 2027) unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
You will need a copy of Hardy's 'Drummer Hodge' for this lesson. You can find a copy in the additional materials or in the Eduqas 2025 Anthology.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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