non-military individuals who are not actively engaged in armed conflict

highly flammable sticky substance, typically used in warfare to create firestorms

a powerful herbicide and toxic chemical used by the US in Vietnam to eliminate forest cover and crops

the shared customs, beliefs, practices and social institutions of a particular group of people or society

an ideology where resources are owned collectively and distributed, aiming for a classless society

Understanding the poem ‘What Were They Like?’ by Denise Levertov

English

In 'Edexcel Conflict Poetry', pupils compared the language, form and structure of a variety of poems connected by the themes of power and conflict. In 'Edexcel Conflict Poetry continued', pupils work on making more nuanced comparisons between poems.

In 'A World at War: Poetry', pupils explore how poets present the atrocities of World War One through their poetry. In 'Edexcel Conflict Poetry', pupils analyse how a variety of different wars have been presented through poetry.

Poetry anthology: first study

Depiction of war, threats of war, death or the aftermath of war.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

People believed that there were too many different countries involved.

Many people thought that the US exploited Vietnam's natural resources.

Many believed that the use of chemical weapons was unnecessarily brutal.

Powerful propaganda persuaded people that the war was unnecessary.

Why were many people critical of anti-communist military strategies during the Vietnam War?

1967, while the conflict of the Vietnam War was still on-going.

2000, to mark the 25th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.

Complete this sentence: 'What Were They Like?' was written in ...

it was the first war that used automated weapons like machine guns

it was the first war be fought across multiple continents

it was the first war with extensive global media coverage

it was the first war to have occurred since the invention of the internet

How might the Vietnam War be described as the first 'modern war'?

in an alternate future, with two observers watching the conflict take place.

in an alternate future, as two people discuss what remains of Vietnamese culture

in modern day, exploring the many reasons why the war in Vietnam was inevitable.

in Vietnam during the war, depicting a photographer who sees a napalm attack.

Complete this sentence: 'What Were they Like?' is set ...

It is written as a sonnet, exploring a love of Vietnamese culture.

The poem has a strict rhyming pattern that gives it a musical quality.

The poem is in two sections: six numbered questions and corresponding answers.

The poem has a cyclical structure, beginning and ending on the same image.

Identify the correct statement about the structure of 'What Were They Like?'

The noun "strangers" implies the Vietnamese people are a mystery to the speaker.

She uses repetition to suggest not much is remembered of Vietnamese society.

She spells Vietnam wrong, implying the speakers aren't very familiar with it.

In 'What Were They Like?', how does Levertov imply that there is very little knowledge of Vietnamese culture in her alternate future?

using prisoners of war for scientific experiments

using chemicals to treat injured soldiers or civilians

using chemical substances as weapons to injure or kill enemy forces or civilians

the use of missiles or other nuclear weapons

a question with more than one correct answer

a statement that is phrased as a question

a question posed for effect or emphasis that doesn't require an answer

the recurrence of words, phrases, images or ideas

when two or more lines of poetry begin with the same word(s)

words, phrases, images or ideas that parallel or mirror earlier ones 

two or more adjacent words that begin with the same letters or sounds

the physical characteristics of people who all originate from a certain place

geological formations found in a particular geographical location

the shared customs, beliefs, arts and practices of a particular society or group

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Adult supervision recommended

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Understanding the poem ‘What Were They Like?’ by Denise Levertov

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.