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Year 9

Analysing the presentation of patriotism in Rupert Brooke’s ‘The Soldier’

I can analyse how Brooke presents the relationship between the soldier and their country.

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New
New
Year 9

Analysing the presentation of patriotism in Rupert Brooke’s ‘The Soldier’

I can analyse how Brooke presents the relationship between the soldier and their country.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The main themes of the poem are patriotism and nationhood
  2. Whilst the speaker fears death, he believes that it is right to die for his country
  3. The form is a sonnet making it almost like a love letter to England
  4. England is personified, like a mother figure
  5. The structure of the poem emphasises the peace that the soldier feels.

Common misconception

That analysing word choice is exclusively part of language analysis.

Analysing where certain words appear in a poem is an effective structural choice.

Keywords

  • Evocative - Being evocative means bringing strong images, memories, or feelings to mind.

  • Resolute - To be resolute is to be purposeful, determined, and unwavering.

  • Immortality - Immortality means the ability to live forever.

  • Nurturing - Nurturing means to take care of, to protect, to feed, and to help develop.

  • Idyllic - Idyllic means extremely happy, peaceful, or picturesque.

You may wish to explore post-colonial interpretations of the poem.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Rupert Brooke experienced military fighting during the war.
Correct Answer: no
Q2.
Which of the following words means to be hopeful and confident about the future?
Pessimistic
Indifferent
Nonchalant
Correct answer: Optimistic
Q3.
Select the reasons why Brooke's 'The Soldier' may have an optimistic attitude.
Correct answer: Brooke didn't see any military fighting.
Brooke believed that Germany would surrender.
Correct answer: Brooke died relatively early on in the war.
Brooke was personal friends with Lord Kitchener.
Q4.
Which of the following means a person or action showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgement?
Correct answer: Naive
Idealistic
Patriotic
Nonchalant
Q5.
What was the general reaction to Rupert Brooke's 'The Soldier'?
It was felt that it wasn't true war poetry.
Correct answer: It was met with great praise.
It was met with scorn.
It was met with ridicule.
Q6.
Why do you think a modern reader may find Brooke's 'The Soldier' idealistic?
Correct answer: It does not show the harsh realities of war.
It praises the military might of England.
It praises the King.
It scorns the German soldiers.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following is the pattern for a stereotypical sonnet?
Correct answer: 14 lines and a regular rhyme scheme.
14 lines and an irregular rhyme scheme.
There is no pattern for a stereotypcial sonnet.
Q2.
Which of the following is an example of personification?
He observed the sun rising.
The sun rose in glorious orange hues.
Correct answer: The sun giggled as it rose.
He smiled at the beauty of the sun rising.
Q3.
Match the following terms with their definitions.
Correct Answer:Form,Type of poem

Type of poem

Correct Answer:Language ,Words, lingusitic devices, or imagery within the poem.

Words, lingusitic devices, or imagery within the poem.

Correct Answer:Structure,Use of line lengths, rhythm, rhyme, punctuation, or stanzas.

Use of line lengths, rhythm, rhyme, punctuation, or stanzas.

Q4.
Which of the following words means to take care of, to protect, to feed, and to help develop?
Nature
Correct answer: Nurture
Evoke
Resolute
Q5.
Brooke creates the idea of England as a paradise in 'The Soldier' - an landscape.
imperfect
Correct answer: idyllic
ordinary
awful
Q6.
A regular rhyme could indicate which of the following?
A sense of chaos
Correct answer: A sense of order
Correct answer: A sense of control
Correct answer: A sense of peace
A sense of disorder

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