New
New
Year 10
AQA

Comparing conflict in war poems from the Power and Conflict anthology

I can compare poets’ attitudes to conflict in two war poems from the anthology.

New
New
Year 10
AQA

Comparing conflict in war poems from the Power and Conflict anthology

I can compare poets’ attitudes to conflict in two war poems from the anthology.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. 'Charge of the Light Brigade', 'Bayonet Charge', and 'Exposure' are all poems about war.
  2. 'Exposure' and 'Bayonet Charge' both convey the futility of war and convey the links between war and nature.
  3. 'Charge of the Light Brigade' and 'Bayonet Charge' both expose the truth about powerful ideas and powerful people.
  4. Comparative thesis statements should provide an overarching argument and focus on both poems as a whole.
  5. Comparative topic sentences should have a clear focus and link to the question.

Keywords

  • Nihilistic - a view that all traditional values are unfounded and existence is meaningless

  • Futility - incapable of producing useful results; pointless

  • Dehumanise - deprive someone of the qualities that make them human

Common misconception

Outlining a similarity between two poems is sufficient to compare.

If you want to improve your work and ensure it is 'critical', you must interrogate the subtle differences between poems.

If you teach this lesson after doing other war poems such as 'Remains' and 'War Photographer', feel free to add them into the comparison.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to a copy of the AQA Power and Conflict Anthology for this lesson.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • 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).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What does it mean to compare?
to comment on similarities between two or more things
to comment on differences between two or more things
Correct answer: to comment on both similarities and differences between two or more things
Q2.
Which of these connectives show a difference?
Correct answer: however
similarly
also
Q3.
What does the word futile mean?
Correct answer: incapable of producing useful results; pointless
deprive someone of the qualities that make them human
a view that all traditional values are unfounded and existence is meaningless
Q4.
Which poem from the list below memorialises soldiers who died in battle?
'Bayonet Charge' by Ted Hughes
Correct answer: 'Charge of the Light Brigade' by Alfred Tennyson
'Exposure' by Wilfred Owen
Q5.
In 'Bayonet Charge' Hughes shows the effect of war on...
Correct answer: nature
families
Correct answer: mental wellbeing
Q6.
What are the key success criteria for a comparative thesis statement?
Correct answer: focus on both texts as a whole
Correct answer: explore overarching argument of whole essay
focuses on a key quote from both texts
explores a single theme at a time

6 Questions

Q1.
Which two poems from the list below show a criticism of patriotism and associated war propaganda?
Correct answer: 'Bayonet Charge' by Ted Hughes
'Charge of the Light Brigade' by Alfred Tennyson
Correct answer: 'Exposure' by Wilfred Owen
Q2.
Which two poems explore a link between war and nature?
Correct answer: 'Bayonet Charge' by Ted Hughes
'Charge of the Light Brigade' by Alfred Tennyson
Correct answer: 'Exposure' by Wilfred Owen
Q3.
Complete the sentence: In 'Exposure' Owen shows how nature can be harmful __________ in 'Bayonet Charge' Hughes shows how war can damage nature.
similarly
Correct answer: whereas
also
Q4.
Match the elements of a multiple paragraph outline to their purpose.
Correct Answer:thesis,the overarching argument

the overarching argument

Correct Answer:topic sentence,outline argument of each paragraph

outline argument of each paragraph

Correct Answer:supporting detail,key language, form, structure or contextual detail

key language, form, structure or contextual detail

Correct Answer:concluding sentence,summarises argument in each paragraph

summarises argument in each paragraph

Correct Answer:conclusion,conclusive summary of writer’s message

conclusive summary of writer’s message

Q5.
Comparative topic sentences should...
Correct answer: have a clear focus
contain a method
Correct answer: link to the question
include a quotation from at least 1 text
Q6.
Both ‘Bayonet Charge’ and ‘Exposure’ expose how soldiers are dehumanised in war. This is an example of a...
comparative thesis statement
Correct answer: comparative topic sentence
topic sentence