New
New
Year 10
AQA
Understanding 'Poppies'
I can explain the main themes and ideas explored in the poem ‘Poppies’.
New
New
Year 10
AQA
Understanding 'Poppies'
I can explain the main themes and ideas explored in the poem ‘Poppies’.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- ’Poppies’ is from the poetry collection 'Exit Wounds’ which explores lesser-recognised experiences of war
- Written from the perspective of a mother, Weir presents the quiet trauma of those who lose close relatives at war
- Weir's poem struck a nerve with many mothers who had lost their children during conflict
- Weir is a textile designer and applied the technique of felt making to this poem to explore the deep process of grief
Common misconception
Students may associate war poetry with soldiers of the first world war and not consider other perspectives.
Many other people were affected by war in less obvious ways than the soldiers themselves.
Keywords
Grief - intense sorrow usually associated with the death of something or someone
Perspective - a point of view
Timeless - not restricted to a particular time or date
Pupils could work in groups annotating a different image from the poem (Slide 19)
Teacher tip
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).
Video
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Starter quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
The poppy flower is a symbol of...
spring
violence
Q2.
What is grief often associated with?
reunion
peace
Q3.
What is a stanza with six lines called?
octet
sonnet
pentameter
quatrain
Q4.
From whose perspective is the poem 'Exposure' written from?
a soldier's loved one
a war photographer
Q5.
What are doves often associated with?
death
war
playfulness
Q6.
What is nostalgia?
excitement for the future
being content in the present moment
Exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
Whose perspective is 'Poppies' written from?
the friend of a soldier
a soldier
Q2.
What is the form of the poem 'Poppies'?
sonnet
ballad
Q3.
Why might Weir have chosen to write 'Poppies' from the perspective of a soldier's mother?
Weir lost her own sons at war.
Weir wanted to show the patriotic feeling amongst mothers during WW1.
Q4.
Which quote is suggestive of the son’s death and mother and son’s peace?
"an ornamental stitch"
"without a winter coat or reinforcements of scarf, gloves"
"A split second and you were away"
Q5.
Which line from the poem 'Poppies' shows the mother's nostalgia?
"I rounded up as many white cat hairs as I could"
"the world overflowing like a treasure chest"
Q6.
What could the textile imagery in 'Poppies' symbolise?
The mother's contribution to the war effort
The mother's love for her domestic routie