New
New
Year 11
Edexcel

Understanding the poem 'Poppies'

I can explain the main themes and ideas explored in the poem ‘Poppies’.

New
New
Year 11
Edexcel

Understanding the poem 'Poppies'

I can explain the main themes and ideas explored in the poem ‘Poppies’.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. ’Poppies’ is from the poetry collection 'Exit Wounds’ which explores lesser-recognised experiences of war
  2. Written from the perspective of a mother, Weir presents the quiet trauma of those who lose close relatives at war
  3. Weir's poem struck a nerve with many mothers who had lost their children during conflict
  4. 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.
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).

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6 Questions

Q1.
The poppy flower is a symbol of...
spring
Correct answer: remembrance
violence
Q2.
What is grief often associated with?
Correct answer: death
reunion
peace
Q3.
What is a stanza with six lines called?
octet
sonnet
Correct answer: sestet
pentameter
quatrain
Q4.
From whose perspective is the poem 'Exposure' written from?
Correct answer: a soldier
a soldier's loved one
a war photographer
Q5.
What are doves often associated with?
death
war
Correct answer: peace
playfulness
Q6.
What is nostalgia?
excitement for the future
Correct answer: longing for a time in the past
being content in the present moment

6 Questions

Q1.
Whose perspective is 'Poppies' written from?
the friend of a soldier
a soldier
Correct answer: the mother of a soldier
Q2.
What is the form of the poem 'Poppies'?
sonnet
Correct answer: dramatic monologue
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.
Correct answer: Weir recognised the mother's perspective of war was lesser-recognised.
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 in 'Poppies'?
"an ornamental stitch"
"without a winter coat or reinforcements of scarf, gloves"
"A split second and you were away"
Correct answer: "a dove pulled freely against the sky"
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"
Correct answer: "hoping to hear your playground voice"
Q6.
What could the textile imagery in 'Poppies' symbolise?
the mother's contribution to the war effort
the mother's love for her domestic routine
Correct answer: the mother's longing to stay close to her son