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Year 10
Edexcel

Analysing the poem ‘Belfast Confetti’ by Ciaran Carson

I can explain how Carson uses language, form and structure to convey a sense of the chaos and horror of The Troubles.

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Year 10
Edexcel

Analysing the poem ‘Belfast Confetti’ by Ciaran Carson

I can explain how Carson uses language, form and structure to convey a sense of the chaos and horror of The Troubles.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Enjambment and caesura are used to create a chaotic atmosphere.
  2. Rhetorical questions are used to represent the speaker's inner conflict.
  3. The speaker's struggle to speak may represent the lack of voice civilians have in conflict.
  4. The street names link to soldiers and battles from the Crimean War, illustrating that The Troubles were a 'war' too.
  5. Carson uses lots of words linked to speed and urgency to convey a sense of fear and chaos.

Keywords

  • Enjambment - the continuation of a sentence beyond the end of a line, stanza or couplet

  • Caesura - a pause or a break in a line of verse, often marked by punctuation

  • Civilians - non-military individuals, often not involved in armed conflict or combat situations

  • Volatile - unstable, liable to change rapidly, unpredictable or explosive in nature

  • Chaos - complete disorder or confusion, lack of organisation or control; a turbulent or disordered state

Common misconception

'Belfast Confetti' is a metaphor created by Carson in this poem.

The term 'Belfast Confetti' was used during The Troubles to refer to the homemade bombs used in the fighting. They were called this because they were filled with shrapnel which, when detonated, sprayed in the sky like confetti.


To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: Analysing the poem ‘Belfast Confetti’ by Ciaran Carson, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Rather than do the two learning cycles consecutively, you could consider splitting the class into two groups: one to explore power and powerlessness and the other to explore chaos. Then, each group could present their findings and 'teach' the others.
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Teacher tip
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Equipment

You need access to a copy of ‘Belfast Confetti’ by Ciaran Carson. This can be found in the Edexcel Poetry Anthology (we will be using the ‘Conflict’ cluster).

content-guidance

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
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Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
During which conflict is the poem 'Belfast Confetti' set?
The Vietnam War
WWI
WWII
The Falklands War
Correct answer: The Troubles
Q2.
The title of this poem - 'Belfast Confetti' - refers to what?
the nickname for fighters in the Irish Republican Army (IRA)
Correct answer: a slang name for the homemade bombs used during the conflict
a reference to many weddings held during The Troubles despite the conflict
the slang word used to describe the many paramilitary forces in/around Belfast
Q3.
What does the word 'paramilitary' mean?
the arm of military that work in the skies (aeroplanes, helicopters etc.)
soldiers who have been injured during a war and can no longer fight
Correct answer: group operating like military but not officially recognised by the government
when two opposing military forces are equally matched against other
Q4.
What impact did the Troubles have on Northern Ireland's national identity?
Both sides agreed to share out Northern Ireland's cultural history between them.
Correct answer: Divisions increased and Northern Irish identity became very fractured.
Many nationalist supporters were chased out of Northern Ireland to the UK.
It didn't impact Northern Ireland's identity at all.
Q5.
What is a 'Saracen'?
Correct answer: an armoured vehicle/tank
a type of heavy machine gun
a military helicopter
a military hospital near Belfast
Q6.
What is a 'fusillade'?
a division of the military who fight on horseback
a type of military helmet
Correct answer: a rapid burst of gun fire
something for a soldier to hide behind to avoid gunfire

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the methods below means 'a pause or a break in a line of verse, often marked by punctuation'?
chorus
volta
couplet
enjambment
Correct answer: caesura
Q2.
What do the following quotes from 'Belfast Confetti' all have in common: "suddenly", "explosion", "burst", "rapid", "stuttering"?
They are all verbs.
Correct answer: They all convey a sense of speed/urgency.
They are all used to describe the speaker.
They are metaphorical.
Q3.
How might civilians feel powerless in times of war?
They are all taken prisoner by enemy soldiers.
They have to follow orders without question.
Correct answer: They feel like can do nothing to stop the violence happening on their doorstep.
They have to wait for the next election to give their views about the war.
Q4.
Which two methods does Carson use in this quotation from 'Belfast Confetti': "What is my name? Where am I coming from? Where am I going?"?
rhetorical questions and anaphora
Correct answer: rhetorical questions and a triplet
anaphora and second-person pronouns
second-person pronouns and a triplet
Q5.
Why did some people believe that The Troubles wasn't a 'real' war?
Correct answer: There was no official declaration of war.
There were no nuclear weapons used.
It didn't occur between two different countries.
Correct answer: Most of the fighting took place between 'unofficial' paramilitary forces.
There was no official end to the war.
Q6.
"I know this labyrinth [...] Why can’t I escape?" What does this quote from 'Belfast Confetti' suggest about the speaker's feelings about Belfast?
They feel like a prisoner of war.
Correct answer: The chaos and fighting has turned their hometown into an unfamiliar place.
They want to leave Northern Ireland forever.
They are familiar with the landscape and know all the shortcuts.