Understanding 'The Man He Killed'
I can explain how Hardy explores attitudes to war.
Understanding 'The Man He Killed'
I can explain how Hardy explores attitudes to war.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The poem was written during the Boer War.
- Hardy was very critical of this war and the British Empire’s military tactics.
- Hardy was suspicious that the British Empire wanted to exploit South Africa’s natural resources.
- In the poem, Hardy explores the similarities between two ‘enemy’ soldiers.
- He implies that perceiving war as simply a battle between good and evil dehumanises the people fighting,
Common misconception
This poem is written about soldiers fighting in WWI.
This poem was published during the Second Boer War (1899-1902) fought during the Victorian era. The First World War wouldn't begin for another 12 years.
Keywords
Perception - the way something is understood or interpreted, influenced by personal beliefs or biases
Contradiction - a statement or situation that is inconsistent or incompatible with another, causing conflict
Dehumanising - depicting people as less than human, stripping them of individuality or complexity, often for propaganda
Propaganda - information or material spread to promote a particular cause or viewpoint, often biased or misleading
Futility - a feeling of pointlessness or ineffectiveness in achieving a desired outcome or goal
Equipment
Edexcel GCSE Poetry Anthology (Conflict cluster)
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).
Video
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