Mametz Wood

Question 1

Who wrote the poem?

Answer 1

Owen Sheers

Question 2

What is the poem’s context?

Answer 2

-battle of the Somme, WW1
-between Welsh and German forces, the Welsh had to reclaim Mametz Wood
-set in Northern France, Mametz Wood
-4000 men dead to machine gun fire as the German were hiding in the trees

Question 3

What is the poem about and its meaning

Answer 3

Poem is about gametes finding the remains of the Welsh in the woods years after the war passed. The remains were comparable to fragments showing how violent their deaths were. 20 men buried in one long grave were found who were frozen in a scene of death

Question 4

How does Sheer set the one?

Answer 4

Poem has a sad, reflective tone as shown by ‘even the earth stands sentinel’ however at times there is a slightly critical tone being used such as wasted young’ and ‘told to walk, not run’ suggesting that the soliders’ deaths were unnecessary

Question 5

Why might have Sheers written this poem?

Answer 5

-Sheers is a Welsh poet and may have written this poem to acknowledge the soldiers that history forgot.
-To honour heirsacrifices by the many references to their deaths such as ‘paused mid dance-macabre’
-Shows their deaths as unnecessary seen in ‘wasted young’ suggesting he is criticising those responsible for their deaths

Question 6

What is the main theme of Mametz Wood

Answer 6

War