Mametz Wood, by Owen Sheers

Question 1

Who is the speaker in the poem?

Answer 1

speaker is not explicitly identified as a soldier or a specific person
written in the third-person perspective, which creates a distance from the events

Question 2

What?

Answer 2

reflects on the enduring impact of the Battle of Mametz Wood during WW1

Question 3

When? Where?

Answer 3

The Battle of Mametz wood in July 1916 in Northern France
Owen Sheers wrote the poem in 2005

Question 4

Why?

Answer 4

focuses on the loss of Welsh Soldiers, inspired by a visit to the site and research into the battle’s history
he felt their bravery and sacrifice was never really acknowledged

Question 5

Context

Answer 5

Mametz Wood was one of the bloodiest battles of WW1 - soldiers in the Welsh division were ordered to take Mametz Wood, the largest area of trees on the battlefield
38th Welsh Division lost 4000 men during the attack which lasted 5 days
The poet grew up in Wales