POETRY | Poppies

Question 1

Context

Answer 1

• Born in 1963, lived in Northern Ireland during 1980s troubles.
• Two sons influenced her exploration of war-related themes.
• A textile designer, her use of related imagery reflects her background.
• Poem “Exit Wounds” from Carol Ann Duffy’s collection.
• Poppies symbolize remembrance in 1921 and World War Two.
• The poem is an act of remembrance, using these symbols.

Question 2

Form

Answer 2

• Speaker addresses son directly.
• Son never responds, implying death.
• Creates sense of loss.
• Focuses listener on mother.

Question 3

Language

Answer 3

“Weir’s Poem on Domestic Violence”

• Interweaves domestic imagery with violent military metaphors.
• The speaker’s lack of vident when the speaker describes leaving the house “without a winter coat or reinforcements of scarf, gloves” reflects the impact of violence on her life due to the lack of protection from the cold in her life.
• The speaker recalls wanting to “graze my nose across the tip of your nose,” contrasting maternal affection with injury-like connotations.
• The poem highlights how war hinders normal domestic life.

Question 4

Structure

Answer 4

• Lacks rhyme scheme and meter, indicating uncensored thoughts.
• Uses free verse, evoking an emotional stream in modern poetry.
• Chaotic structure reflects narrator’s emotional control and enduring events.
• Shows chaos created by war extends beyond battlefield.