Poppies

Question 1

what is the poem about (4)

Answer 1

1 The speaker describes seeing poppies on a grave before Armistice Day. she remembers pinning one onto her sons blazer
2 she describes the difference between how she wanted to act and how she did act when he left for war.
3 After her son left she went up to his bedroom
4 She foes to the churchyard and visits the war memorial hoping to hear her sons voice from the playground

Question 2

what is the form (3)

Answer 2

1 dramatic monologue
first person narrative and direct address - gives a strong impression of the mothers emotions
free verse - no regular rhythm or rhyme scheme - sounds like memories

Question 3

what is the structure (3)

Answer 3

1 long sentences and enjambment show mothers absorption in her memories
2 caesura shows the mother trying to hold her emotions together - pauses suggest she pauses to hold back tears
3 time shifts are unclear perhaps indicating the unreliability of her memories

Question 4

what is the key context (4)

Answer 4

1 written to fulfil a commission for poems on topics of war in response to Gulf and Iraq wars inquirey
2 poppies are associated with remembrance day - ceasefire ww1 strong reminders of bloodshed
3 weir is a writer and textile designer
4) weir grey up in Italy and Manchester and grew up in Belfast

Question 5

what are the poets messages (1)

Answer 5

1 war has a devastating impact on th epeople left behind when their loved ones go to war

Question 6

what are the key quotes

Answer 6

1 the gelled blackthorns of your hair- recounting memories shows how close they were or shows she cant let go of her son
2 the world overflowing like a treasure chest - positive simile suggests the freedom in leaving home was exciting for her son
released a song bird from its cage - metaphor for mother crying after he left for war

Question 7

which poem does it compare to

Answer 7

The Emigree

Question 8

Compare the 2 poems (2)

Answer 8

1 both poems feature positive memories which make each writers sense of loss worse
In Emigree the writer has a vivid memory of her former city In poppies the mothers memories of her sons childhood emphasises her sense of loss by informing the reader of their love for each other Ultimately both speakers cling on to what they have lost, having only memories to comfort them
2 while the use of memories in each poem hiegtens each speakers sense of loss, the mothers sense of loss in poppies is presented more successfully. The speaker in Emigree is still able to engage with the city as it is still there, though different but the mother can only get to her son through memories and in touching the war memorial