Poppies

Question 1

What is the mnemonic?

Answer 1

HILS

Question 2

“smoothed _____ _____ _______”, method

Answer 2

“smoothed down your shirt’s”

• domestic motherly image - this can be the last time she can do this for her son
• alliteration?

Question 3

“ smoothed _____ _____ _______”

Answer 3

“smoothed down your shirt’s”

Question 4

“I ___ ______”

Answer 4

“ I was brave”

Question 5

“I ___ _____“, method

Answer 5

“I was brave”

• short sentence, she is scared and anxious
• the mother asserting her bravery here subverts the idea that it’s only those who go off to war who are brave

Question 6

“Later_ ______ ____ _____ ____ ___ ____ ____”

Answer 6

“Later a single dove flew from the pear tree”

Question 7

“Later_ ______ ____ _____ ____ ___ ____ ____”, method

Answer 7

“Later a single dove flew from the pear tree”

• dove are a symbol of peace but also of mourning

-“flew” is imagery of birds (they fly out of their family’s nest in the future)

Question 8

“hoping __ _____”

Answer 8

“ hoping to hear”

Question 9

“hoping __ _____” “, method

Answer 9

“ hoping to hear”
- alliteration echoes the way she’s straining to hear him

Question 10

Form

Answer 10

• first person narrative
• no regular rhyme
• long sentences

Question 11

Structure

Answer 11

• the time frame is ambiguous - memories of the son’s childhood are intermingled with memories of him leaving

Question 12

Who wrote the poem?

Answer 12

Jane Weir

Question 13

Where the poet grew up?

Answer 13

Manchester and Italy

Question 14

HILS

Answer 14

H = “hoping to hear”
I = “I was brave”
L= “Later single dove flew from the pear tree”
S = “smoothed down your shirt’s”