Poppies Flashcards
What is the form of poppies?
Dramatic monologue
What affect does the form have?
Makes the poem feel personal and authentic, giving an in-site into the grief
Analysis of the form
-It doesn’t follow the traditional structure of a poem, as grief doesn’t have a set structure/ handled differently.
-Additionally, shows the impact of grief, as having broken/changed her /loose all care for expectations of tradition- disjointed state.
What is the simile used in poppies?
“Like a treasure chest”
What is the analysis of “Like a treasure chest” (in relation to the son)
Treasure chest represents the son’s expectations of serving- he’s naive to the fact of war which is shown through the childlike and simplistic imagery.
What is the analysis of “Like a treasure chest” (in relation to the army)
It also reflects the disingenuous nature and slyness of the army and how they present war.
-Actual image of treasure chest connotes idea of a promised reward that usually ends in failure
What is the method of “like a treasure chest?”
Simile
What’s the method of “released a songbird from its cage”
Metaphor
Analysis of “released a songbird from its cage”
Metaphor for crying/ breaking down.
Shows how the figure has opened up to grief ,releasing the love her son to the world but also breaking her.
Metaphors throughout the extract are tied /linked through grief, how is it represented?
Change of physical state, either touch or breaking
Example of a metaphor linked to grief
“Ornamental stitch”
Analysis of the metaphor “Ornamental stitch”
Linked to grief as it shows how she’s not actually keeping it together emotionally despite how it may look outwardly, as “ornamental” means for appearance only, and the stitch is reflective of her keeping herself together.
Analysis of the metaphor “Steeled the softening of my face”
Linked to grief as it reflects her want to be strong for him, almost giving into the tradition and changing herself for him- showing how the loss and emotion has changed her fundamentally (?)
Analysis of the simile “Like a wishbone”
Wishbone reflective of her change over grief as you have to break a wishbone to make a wish. The breaking could be representative of her own breaking mental state and the wish that comes from it is the wish to see and mourn for her son, yet this wish can only be expressed once “she” breaks.
Who’s the author of Poppies?
Jane weir
