Poppies Flashcards
“Spasms of paper red …
Disrupting a blockade “
“All my words flattened …
Rolled, turned into felt “
“I was brave, as i walked with ..
You to the front door “.
“Leaned against it ..
Like a wishbone “ .
‘I listened, hoping to hear your playground …
Voice catching in the wind “
” i wanted to graze my nose across the tip of …
Your nose, play at being eskimos “
“The world overflowing …
Like a treasure chest “ .
” released a song bird …
Form its cage “
Four things about form and structure ?
- First person narrative
- No Regular rhyme scheme
- Enjambment
- Caesura
Because the poem in written in first person , what does this suggest ?
Shows the emotional side of the story, we feel the pain of the mother missing her son
Because the poem has no regular rhyme scheme, what does this suggest ?
It adds to that feeling of broken thoughts and memories
Because the poem has enjambment throughout the poem, what does this suggest ?
Could show that she is lost in her thoughts / shows her emotion overflowing within her
Who wrote poppies ?
Jane weir
What is poppies about ?
About a mother who has a son who goes to war . She talks about how it effects her .
What does the title ‘ poppies ‘ a symbol of ?
Rememberance
What is ‘Armistice day ‘ ?
Remembrance day
‘Pinned’ , ‘lapel’ , ‘crimped’ , ‘petals’ , ‘spasms ‘ , ‘paper ‘ and ‘red’ . What is the technique used in these words and what does it show ?
Bilabial plosives sounds show the harshness and severity of his leaving
‘Spasms of red ‘ suggest what ?
Pain and suffering
‘Blockade ‘ suggests what ?
That she feels she is being shut out from her son .
What image does this phrase create , ‘ sellotape bandaged around my hand ‘ ?
Creates a motherly and maternal image of care and could foreshadow her sons wounds or her own suffering
What other phrase is used to create a motherly image in stanza 2 ? And what does it mean ?
‘Smoothed down your shirt’s upturned collar ‘ , could suggest her sons first time at school .
What does the phrase ‘ I wanted to graze my nose across the tip of your nose, play at being eskimos ‘ suggest ?
Suggests that she longs for that sense of touch from her son which she can’t do , so she longs for her young child back .
What does the phrase ‘ I was brave ‘ suggest ?
Suggests that she is composing herself and shows that not only people that go to war are brave but the ones that let them go are are too.
What technique is used in the phrase ‘ the world overflowing like a treasure chest ‘ and what does this suggest ?
Simile suggests that the world is exciting for her son
What does the phrase ‘ released a song bird from its cage ‘ suggest ? What technique is used ?
Metaphor and shows that she is releasing her son into the world
What phrases show that the mother is trying to stay in control ?
‘Steeled strong ‘
‘I was brave ‘
Caesura
What does ‘ a single dove ‘ show ?
It shows peace
What does this list , finish it ‘ making tucks , darts … show ?
Pleats, hatless ‘ , it shows her nervousness for her son
Finish this phrase . ‘ without a winter coat or .. . What does this suggest ?
Reinforcements of scarf, gloves ‘ . It suggests her vulnerability and shows that she is scared for her son
What does the phrase ‘ inscriptions on the war memorial ‘ remind her of ?
Reminds her of the risks she faces
What is the technique used in the phrase ‘ like a wishbone ‘ and what does it suggest ?
Simile and shows that she is wishing for his safety
‘Hoping .. hear ‘ , technique used here what does ithighlight ?
Alliteration and it highlights the strain to hear his voice
What is the last line of the poem and what technique is used , what does this suggest?
‘Your playground voice catching in the wind ‘ , emotive language touches the reader and shows that she misses her son .
When does the mother start to lose control ?
When her son leaves her
What are four things from form and structure ?
- First person narrative / emotional
- No regular rhyme scheme or rhythm adds to that feeling of broken thoughts and memories
- Enjambment and long sentences could show that she is lost in her thoughts
- Caesura shows that she is trying to stay in control over her emotions
What are the feelings and attitudes toward the poem ?
Loss - of her son leaving her or possible death
Fear
Bravery
Freedom
Poems to compare for the theme of conflict ?
Kamikaze, war photographer, remains and exposure
Poems to compare for the theme of memories ?
Kamikaze , remains and emigree
Poems to compare for the theme of loss ?
Emigree
