Poppies and Kamikaze

Question 1

Comparison 1

Answer 1

In both poems, the poets present a romanticised view of patriotism, which juxtaposes the terrible reality of war.

Question 2

Comparison 2

Answer 2

In both Poppies and Kamikaze, the poets explore the psychological impacts of warfare as they both have a tone of regret when remembering past relationships.

Question 3

Comparison 3

Answer 3

Both poets focus on family relationships and the unconventional victims of war.

Question 4

Kamikaze 1

Answer 4

In Kamikaze, this is evident at the beginning of the poem when the pilot is ready to play a part in the war, despite knowing the mission would lead to his death.

Question 5

Kamikaze 1 - Quotes

Answer 5

“head full of powerful incantations”
Regular structure 7 stanzas 6 lines
“one way journey into history”
“fishes flashing silver as their bellies swivelled towards the sun”

Question 6

Poppies 1

Answer 6

Similarly, in Poppies the romanticised view of patriotism is evident through the duty the narrator’s son want to play as a soldier.

Question 7

Poppies 1 - Quotes

Answer 7

“spasms of paper red disrupting a blockade of yellow bias around your blazer”
“the world overflowing like a treasure chest”
“intoxicated”

Question 8

Kamikaze 2

Answer 8

In Kamikaze, this is presented through the natural imagery as the daughter reflects on her father’s death.

Question 9

Kamikaze 2 - Quotes

Answer 9

“little fishing boats strung out like bunting”
“like a huge flag”
“waved first one way and then the other in a figure eight”

Question 10

Poppies 2

Answer 10

However, in Poppies, this is evident through Weir’s description of vivid domestic memories with the son.

Question 11

Poppies 2 - Quotes

Answer 11

“wanted to graze her nose across the tip of his nose, play at being Eskimos like they did when he was little”

“gelled blackthorns of your hair”

Question 12

Kamikaze 3

Answer 12

In Kamikaze, this is evident through the perhaps regretful tone of the daughter as she reflects on her relationship with her father.

Question 13

Kamikaze 3 - Quotes

Answer 13

“learned to be silent and live as though he had never returned”

“he must have wondered a better way to die”

Question 14

Poppies 3

Answer 14

However, in Poppies, this is evident through the use of domestic imagery, juxtaposed with violent imagery.

Question 15

Poppies 3 - Quotes

Answer 15

“Sellotape bandaged”

“leaned against the war memorial like a wishbone”

Question 16

“head full of powerful incantations”

Answer 16

“incantations”- cn of spell, further cn of witchcraft - demonstrates how the propaganda almost put a spell on the pilots to convince them to join up
-highlights indoctrination, honourable to die for country
-may show the anger of the narrator as it shows that they were blind to the brainwashing of the propaganda.
“powerful” adj further supports, highlights sheer power the government had over the pilots as they were persuaded into killing themselves.

Question 17

Regular structure 7 stanzas 6 lines

Answer 17

• further supports idea of indoctrination, as rigid structure may depict the lack of individualism of Jpnese soldiers, highlighting widespread brainwashing
• alt. rigid structure could imply fate, destiny set in stone due to propaganda

Question 18

“fishes flashing silver as their bellies swivelled towards the sun”

Answer 18

• may reference phrase ‘yellow bellied’
• highlights how pilot believed that if he did not complete his mission he would be seen as cowardly
• again showing how patriotism was heavily romanticised to brainwash young men into joining the war

Question 19

“one way journey into history”

Answer 19

• metaphor
• significance of “journey” jxt by ordinary nature of pilot
• demonstrates how ordinary people brainwashed into killing self as they were disillusioned by a sense of grandeur

Question 20

“spasms of paper red”

Answer 20

“spasms” and “red”- violent cn
“spasms” - involuntary painful movement
- may illustrate propaganda indoctrinated young men into joining war almost involuntarily
“red” cn blood, may foreshadow potential violence soldier would face during time at war
-inevitable injuries true reality of war
-alt. red cn anger - able to recognise indoctrination + false pretences of propaganda that her son, and the millions of young men, are blind to
-indicates how she knows he will ultimately die or be horribly injured.

Question 21

“blockade of yellow bias”

Answer 21

“yellow bias” - may highlight how propaganda appealed to men specifically to brainwash them into joining army

• “yellow” - cn happiness/joy - war seem pleasant place to be, despite horrific reality
• demonstrates how propaganda hid the true reality of war from soldiers so they would join up
• further supported by “blockade” - may be reference how govt intentionally blocked out details of true horrors of war to romanticise war + thus convince young men to join

Question 22

“the world overflowing like a treasure chest”

Answer 22

• apparent excitement to leave
• cn extremely valuable - son eager to explore and gain new experiences
• blind to real horrors of war

Question 23

“intoxicated”

Answer 23

• cn drunkness/inability to ctrl self
• perhaps out of excitement?
• alt. ould demonstrate lack of ctrl over self after joining war
• unable to leave
• highlights inescapability of war + destructiveness of patriotism

Question 24

“little fishing boats strung out like bunting”

Answer 24

“bunting”- cn celebration

• indoctrinated view actions would be celebrated - suicide honourable
• alt. simile could highlight pilot’s view life should celebrated+ enjoyed, rather than ended so suddenly
• enjambment highlights confusion - doesnt know which action to take

Question 25

“waved in a figure eight”

Answer 25

• depicts infinity symbol
• feels trapped by never ending cultural expectations
• tone frustration - further emphasise life is precious + relationships can last forever
• yet also has tone of regret – perhaps bc pilot regrets accepting mission

Question 26

“wanted to graze her nose across the tip of his nose, play at being Eskimos like they did when he was little”

Answer 26

“graze”- perhaps illustrates physical closeness that mother longed to have with son

• perhaps saddened by fact son leaving her to go to war
• simile highlights how she is reminiscing on past
• maybe indicating how she believes her son is too young and innocent to go to war

Question 27

‘gelled blackthorns of your hair’

Answer 27

• child-like imagery jxt harsh war imagery as seen in quote
• cn sharp or hurtful
• Weir demonstrates how the mother feels like she is drifting away from her son, son detatched
• further emphasised by “gelled”
• cn stiffness, highlights the rigidity and stiffness of the son
• reflects deteriorating relationship of mother and son
• illustrates how conflict destroys relationships

Question 28

“learned to be silent”

Answer 28

-far reaching impacts, even kids impacted
“learned” “act” - ‘demonstrates how behaviour was unnatural as the children were indoctrinated by the patriotic views that the people around them held
-damaging effects of conflict, deprived of a relationship with father

Question 29

“he must have wondered a better way to die”

Answer 29

• highlights emotional pain of daughter + her father that was brought on by war + cultural expectaions
• summarises guilt felt by narrator as she recognise indoctrination from patriotism
• implies she tormented by her actions that had deprived her of a relationship with her father, despite doing what was expected of her
• therefore shows the harmful effect that patriotism and conflict had on people as it tears families + communities apart

Question 30

“Sellotape bandaged”

Answer 30

“sellotape” - domestic item
-demonstrates the mundane nature of her actions
-jxt by “bandaged”
-“bandage” cn injury
may foreshadow the injuries son would inevitably receive during war
-alt. may illustrate emotional injury that her son leaving would have on her
-therefore demonstrates psychological effects of warfare on the unconventional victims too

Question 31

“leaned against the war memorial like a wishbone”

Answer 31

“memorial”- reinforces tone of rememberance, perhaps foreshadows son has died in war
“leaned”- cn support
-demonstrates how she had previously relied on her son to support her
-now left to support herself after suggested death of son
“wishbone” cn something easily broken
-depicts how the war has broken the relationship between the mother and her son as mother has been left completely isolated and alone
-therefore demonstrates how quickly family relationships can be broken and the far reaching impacts this has