Poppies - Jane Weir

Question 1

POPPIES - STRUCTURE

Answer 1

• Monologue in 4 stanzas with no rhyme scheme.
• Uses a lot of enjambement and familiar nouns to enhance the idea of natural tone and the mother voice
• 1st stanza the mother looks back at remembrance day and the poppy which triggers the memory, 2nd the mother talks about helping her son get ready and seeing him off, 3rd the poem explores the emptiness that is left in his absence, finally the mother feels drawn to a war memorial bringing the story back to where it started; CYCLICAL STRUCTURE

Question 2

POPPIES - CONTEXT

Answer 2

• The poem looks at a mother of a son who has grown up and gone to war
• Based very heavily around the idea of poppies as memorials and therefore the idea of memory. Flashes back to key moments of the life of the mother and son.
• Focuses on relationships and memories; doesn’t seem to comment heavily on the war itself.

Question 3

POPPIES - AUTHOR

Answer 3

Jane Weir

Question 4

POPPIES - KEY IDEAS

Answer 4

• The relationship in the poem provides a deeper level of empathy and the conflict between what was and what now is the relationship
• The poem uses a range of devices to capture the speaker’s sad and reflective tone.
• The poem uses contrasting language and ideas to emphasise the conflict and turmoil of the mother.

Question 5

POPPIES - KEY QUOTES

Answer 5

“crimped petals, / spasms of paper red”
“sellotape bandaged around my hand”
“the gelled / blackthorns of your hair”
“the world overflowing like a treasure chest” “intoxicated”

Question 6

Analysis - “crimped petals, / spasms of paper red”

Answer 6

• ‘crimped’; the army has moulded the son into something else
• ‘spasms’; violent connotations, something that happens quickly and unexpectedly
• ‘red’; connotations of blood

Question 7

Analysis - “Sellotape bandaged around my hand”

Answer 7

• Familiar noun; the reference to sellotape is quite a familiar homely image, bandage can be used to imply wound of injury/harm.
• Sellotape is not an adequate bandage for an injury; the mother can’t remedy her hurt.

Question 8

Analysis - “the gelled / blackthorns of your hair”

Answer 8

• Metaphor; reference to the shortened hair stubble required in the military.
• “blackthorns” aggressive connotations; reflects how aggressive and unfamiliar her son has become to her since joining the military.
• loose link to how the war changes people; generally carrying an anti-war message.

Question 9

Analysis - “the world overflowing like a treasure chest”

Answer 9

• “like a treasure chest” simile; suggests how attractive the world appears to her son and also her aspiration to have opportunities
• childish imagery “treasure chest”; hints at the son’s naivety towards the dangers of war
• “overflowing” suggests the plethora of opportunities and experiences available to him in life; opportunities he now will not be able to try as it is suggested that the son died at war.