Poppies: Jane Weir 2009

Question 1

Context

Answer 1

• Armistice Sunday: began as a way of marking the end of WW1, then became a remembrance day for the soldiers
• Jane Weir lived in Northern Ireland during troubled 1980s

Question 2

Form & structure

Answer 2

• Dramatic monologue: the mother is on her own so emphasises pain caused to the mother
• Lack of regular rhyme & rhythm: makes it sound natural and reflect’s person lack of control over war
• nature has more control over war
• caesura: gives impression mother is trying to stay in control of her emotion

Question 3

’ wanted to graze my nose across the tip of your nose’

Answer 3

• ‘wanted’: past tense
• childhood imagery shows she longs for the closeness they had
• she longs to be close to him and protect him.

Question 4

‘sellotape bandaged around my hand,’

Answer 4

• imagery of being wounded
• mother can feel her son’s pain (physical and emotional)
• the effect that war has on the loved ones of the soldiers

Question 5

‘after you’d gone… released a song bird from its cage’

Answer 5

• Metaphor/symbolism: mother’s emotions
• when her son is out of sight, she can express he true feelings that she hides
• song bird: could symbolism a protective spirit that leaves when her son does

Question 6

3 quotes

Answer 6

‘after you’d gone… released a song bird from its cage’

‘sellotape bandaged around my hand,’

’ wanted to graze my nose across the tip of your nose’