War Poetry

Question 1

What are all the war poems?

Answer 1

The Soldier, The Manhunt, A Wife in London, Dulce et Decorum Est, Mametz Wood

Question 2

Who was The Soldier written by?

Answer 2

Rupert Brooke

Question 3

Who was The Manhunt written by?

Answer 3

Simon Armitage

Question 4

Who was A Wife in London written by?

Answer 4

Thomas Hardy

Question 5

Who was Dulce et Decorum Est written by?

Answer 5

Wilfred Owen

Question 6

Who was Mametz Wood written by?

Answer 6

Owen Sheers

Question 7

Give 6 context points about The Soldier and Rupert Brooke.

Answer 7

• Brooke was serving in the British Royal Navy when he died of blood poisoning in 1915.
• His best known work was the Sonnet Sequence 1914.
• The Soldier is based on WWI
• He was seen as a hero in poetry and he joined the army in his mid-twenties.
• The Soldier was read out in St Paul’s Cathedral in the 1915 Easter Service.
• Brooke died before actually fighting in war.

Question 8

What is the general meaning of The Soldier?

Answer 8

The general meaning in the Soldier is that dying for your country is right and heroic.

Question 9

How is England personified in The Soldier?

Answer 9

England is personified as a loving mother.

Question 10

What will metaphorically will happen to the soldier’s heart after death in The Soldier?

Answer 10

The Soldier’s heart will become pure and be at one with England.

Question 11

How many times is England/English is mentioned in the Soldier?

Answer 11

6 times

Question 12

Name 3 things that symbolise England in The Solider

Answer 12

Heart, Eternal mind, heaven

Question 13

Give 6 context points about Wilfred Owen and Dulce et Decorum Est

Answer 13

• Dulce et Decorum Est was based on WWI.
• He was middle class and educated as a teacher in France.
• He enlisted in the army in 1915 under the influence of patriotic fervour.
• Owen was wounded in 1917 and sent to craiglockhart hospital in Scotland where he met Siegfried Sassoon.
• Siegfried Sassoon wrote to the Home Office begging them to protect Owen, whom he saw as national treasure. But Owen returned to war.
• Wilfred Owen died one week before the Armistice.

Question 14

What do the men resemble as they march along in Dulce et Decorum Est?

Answer 14

Old beggars under sacks.

Question 15

In Dulce et Decorum Est, what kind of weaponry were the soldiers attacked with?

Answer 15

Chlorine Gas.

Question 16

In Dulce et Decorum Est, why doesn’t the soldier save himself by fitting his helmet?

Answer 16

The Soldier is still fumbling and the helmet is clumsy, he cannot get it on in time.

Question 17

In Dulce et Decorum Est, how does the death of the soldier impact the mind of the speaker?

Answer 17

It confirms to him that war is a terrible thing and that he is helpless. He has PTSD and nightmares about it.

Question 18

In Dulce et Decorum Est, what reason does the speaker give for people going off to war?

Answer 18

To gain glory.

Question 19

Give 6 context points about Owen Sheers and Mametz Wood.

Answer 19

• Owen Sheers is a Welsh poet, author, playwright and television producer.
• Mametz Wood was written in 2005.
• Mametz Wood was based on the battle of the Somme.
• Sheers was struck by the number of poets who fought - and died - at the Somme.
• The advance on Mametz Wood formed part of the battle in 1916; the 38th Welsh Division was ordered to walk not run towards heavily armed German forces, thus facing certain death.
• Sheers visited the woods many years before composing this poem feeling that like the remains of the soldiers his fascination kept resurfacing. He felt a connection with the Welsh soldiers since he himself was Welsh.

Question 20

In Mametz Wood who is still finding the soldiers and how?

Answer 20

The farmers found them while ploughing.

Question 21

In Mametz Wood, name three things that are found.

Answer 21

Shoulder blade, finger, skull.

Question 22

In Mametz Wood, how were the men told to approach the artillery?

Answer 22

Walk not run.

Question 23

In Mametz Wood, how many men were found the morning Sheers was present?

Answer 23

20

Question 24

In Mametz Wood, what kind of activity does it look like the soldiers are doing?

Answer 24

Dancing

Question 25

Give 6 context points about Simon Armitage and The Manhunt.

Answer 25

• The Manhunt was based on Eddie and Laura Beddoes.
• Armitage wrote in the persona of Laura Beddoes following a letter she wrote him.
• Eddie Beddoes was a British soldier, he fought in the Bosnian war in the early 1900s, as part of the UN peacekeeping force.
• Eddie Beddoes was discharged from the army from injury and PTSD.
• Balloons popping and children crying and screaming bring nervous breakdowns for Eddie Beddoes.
• Armitage wrote this poem after Laura and Eddie Beddoes says relationship and trust got broken down after Eddie’s injuries. This poem is about their trust building.

Question 26

In The Manhunt, how many injuries are described?

Answer 26

8 injuries.

Question 27

In The Manhunt, who’s persona is it written in?

Answer 27

Laura Beddoes.

Question 28

In The Manhunt, what does the poem look like and what does this represent?

Answer 28

A spinal column represents Laura Beddoes holding up their relationship and supporting Eddie.

Question 29

In The Manhunt, why was Eddie Beddoes discharged?

Answer 29

He was discharged from PTSD and severe injuries.

Question 30

In The Manhunt, how many times is ‘only then’ repeated?

Answer 30

5 times

Question 31

Give 6 context points about Thomas Hardy and A Wife in London.

Answer 31

• Thomas Hardy was a Victorian poet, novelist and social critic.
• He was anti-war, unlike most poets of his time.
• A Wife in London was written in 1899, based Boer War.
• Hardy did not fight in the Boer War, which occurred between 1899-1902.
• The Boer War was between the British and the Dutch, fought in South Africa for Gold Mines.
• Hardy writes A Wife in London because war widows didn’t get get a pension and were left destitute.

Question 32

In A Wife in London, what is the woman doing?

Answer 32

She is sitting, which shows she is passive.

Question 33

In A Wife in London, what is the weather like?

Answer 33

It is foggy and cold. This foreshadows the future being unclear.

Question 34

In A Wife in London, who comes to her house?

Answer 34

A messenger with the news of the death of her husband. Then a postman with her husband’s letter.

Question 35

In A Wife in London, what news does the wife recieve?

Answer 35

That her husband has died in South Africa.

Question 36

In A Wife in London, what does the letter from her husband tell her?

Answer 36

That he hopes to come home soon and he tells of new life they will lead and how they love each other.