1. Clashes and Collisions
Learning Objective: To practise writing about the poem ‘Base Details’ using insightful and perceptive comments
KW: theme, connections
MUST: Be able to use an extended PEEEE style to analyse how the poet presents conflict (C)
SHOULD: Be able to use relevant and pertinent quotes within explanations (B)
COULD: Make relevant connections between techniques used and their literary effects

2. Unit 3: Clashes and Collisions
Task: Explore the ways poets present their ideas about conflict. You should refer to the poem below and two poems from the Clashes and Collisions collection (24)
Base Details
If I were fierce, and bald, and short of breath
I’d live with scarlet Majors at the Base,
And speed glum heroes up the line to death.
You’d see me with my puffy petulant face,
Guzzling and gulping in the best hotel
Reading the Roll of Honour. “Poor young chap,”
I’d say – “I used to know his father well;
Yes, we’ve lost heavily in this last scrap.”
And when the war is done and youth stone dead,
I’d toddle safely home and die – in bed
Siegfried Sassoon

3. Less is more… fight scrap Sounds like a little scuffle
Waste material
Makes it seem as if the men are worthless

4. Less is more… face scarlet Unfit Poet disgusted by them
uniform
Symbolises blood and hatred
Can’t see blood stains on scarlet

5. Pick two phrases to analyse in the same way
Pick two phrases to analyse in the same way. You can add more ‘branches’ if you need to.
Less is more…

6. Sounds like a little scuffle Makes it seem as if the men are worthless
Pick two phrases to analyse in the same way. You can add more ‘branches’ if you need to.
Less is more…
The word ‘scrap’ could have two meanings. Firstly, the poet could be using it to show that the ‘Scarlet Major’ views it as a minor scuffle, nothing serious or too important. Secondly, it could suggest that he views the soldiers as waste material, scrap that is worthless. Therefore, the ‘heavy losses’ in this conflict do not really matter much to him. Furthermore, it seems as if by using such a derogatory term for the war, he is also demeaning the status of the men fighting – and dying – as a result of it.
scrap
fight
Sounds like a little scuffle
Waste material
Makes it seem as if the men are worthless
Now write up
your notes into
a full paragraph:

7. Plenary: Feedback Read your paragraph to your partner.
What worked well?
Which parts were the best?
How could it be improved further?
What mark would you award it using the mark scheme?

8. Base Details: Notes
You need to be able to explore the following areas in relation to the theme of CONFLICT:
Poet’s message and feelings
Language (Poetic devices and tone)
Structure
Your response to the poem and its theme

9. Poet’s message and feelings
Structure
Language (Poetic devices and tone)
Your response to the poem and its theme