2. A01 (12 marks) A02 (12 marks) A03 (6 marks)
Clear and intelligent interpretation of the poems
Clear and precise comparison of the poems
Select a wide range of quotations which justify your points
A (12 marks)
Analyse the poets’ use of language
Analyse the poets’ use of structure
Clearly explain the effects on the reader
Use subject specific terminology
A (6 marks)
Relate the poems to their historical and social contexts

3. What is Weir’s ‘Poppies’ about?
Knowledge
Weir, a textiles specialist, wrote the poem to help others relate to the loss and grief caused by conflict.
Skills:
Close reading of the poem, focussed on meaning and content.
Understanding:
Annotate your anthology to demonstrate your understanding.

4. What words, ideas, emotions, images, attitudes, beliefs etc
What words, ideas, emotions, images, attitudes, beliefs etc. come to mind when you see poppies?
A01
Clear and intelligent interpretation of the poems
Select a wide range of quotations which justify your points

5. Three days before Armistice Sunday and poppies had already been placed on individual war graves. Before you left, I pinned one onto your lapel, crimped petals, spasms of paper red, disrupting a blockade of yellow bias binding around your blazer. Sellotape bandaged around my hand, I rounded up as many white cat hairs as I could, smoothed down your shirt's upturned collar, steeled the softening of my face. I wanted to graze my nose across the tip of your nose, play at being Eskimos like we did when you were little. I resisted the impulse to run my fingers through the gelled blackthorns of your hair. All my words flattened, rolled, turned into felt,
slowly melting. I was brave, as I walked with you, to the front door, threw it open, the world overflowing like a treasure chest. A split second and you were away, intoxicated. After you'd gone I went into your bedroom, released a song bird from its cage. Later a single dove flew from the pear tree, and this is where it has led me, skirting the church yard walls, my stomach busy making tucks, darts, pleats, hat-less, without a winter coat or reinforcements of scarf, gloves. On reaching the top of the hill I traced the inscriptions on the war memorial, leaned against it like a wishbone. The dove pulled freely against the sky, an ornamental stitch. I listened, hoping to hear your playground voice catching on the wind.
Which words, ideas, emotions, images, attitudes, beliefs etc. you came up with a minute ago are relevant to this poem?
A01
Clear and intelligent interpretation of the poems
Select a wide range of quotations which justify your points

6. How is Weir’s ‘Poppies’ written?
Knowledge
Language devices and structure are how Weir crafts her poem for impact.
Skills:
Close reading of the poem, focussed on language and structure.
Understanding:
Annotate your anthology to demonstrate your understanding.

7. Analyse the poets’ use of language
Explore the effect of the contrast between domestic images and images of war and conflict.
Explore the way different senses are appealed to explain the mothers sense of loss and distance from her son.
What is the symbolism of the mother going to the son’s bedroom and releasing ‘a song bird from its cage’?
A02
Analyse the poets’ use of language
Clearly explain the effects on the reader
Use subject specific terminology

8. Analyse the poets’ use of structure
What does the inconsistent stanza length suggest about the mother’s experiences?
Make a comment on the frequent use of caesura and what impression this gives the reader.
A02
Analyse the poets’ use of structure
Clearly explain the effects on the reader
Use subject specific terminology

9. Why was Weir’s ‘Poppies’ written?
Knowledge
Weir is talking generally about the impacts of war, and it doesn’t really relate to an individual conflict. This itself is a telling choice about Weir’s feelings.
Skills:
Link contextual factors to textual details.
Understanding:
Annotate your anthology to demonstrate your understanding.

10. What does this suggest about the nature of conflict and war?
The poem was written during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The symbol of the poppy derives from World War One.
What does this suggest about the nature of conflict and war?
A03
Relate the poems to their historical and social contexts

11. How are ‘Remains’ and ‘Poppies’ similar?
Knowledge
Both poets use their poetry to explore the impact of conflict on an individual.
Skills:
Make connections between the two poems.
Understanding:
Write a thirty minute essay response to the comparison question.

12. Compare the portrayal of personal, emotional responses to conflict in ‘Poppies’ and ‘Remains’.
Clear and precise comparison of the poems