Poems

• Remains


  Simon Armitage

  Context: Set in the Iraq war. True story of Guardsman Tromans.

  Content: First person narrative. Was called to investigate a robbery.. Soldier attempts to justify himself for the murder of a robber. Suffering from PTSD

  Purpose: Delves into the psychological toll of conflict. The vivid imagery and emotive language convey the moral complexities and enduring scars of war
• Bayonet Charge 


  Ted Hughes

  Context: His father fought in WW1. Hughes' work was particularly rooted in the savagery of animals. Animals can be compared to humans as they live out a struggle for survival of the fittest while humans strive for ascendancy and success

  Content: WW1 Soldier charging at enemy with bayonet, questioning his role in battle. A bayonet is a brutal weapon that causes survivable wounds

  Purpose: Hughes critiques the lies made to young men through the propaganda of war . Highlights the contrast between patriotism and the reality of war
• Poppies


  Jane Weir

  Context: Jane wanted to write a poem from the point of view of a mother and son relationship.

  Content: Is a dramatic monologue. The son joined the army three days before Remembrance Day. She remembers how she had put a poppy on her son's blazer before he left

  Purpose: Shows the effects of war on those who are not at war
• My Last Duchess


  Robert Browning

  Context: The poem was written during the Industrial Revolution, a time when social mobility was emerging in terms of class and gender. Women were beginning to demand equality, challenging the traditional roles assigned to them. 

  Content: A duke with a painting of his duchess on the wall. He wanted full control over her. Didn't like the way she looked at others. He believes he is all-powerful

  Purpose: To illustrate the unjust gender roles during the 16th century.
• Charge Of The Light Brigade

  Alfred Lord Tennyson

  Context: Was a failed military action, during the Crimean war. Where a commander sent mixed messages leading to soldiers charging right at the guns on horsebacks

  Content: As they made the charge, over half of the 600 were either killed, injured or taken prisoner

  Purpose: To convey ideas of patriotism. Published after the war honouring the soldiers for their bravery
• Exposure


  Wilfred Owen

  Context: Owen was a soldier which gives the poem more legitimacy. Was a Christian. Died at war

  Content: Describes war as a battle against the weather and conditions. Begin to question their decisions after nothing happens

  Purpose: To draw attention to the suffering and futility of war. The speaker describes the misery felt by soldiers waiting overnight in the trenches, exposed to extreme cold and terrifying conditions.
• London


  William Blake

  Context: Blake wrote this poem to illustrate how London, a city he loved, was changing beyond recognition due to the Industrial Revolution

  Content: Describes a walk through the city of London. Notices how everyone he sees look troubled

  Purpose: Suggests that the suffering of the people is caused by those in power e.g. the Church, Monarchy and Government
• Storm On The Island

  Seamus Haney

  Context: Was published in a time of political tensions in Northern Ireland during the 20th century which is now known as the Troubles.

  Content: Describes the power of nature and weather. Speaker says that they are prepared for the storm but as the poem goes on this confidence begins to disappear

  Purpose:  The poem serves as both a vivid depiction of a storm and a metaphor for broader struggles politically
• Ozymandias


  Percy Shelley

  Context: The ruins of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh, Ramesses II

  Content: About a decaying statue of Ozymandias. Highlights the hubris of a man who believed that he would be remembered forever

  Purpose: Shelley points out the power of nature and its ability to destroy/erode
• Extract from "The Prelude"


  William Wordsworth

  Context: True story from the author's childhood. Is ]a Romantic poem that focuses on nature’s beauty and power

  Content: Nature is portrayed as powerful. He rode his boat until he saw a mountain, got scared and went back

  Purpose: Wants us to embrace the natural world
• War Photographer


  Carol Ann Duffy

  Context: The poem centres around a war photographer, these photographers risk their lives to document the harsh realities of war and its effects on people

  Content: Examines the life of a war photographer who takes pictures of conflicts. Contrasts the photographer’s dark room, where he develops his haunting images, with the scenes of horror he witnessed

  Purpose: To show the reality of the life of anyone related with war. Delves into the psychological and moral dilemmas faced by photographers capturing the suffering and violence of conflicts around the world.
• Kamikaze


  Beatrice Garland

  Context: A kamikaze is a suicide pilot who risks their life for their country.

  Content: The pilot decides to go back home instead of committing suicide on his mission

  Purpose: Explores a national and personal conflict. The poem vividly captures the emotional aftermath of war and the complexities faced by those who sacrifice themselves for their country