whos for the game

• What is the tone of the poem?

  Conversational tone - which supports war

  Pope's representation of war encapsulates the jingoistic (extremely patriotic) opinion of her culture - fun, glorified, jovial (upbeat in rhythm)

  Uses a game that is noble and glorious as an extended metaphor

  Many soldiers believed that the poem was good for morale with many of them admiring Pope
• When was the poem written?

  In 1916 - middle of the war
• Who's for the game, the biggest that's played,

  The red crashing game of a fight?

  suggests you only need the same courage needed to play a game of sport
• Who'll give his country a hand?

  personifies the country
• Who would much rather come back with a clutch

  Than lie low and be out of the fun?

  clutch = injury/suggests that the worst thing is not death - describes war as harmless

  people who won't go won't have fun
• Come along lads


  colloquial language - connotations of masculinity/heterosexual nature/friendship
• Your country is up to her neck in a fight,

  And she's looking and calling for you.


  personification = a woman/the idea to save a woman - appealing to society's idea of masculinity

  you = direct address - designed to appeal to the reader/encourages men to hear it/a direct call to go to war
• Which poet addresses Jesse Pope in a original manuscript of their poem?


  Wilfred Owen in Dulce et decorum est
• Who is Jessie Pope? (her job, her age and what she's known for)

  English poet, writer and journalist, who remains best known for her patriotic motivational poems published during World War I.
• Who is Wilfred Owen?

  Was an English poet and soldier, one of the leading poets of the First World War. His war poetry was on the horrors of trenches and gas warfare.
• What is the main theme/idea in 'who's for the game'?

  War is being compared to a game.
• What metaphor is used in 'who's for the game'

  Sports analogy - Her language is sport related making it seem like it's a game of rugby or football
• What are three quotes that show the comparison between war and sport.

  Who'll grip and tackle the job unafraid?

  "Who's for the game'? the biggest that's played"
• Who's for the game? The biggest that's played - what is the superlative and why has it been used.

  'biggest' - it has been used to make it seem as though it's really important and that they should be there as part of their country.
• How does the sports metaphor manipulate the men and their emotions at the time?

  Encourages boys and men to feel like they are missing out on something great and memorable if they are not part of it.
• The poem is euphemistic, jingoistic, patriotic and propaganda. What do all these words mean?

  Euphemistic - A word or phrase used to avoid saying an unpleasant or offensive word:

  Patriotic - showing love for your country and being proud of it

  Propaganda - Information, ideas, opinions, or images, often only giving one part of an argument, that are broadcast, published, or in some other way spread with the intention of influencing people's opinions.
• How many rhetorical questions are used and why does she use so many?

  9 rhetorical questions. She uses so many because it forces the audience to keep questioning themselves whether they will be involved or whether they will miss out.
• Why do all the questions start with 'who'?

  Are framed this way to exploit the audiences desire to be part of something and part of a team.
• How does she appeal to male pride and the fear of missing out?

  Using the quote; "Who wants a turn to himself in the show? And who wants a seat in the stand?"
• What is the effect of using these rhetorical questions?

  This down plays the seriousness of war by giving it a fun and entertaining appearance
• Give two quotes that show personification

  'Your country is up to her neck to fight, and she is looking and calling for you"
• What is being personified

  personifying the country as a female
• How does this encourage the audience to defend their king and country?

  male audiences at the time would've felt the need to help protect their nation, as it plays on the male stereotype of being a hero
• What poem did Owen Wilson write in response to 'who's for the game'?

  Dolce Et Decorum
• What did Dolce Et Decorum Est aim to do?

  Emphasises the gruesome nature and emptiness of war.
• Whose poetry is more convincing and why?

  Owens. Because Owen has suffered the realities of war which makes his poetry more reliable.
• When did WWI occur?

  1914-1918
• Who was it between?

  The Allies included Britain, France, Russia, Italy and the United States. These countries fought against the Central Powers which included Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria
• 1. What weapons were used during war?

  Rifles, Machine guns, Flamethrowers Artillery, Poison gas, Tanks, Aircraft
• 1. What were the conditions faced by many of the soldiers?

  Muddy Conditions, Disease (such as trench foot, dysentery etc.). Latrine Issues, Malnutrition