Knowledge Organiser: War Poetry

Poet: Poem Writer’s Intent Key Idea Explanation How it’s seen in the text In the First World War, the government needed the people to support Sassoon was a fierce critic of the 1st World the soldiers and the war effort. Dying for your country was presented as War and the way it was being run. He War as a Siegfried Sassoon a noble end and England was portrayed as the noblest country to die In ‘The Soldier’ war is presented as a expresses feelings of personal patriotic ‘Sick Leave’ for. At the start of the war, journalists were not allowed to report from patriotic duty. responsibility for the men who died under duty. the Western Front. However, by 1915, the ban on journalists had been his command. removed and journalists were able to report on the reality of war. Vernon Scannell Scannell portrays the traumatic effect of The First World War marked a turning point in perceptions of warfare. Robert Grave’s ‘The Dead Boche’ ‘Casualty Mental war on a soldier’s mental health. In August 1914, a quick victory was expected. No-one was prepared for describes the damaged body of the dead Ward’ The horror the length and brutality of the war, which resulted in the death of soldier. Thomas Hardy of war millions by 1918. The loss of life was greater than in any previous war. In Clare Shaw’s ‘It could have been’, she Hardy highlights the senselessness and ‘The Man He Civilians and soldiers began to challenge the idea that war was glorious lists a series of atrocities which have wasteful tragedy of human conflict. Killed’ and critique the actions of governments. affected civilians caught up in war. ‘Shell shock’ was the term that was used to describe the psychological Wilfred Owen Owen laments the young lives lost to war. The ongoing mental suffering caused by Mental trauma that people can experience after living through war. Today it is ‘Anthem for He criticises the traditional pomp and war is explored in ‘Sick Leave’ and trauma known as Post-traumatic stress disorder. It is used to describe the Doomed Youth’ ceremony that surrounds it. ‘Casualty Mental Ward’. physical and mental suffering linked to memories of traumatic events. John Agard Agard suggests that the emotional conflict Writer’s methods ‘In Times of and traumatic memories associated with Key Definition Example Purpose Peace’ war continue to bleed into civilian life. Method Brooke views war in a patriotic and The ‘speaker’ in a poem who is a Causley adopts the persona of a A persona is used to build a sense of Rupert Brooke idealistic way. He implies that a soldier Persona created character, not the casualty of war to convey his character and can give a different ‘The Soldier’ should be willing to sacrifice his life for the poet. memories and experiences at sea. perspective on an issue good of his country. Charles Causley Causley wanted to reflect the thoughts and The way a poem is set out, or a The form of a poem is often associated ‘The Song of the feelings of an anonymous and dying term used to categorise poems Dramatic monologue; Ballad; with the ideas it expresses e.g. a sonnet Form Dying Gunner casualty as he reflects on his time at sea as which follow particular Sonnet; Elegy; Free verse. is associated with love and an elegy is AA1’ a Gunner. conventions. associated with loss. Graves challenges the idea that war is Imagery allows the poet to shape the Literary device(s) used to create a Robert Graves ‘A glorious by describing the rotting body of a Similes, metaphors, reader’s reaction to the subject matter Imagery particular image to convey the Dead Boche’ dead soldier. He emphasises the horror of personification. e.g. the use of graphic and gory imagery key ideas/ themes in a text. war and its human cost. in a ‘Dead Boche’. Shaw explores the effect of war on The general character or attitude Rupert Brooke adopts a patriotic Tone is used to highlight the attitude of Clare Shaw ‘It children. The poem suggests that innocent Tone of a place, piece of writing, tone in ‘The Soldier’ to highlight the persona or writer towards their could have been’ children are often the ones who suffer situation the soldier’s love for his country. subject matter. most in war.

NOA English Department Knowledge Organiser: War Poetry

Key Word Glossary Word Definition Example Word in Action The repetition of the same consonant sound, often at the beginning of Alliteration words. Assonance The repetition of a vowel sound for emphasis. Ballad A narrative poem which is typically written in short stanzas. A rhythmical pause within a line of poetry expressed in writing by a Caesura piece of punctuation. Dramatic A poem in which an imagined speaker addresses a silent listener, usually monologue not the reader. Elegy A poem of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead. Emotive language Word choice which is used to evoke emotion in the reader. The overlapping of a sentence onto the following line, usually to Enjambment emphasise a word or phrase at the start of a line or verse. When two or more ideas, images, words etc. are placed side by side to Juxtaposition develop comparisons and contrasts. Onomatopoeia The use of a word that sounds like its meaning. Metaphor A comparison in which one thing is said to be another.

Pace The speed at which a poem flows.

Personification The attribution of human feelings, emotions, or sensations to an inanimate object. Repetition A literary device which repeats the same word or phrase a few times to make it memorable. Rhyme scheme The pattern of a poem’s rhyme, often identified using letters e.g. ABABCC. Simile A comparison that uses ‘like’ or ‘as’.

Sonnet A poem that has 14 lines and a particular pattern of rhyme (traditionally ABAB CDCD EFEF GG) Structure The way a poem is organised. The arrangement of words and phrases to create sentences in a Syntax language. Volta A turning point in a poem.

NOA English Department