‘Poppies’ by Jane Weir

In this lesson, we will explore the key ideas in Jane Weir's poem 'Poppies' (2009). Weir presents the deep suffering experienced by a mother who has lost her son to war. You will be provided with key information about the meaning of the poem to help to develop your understanding of this text.

This quiz includes images that don't have any alt text - please contact your teacher who should be able to help you with an audio description.

Quiz:

Intro quiz - Recap from previous lesson

Before we start this lesson, let’s see what you can remember from this topic. Here’s a quick quiz!

Q1.Which sentence has used 'futile' INCORRECTLY?

The soldier's death was futile, because he did not die in battle. The soldiers' experience in the trenches was futile because they did not often fight the enemy; instead they spent a lot of time sitting and waiting. The soldiers wanted to fight against the enemy so that their death would be futile.

1/5

Q2.True or false: The suffering experienced by the soldiers in winter would have been relentless and dreadful.

True False

2/5

Q3.Owen opposed the war. Choose the most appropriate explanation for Owen's anti-war perspective.

Owen was opposed to war because he would rather be at home writing poems. Owen opposed war because fighting and violence can never be justified. Owen opposed the war because he had shellshock from it. Owen opposed the war because he believed it was being glorified and that people at home did not understand the horrors of war.

3/5

Q4.Which of the following is NOT a line from the end of a stanza of the poem?

We turn back to our dying. But nothing happens. For love of God seems dying. We wait for something to happen. What are we doing here?

4/5

Q5.Which statement most accurately explains an effect of the half-rhyme on the reader?

The half-rhyme in the poem makes everything feel less ordered and uncomfortable. The half-rhyme was used by Owen because he could not find other words to rhyme with "knive us" and "silent". The half-rhyme demonstrates man's power against nature. The half rhyme illustrates how stable the minds of the soldiers are.

5/5

This quiz includes images that don't have any alt text - please contact your teacher who should be able to help you with an audio description.

Quiz:

Intro quiz - Recap from previous lesson

Before we start this lesson, let’s see what you can remember from this topic. Here’s a quick quiz!

Q1.Which sentence has used 'futile' INCORRECTLY?

1/5

Q2.True or false: The suffering experienced by the soldiers in winter would have been relentless and dreadful.

True False

2/5

Q3.Owen opposed the war. Choose the most appropriate explanation for Owen's anti-war perspective.

3/5

Q4.Which of the following is NOT a line from the end of a stanza of the poem?

We turn back to our dying. But nothing happens. For love of God seems dying. We wait for something to happen. What are we doing here?

4/5

Q5.Which statement most accurately explains an effect of the half-rhyme on the reader?

5/5

Video

Play video

Click on the play button to start the video. If your teacher asks you to pause the video and look at the worksheet you should:

Click "Close Video"
Click "Next" to view the activity

Your video will re-appear on the next page, and will stay paused in the right place.

This quiz includes images that don't have any alt text - please contact your teacher who should be able to help you with an audio description.

Quiz:

'Poppies' by Jane Weir Quiz

This review quiz tests your understanding of the key vocabulary from the lesson and it checks your knowledge of the meaning of the the poem 'Poppies'.

Q1.True or false: To lament means that you are confused.

True False

1/5

Q2.The poem is written from a female perspective.

True False

2/5

Q3.The mother remembers pinning something to her son's lapel. What is it?

A tissue. A safety pin. A poppy. A name badge.

3/5

Q4.Complete the quotation from the final stanza: "I listened, hoping to hear your __________ voice catching on the wind".

Young Playground Child's Delicate

4/5

Q5.Choose the most accurate statement that explains Weir's purpose for writing 'Poppies'.

A mother's suffering is never portrayed in poetry, so Weir wanted to share a mother's perspective. Often, war poetry depicts the suffering of soldiers, so Weir wanted to give women a say as well. Often, war poetry depicts the suffering of soldiers, and rarely of the loved ones the soldiers leave behind. Weir wants to share their perspective as well. Weir writes the poem to highlight the death and suffering happening as a result of the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts.

5/5

This quiz includes images that don't have any alt text - please contact your teacher who should be able to help you with an audio description.

Quiz:

'Poppies' by Jane Weir Quiz

This review quiz tests your understanding of the key vocabulary from the lesson and it checks your knowledge of the meaning of the the poem 'Poppies'.

Q1.True or false: To lament means that you are confused.

True False

1/5

Q2.The poem is written from a female perspective.

True False

2/5

Q3.The mother remembers pinning something to her son's lapel. What is it?

A tissue. A safety pin. A poppy. A name badge.

3/5

Q4.Complete the quotation from the final stanza: "I listened, hoping to hear your __________ voice catching on the wind".

Young Playground Child's Delicate

4/5

Q5.Choose the most accurate statement that explains Weir's purpose for writing 'Poppies'.

5/5

Lesson summary: ‘Poppies’ by Jane Weir

It looks like you have not completed one of the quizzes.

To share your results with your teacher please complete one of the quizzes.

Time to move!

Did you know that exercise helps your concentration and ability to learn?

For 5 mins...

Move around:
Walk

On the spot:
Chair yoga

The next lesson in:
Edexcel Conflict Poetry
is:
Poppies (Part 2)

Browse Oak's lessons:

Subjects Schedule

‘Poppies’ by Jane Weir

Intro quiz - Recap from previous lesson

Intro quiz - Recap from previous lesson

Video

'Poppies' by Jane Weir Quiz

'Poppies' by Jane Weir Quiz

Lesson summary: ‘Poppies’ by Jane Weir

It looks like you have not completed one of the quizzes.

Time to move!

The next lesson in: Edexcel Conflict Poetry is: Poppies (Part 2)

Browse Oak's lessons:

The next lesson in:
Edexcel Conflict Poetry
is:
Poppies (Part 2)