aqa gcse poetry exam

AQA GCSE POETRY EXAM

CONFLICT

L.O.By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Use an acronym to help remember exam techniques

• Comment on each CONFLICT poem in detail

• Sort the poems into themes

• Create your own exam-style questions for revision

• Write an exam-style answer

POETIC – Remember this acronym! Purpose: the meaning of the poem

Organisation: rhyme scheme, line length, lines per stanza, repetition, structure, layout, end stopped lines, number of stanzas

Emotive tone: (feelings the poem expresses) sad, wistful, angry, scathing, ironic, celebratory

Techniques: metaphor, simile, personification, repetition, alliteration, assonance, onomatopoeia, letter sounds, enjambment, oxymoron

Individual words: any key words or phrases Contrast: opposites (there will always be contrast in a

well-written poem)

Futility

THEMES1. Causes of Conflict 6. Divided Society2. Effects of Conflict 7. Patriotism3. Reality of Battles 8. Individual

Experiences4. Nature 9. Death5. Sadness and Loss 10. Helplessness

Task 1: In your group, discuss and sort each poem into the above themes. You must be ready to give at least one reason for your decisions!

1. Causes of ConflictThe Yellow PalmHawk RoostingNext to of course god america IFlagThe Right Word

2. Effects of ConflictFutilityThe Charge of the Light BrigadeBayonet ChargePoppiesOut of the Blue‘Come on, Come Back’

3. Reality of BattlesThe Charge of the Light BrigadeBayonet ChargeBelfast ConfettiMametz WoodFutilityHawk Roosting

4. NatureHawk RoostingThe Falling LeavesMametz WoodBayonet ChargeOut of the BlueThe Yellow Palm

5. Sadness and LossFutilityThe Falling Leaves‘Come On, Come Back’PoppiesThe Charge of the Light BrigadeOut of the Blue

6. Divided SocietyThe Right WordAt The Border, 1979Belfast ConfettiThe Yellow PalmFlagNext to of course god america I

7. PatriotismThe Charge of the Light BrigadeNext to of course god america IFlag‘Come On, Come Back’At the Border, 1979

8. Individual ExperiencesOut of the BluePoppiesThe Right WordAt the Border, 1979‘Come On, Come Back’Bayonet Charge

9. Death Out of the Blue‘Come On, Come Back’Mametz WoodHawk RoostingFutilityThe Charge of the Light BrigadeThe Falling Leaves

10. HelplessnessAt the Border, 1979Belfast ConfettiOut of the BlueFutilityThe Charge of the Light BrigadeThe Falling LeavesPoppies

Create your own question! Example from theme 2:

Comparing ‘Come On, Come Back’ and The Charge of the Light Brigade, discuss the poets’ attitudes to the effects of conflict.