With exam board pointers...

Pre 1914 War PoetryExamination Questions

1. You will be given one named poem & a theme or aspect to consider. You will

have to choose another poem that is either similar or

contrasting.2. You will have to

accurately identify the poetic techniques used.

3. Both thematic & technical points must be supported by

short quotations.

Candidates are reminded to:

answer the question using appropriate evidence from the texts

explore language and structure

look at the relationships between poems.

If you choose a question which has a short extract at the beginning, you should use the extract to remind yourself where to look in your text and to give you a starting point for

your answer.

•Read again War. In this poem, Wallace powerfully presents a vivid view of war.Compare this poem with one other poem from the pre-1914 selection, which alsopresents a view of war in a vivid way. You should refer closely to the language used in both poems

Answers are likely to include:

• detailed treatment of two poems

• exploration/development of response to a view of war in a

vivid way, e.g. use of imagery.

• sensitive/critical response to ideas re expression of a view of

war in a vivid way, e.g. clear understanding of what those

feelings are.

• developed/analytical comment on/response to poets’ uses

of devices/language in expressing a view of war in a vivid

way, e.g. considering how structure/rhyme/rhythm/imagery are

used to highlight and present the feelings in a powerful way.

• evaluative comparison/contrast of poets’ methods used to

express a view of war in a vivid way with clear points of

comparison to provide a coherent overview of the significance

of the powerful nature of the effects created

•Read again Dirge of the Dead Sisters. In this poem, Kipling presents a striking view of the effects of war.Compare this poem with one other poem from the pre-1914 selection, which alsoconveys the poet’s views on war in a striking way. You should refer closely to thelanguage used in both poems.

Answers are likely to include:

• detailed treatment of two poems

• exploration/development of response to ‘in a striking way’

e.g. use of imagery.

• sensitive/critical response to ideas re ‘in a striking way’, e.g.

clear understanding of what those views are.

• developed/analytical comment on/response to poets’ uses

of devices/language in explaining the ‘striking way’, e.g.

considering how structure/rhyme/rhythm/imagery are used to

highlight and present the feelings in a particular way.

• evaluative comparison/contrast of poets’ methods used to

express ‘a striking way’ with clear points of comparison to

provide a coherent overview of the significance of the effects

created.

•Read again A Wife in London. In this poem Hardy powerfully presents a view of the suffering caused by war.Compare this poem with one other poem from the pre-1914 selection, which also presents the suffering caused by war in a powerful way. You should refer closely to the language used in both poems.

Answers are likely to include:

• detailed treatment of two poems• exploration/development of response to feelings aboutsuffering caused by war, e.g. use of imagery.• sensitive/critical response to ideas re expression of feelingsabout suffering caused by war, e.g. clear understanding of whatthose feelings are.• developed/analytical comment on/response to poets’ usesof devices/language in expressing feelings about sufferingcaused by war, e.g. considering howstructure/rhyme/rhythm/imagery are used to highlight andpresent the feelings in a powerful way.• evaluative comparison/contrast of poets’ methods used toexpress feelings about suffering caused by war with clearpoints of comparison to provide a coherent overview of thesignificance of the powerful nature of the effects created.

•Read again The Battle of Blenheim. In this poem Southey presents the waste of war in an effective way.Compare this poem with one other poem from the pre-1914 selection, which also conveys the poet’s views on war in an effective way. You should refer closely to the language used in both poems.

Answers are likely to include:

• detailed treatment of two poems

• exploration/development of response to views on war, e.g.

use of imagery.

• sensitive/critical response to ideas re expression of views on

war, e.g. clear understanding of what those views are.

• developed/analytical comment on/response to poetsí uses

of devices/language in expressing views on war, e.g.

considering how structure/rhyme/rhythm/imagery are used to

highlight and present the feelings in a particular way.

• evaluative comparison/contrast of poetsí methods used to

express views on war with clear points of comparison to

provide a coherent overview of the significance of the effects

created.

Some failed to appreciate fully the requirements of this question and did not really move beyond the first bullet point. Their answers were therefore highly narrative. Those who did focus on the key words ‘waste’ and ‘loss of life’ and selected second poems such as ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ and ‘Dirge of the Dead Sisters’ produced highly creditable answers.

Read again The Hyaenas. In this poem Kipling powerfully presents the indignity ofwar.Compare this poem with one other poem from the pre-1914 selection, which alsopresents the indignity of war. You should refer closely to the language used in bothpoems. (25 marks)

Critical and sensitive exploration of language and its use in both poems.

Critical and pertinent illustration used.

Critical focus on ëindignity of warí, with understanding of poetsí purposes.

Technical devices critically appreciated and illustrated.

Critical recognition of different structures and treatment used.

Critical, involved response to messages of each poem.

Critical comparison, well illustrated.

20-22 makes a sustained, discriminating, selective, structured, personal, critically aware

response in analysis of text and context re AOs 1, 2, 3

23-25 shows evaluation and insight re AOs 1, 2, 3

Read again The Charge of the Light Brigade. In this poem Tennyson presents theglory as well as the futility of war in a memorable way.Compare this poem with one other poem from the pre-1914 selection, which alsoconveys the poet’s views on war in a memorable way. You should refer closely tothe language used in both poems

Critical and sensitive exploration of language and its use in both poems.

Critical and pertinent illustration used.

Critical comparison, well illustrated.

Critical focus on conveys the poets views on war in a memorable wayí, with understanding of poets purposes.

Technical devices understood and illustrated.

Critical and perceptive recognition of different structures and treatment used.

Critical response to messages of each poem.

20-22 makes a sustained, discriminating, selective, structured, personal, critically aware

response in analysis of text and context re AOs 1, 2, 3

23-25 shows evaluation and insight re AOs 1, 2, 3

Read again Dirge of the Dead Sisters. In this poem Kipling presents war with mixedemotions.Compare this poem with one other poem from the pre-1914 selection, which presents war differently. You should refer closely to the language used in both poems.

Critical and sensitive exploration of language and its use in both poems.

Critical and pertinent illustration used.

Critical focus on presents war differently, with understanding of poets’ purposes.

Technical devices critically appreciated and illustrated.

Critical recognition of different structures and treatment used.

Critical, involved response to messages of each poem.

Critical comparison, well illustrated.

20-22 makes a sustained, discriminating, selective, structured, personal, critically aware

response in analysis of text and context re AOs 1, 2, 3

23-25 shows evaluation and insight re AOs 1, 2, 3

This question called for ‘a different situation’, which really meant that ‘Come up from the Fields Father’ was the least appropriate choice for comparison. Unfortunately, several chose this and made the very obvious comparisons.

However, many did select more appropriate poems and, as result, produced some very valid essays that dealt with

features such as tone and mood, pace and rhythm. Candidates are becoming more adept at writing comparative

essays rather than tagging some simple point of comparison on at the end of their essay.

Read again Come up from the Fields Father. In this poem Whitman presents hisconcerns about war in a dramatic way.Compare this poem with one other poem from the pre-1914 selection, which also usesdramatic means to convey the poet’s views on war. You should refer closely to thelanguage used in both poems

Critical and sensitive exploration of language and its use in both poems.

Critical and pertinent illustration used.

Critical comparison, well illustrated.

Critical focus on ëdramatic means to convey the poetís views on warí, with understanding of

poetsí purposes.

Technical devices understood and illustrated.

Critical and perceptive recognition of different structures and treatment used.

Critical response to messages of each poem.

20-22 makes a sustained, discriminating, selective, structured, personal, critically aware

response in analysis of text and context re AOs 1, 2, 3

23-25 shows evaluation and insight re AOs 1, 2, 3