10.1.4

Form, Structure & Key Comparisons

Test yourself

Form and Structure of Poppies

The poem is a dramatic monologue with very free structure and form.

Illustrative background for Dramatic monologueIllustrative background for Dramatic monologue ?? "content

Dramatic monologue

  • The poem is a dramatic monologue (form of poetry where an imagined speaker addresses a silent audience).
  • The poem uses a direct address to show the strength of the mother’s feelings towards her son and to elicit (get) sympathy from the reader.
Illustrative background for Free formIllustrative background for Free form ?? "content

Free form

  • The poem is written in free verse (no metre or rhyming) with lots of enjambment (sentences that flow over lines) and caesura (breaks in lines).
  • The stanzas are also different lengths.
    • This could reflect the way the mother’s thoughts and emotions cannot be ordered and contained.
    • It could also suggest that, while trying to appear calm and collected, inside she is breaking.

Key Comparisons: Poppies

Here are some themes that come up in Poppies and other texts:

Illustrative background for Powerful and/or negative feelingsIllustrative background for Powerful and/or negative feelings ?? "content

Powerful and/or negative feelings

  • You may want to compare the theme of powerful and/or negative feelings in Poppies to the following texts:
    • Remains.
    • War Photographer.
    • The Emigree.
    • Checking Out My History.
    • London.
    • My Last Duchess.
Illustrative background for Effects and reality of conflictIllustrative background for Effects and reality of conflict ?? "content

Effects and reality of conflict

  • You may want to compare the theme of the effects and reality of conflict in Poppies to the following texts:
    • Remains.
    • Charge of the Light Brigade.
    • Exposure.
    • Bayonet Charge.
    • War Photographer.
Illustrative background for Conflicted emotionsIllustrative background for Conflicted emotions ?? "content

Conflicted emotions

  • You may want to compare the theme of conflicted emotions in Poppies to the following texts:
    • Bayonet Charge.
    • Exposure.
Illustrative background for Powerful memoriesIllustrative background for Powerful memories ?? "content

Powerful memories

  • You may want to compare the theme of powerful memories in Poppies to the following texts:
    • Remains.
    • War Photographer.
    • The Emigree.

Jump to other topics

1Ozymandias - Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)

1.1Ozymandias Analysis

1.1.1Summary

1.1.2Key Ideas

1.1.3Themes

1.1.4Irony & Rhythm

1.1.5Key Quotes & Comparisons

1.1.6End of Topic Test - Ozymandias

2London - William Blake (1757-1827)

2.1London Analysis

2.1.1Summary

2.1.2Themes & Structure

2.1.3Themes & Structure 2

2.1.4Key Quotes & Comparisons

2.1.5Exam-Style Questions - London

3Storm on the Island - Seamus Heaney (1939-2013)

3.1Storm on the Island Analysis

3.1.1Summary & Structure

3.1.2Themes

3.1.3Themes 2

3.1.4Key Quotes & Comparisons

3.1.5End of Topic Test - Blake & Heaney

4Exposure - Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)

4.1Exposure Analysis

4.1.1Summary

4.1.2Personification

4.1.3Themes

4.1.4Structure, Key Quotes & Comparisons

4.1.5End of Topic Test - Exposure

5War Photographer - Carol Ann Duffy (born 1955)

5.1War Photographer Analysis

5.1.1Summary

5.1.2Themes

5.1.3Imagery

5.1.4Comparisons & Key Quotes

6My Last Duchess - Robert Browning (1812-1889)

6.1My Last Duchess Analysis

6.1.1Summary

6.1.2Characterisation & Themes

6.1.3Structure, Key Quotes & Comparisons

6.1.4End of Topic Test - Duffy & Browning

7The Prelude - William Wordsworth (1770-1850)

7.1Extract from The Prelude Analysis

7.1.1Summary

7.1.2Personification & Imagery

7.1.3Themes

7.1.4Key Quotes & Comparisons

7.1.5End of Topic Test - The Prelude

8Charge of the Light Brigade - Alfred Tennyson

8.1Charge of the Light Brigade Analysis

8.1.1Summary

8.1.2Themes

8.1.3Rhetorical Techniques, Key Quotes & Comparisons

8.1.4End of Topic Test - Charge of the Light Brigade

8.1.5Exam-Style Questions - Charge of the Light Brigade

9Bayonet Charge - Ted Hughes (1930-1998)

9.1Bayonet Charge Analysis

9.1.1Summary

9.1.2Themes

9.1.3Themes 2

9.1.4Structure & Key Comparisons

9.1.5End of Topic Test - Bayonet Charge

10Poppies - Jane Weir (Born 1963)

10.1Poppies Analysis

10.1.1Summary

10.1.2Theme of Motherhood

10.1.3Imagery

10.1.4Form, Structure & Key Comparisons

10.1.5End of Topic Test - Poppies

11Tissue - Imtiaz Dharker (Born 1954)

11.1Tissue Analysis

11.1.1Summary

11.1.2Themes & Symbolism

11.1.3Religion & Conflict

11.1.4Form, Structure & Key Comparisons

11.1.5End of Topic Test - Tissue

12The Emigree - Carol Rumens (Born 1944)

12.1The Emigree Analysis

12.1.1Summary & Structure

12.1.2Themes

12.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons

12.1.4End of Topic Test - The Emigree

13Kamikaze - Beatrice Garland (Born 1938)

13.1Kamikaze Analysis

13.1.1Summary & Structure

13.1.2Themes

13.1.3Themes 2

13.1.4Structure, Quotes & Comparisons

13.1.5End of Topic Test - Kamikaze

14Checking Out Me History - John Agard (Born 1949)

14.1Checking Out Me History Analysis

14.1.1Summary

14.1.2Themes

14.1.3Key Quotes & Comparisons

14.1.4End of Topic Test - Checking Out Me History

15Remains - Simon Armitage (Born 1963)

15.1Remains Analysis

15.1.1Summary

15.1.2Themes: Desensitisation &Trauma

15.1.3Themes: Guilt

15.1.4Themes: Nature of War

15.1.5Structure

15.1.6Key Quotes & Comparisons

15.1.7End of Topic Test - Remains

16Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

16.1Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

16.1.1Grade 9 - Themes & Comparisons

Go student ad image

Unlock your full potential with GoStudent tutoring

  • Affordable 1:1 tutoring from the comfort of your home

  • Tutors are matched to your specific learning needs

  • 30+ school subjects covered

Book a free trial lesson

Imagery

End of Topic Test - Poppies