The Soldier - Introduction to the poem and analysis

A powerpoint introducing pupils to The Soldier

1. Read it through carefully and discuss with a partner what you think the poem is about. Record your ideas in a couple of sentences. Discuss and decide what you think a suitable title would be. Be ready to share your title and reasons for choosing it. Here is a poem without the title.

2. CONTENT – What is the poem about? You have just dealt with the CONTENT

3. Underline every word with a negative association in red . Underline every word with a positive association in green . Now record in a couple of sentences what the writer’s attitude to dying for his country is. How does he feel about England? Feeling confident? Use a quote to support your ideas. How do you think the writer feels in this text?

4. CONTENT – What is the poem about? ATTITUDE (and Atmosphere) – What is the writer’s point of view on the topic of the poem? You have just dealt with the ATTITUDE (and Atmosphere)

5. Go back through the poem and underline in blue any religious imagery or language. Are there any repeated words? Why? Any poetic techniques used? Why? Now explore the language further...

6. CONTENT – What is the poem about? ATTITUDE (and Atmosphere) – What is the writer’s point of view on the topic of the poem? LANGUAGE – How does the writer get their point of view across to the reader? You have just dealt with the LANGUAGE

7. How many stanzas are there here? Is there a rhyme scheme? Regular or irregular rhythm? Is there a poetic form being used? BIG HINT: A 14 line poem, broken into 2 parts called an octave (8 lines) and a sestet (6 lines) is a type of sonnet. What are sonnets usually written about? Now let’s explore the structure

8. A sonnet is poetic form used traditionally as, amongst other things, love poems. Underline every example of personification Why do you think Rupert Brooke used this poetic form? What is being romantic about? What does he love? EXT: What does the first stanza focus on? What does the second stanza focus on? Structure

9. CONTENT – What is the poem about? ATTITUDE (and Atmosphere) – What is the writer’s point of view on the topic of the poem? LANGUAGE – How does the writer get their point of view across to the reader? STRUCTURE – How does the structure support the meaning of the poem? You have just dealt with the STRUCTURE

10. What do you think the writer’s message is? Why did he write this poem? What did he want his readers to think? Was it to: Console bereaved relatives? Encourage boys to go to war? Increase patriotic feeling among the general public? To glorify and romanticise war? How successful was Brooke in getting these feelings across to the reader? Is it clever? Subtle? Powerful? Do you agree with him or not? * *(This is different question – you may think he is a good poet but disagree with his point of view.) OK, so how successful is the poem at getting the writer’s message across?

11. CONTENT – What is the poem about? ATTITUDE (and Atmosphere) – What is the writer’s point of view on the topic of the poem? LANGUAGE – How does the writer get their point of view across to the reader? STRUCTURE – How does the structure support the meaning of the poem? SUCCESSFUL? – How well does the poet get his/her message across to the reader? You have just dealt with the SUCCESS

12. CONTENT – What is the poem about? ATTITUDE (and Atmosphere) – What is the writer’s point of view on the topic of the poem? LANGUAGE – How does the writer get their point of view across to the reader? STRUCTURE – How does the structure support the meaning of the poem? SUCCESSFUL? – How well does the poet get his/her message across to the reader? You need to tackle a poem? Easy – use CALSS

13. Work in pairs and select 6 words/short phrases from across the text that you could use to tell someone else all about the poem. For example I might pick ‘die’ and then ‘some corner’ and then ‘England bore’... Die – the poem is about a soldier saying if he dies in the war do not be too sad. Some corner – because he is insignificant in the war effort and happy to lay down his life for his country and therefore be buried in ‘some corner of a foreign field’. England bore – he feels happy that his body will spread England and all its glory to a foreign land. He personifies England as mother country who has given birth and many positive experiences to. He is therefore happy to die for his country. 6 Word Poem Pack