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Britain & the wider world: 1745 -1901
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English Literature
4 Dec 2025
411
2 pages
Jane Weir's "Poppies" is a powerful poem about a mother's experience of watching her son leave for war.... Show more
Ever wondered what goes through a parent's mind when their child leaves for something dangerous? Weir opens the poem in medias res - right in the middle of the action - showing us a mother preparing her son to leave on Armistice Sunday.
The poppy she pins to his lapel isn't just decoration - it's a symbol of remembrance for fallen soldiers, creating an immediate sense of foreboding. Notice how she describes it with "crimped petals" and "spasms of paper red," suggesting something fragile yet violent.
The mother's actions reveal her desperation to maintain control and connection. She removes cat hairs, smooths his collar, and fights the urge to show physical affection. The phrase "steeled the softening of my face" shows her trying to be brave whilst hiding her true emotions.
Key insight The enjambment throughout this section mirrors how her thoughts and emotions overflow - just like her feelings, the lines can't be contained within neat boundaries.
Once her son leaves, the mother's carefully maintained composure completely unravels. The semantic field of textiles and clothing dominates this section, representing her domestic role and maternal identity.
Her journey to the war memorial is significant - she's "hat-less, without a winter coat or reinforcements of scarf, gloves." These missing items aren't just about being cold; they symbolise her loss of protection and emotional armour. Without her maternal duties, she feels exposed and vulnerable.
The final image of her leaning against the memorial "like a wishbone" is particularly powerful. Wishbones represent both hope and fragility - she's hoping for her son's safe return whilst being emotionally brittle enough to break.
Remember The dove that "pulled freely against the sky" contrasts with her trapped feelings, whilst her son's "playground voice catching on the wind" shows how memories of his childhood innocence haunt her present reality.
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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Transform this note into: ✓ 50+ Practice Questions ✓ Interactive Flashcards ✓ Full Mock Exam ✓ Essay Outlines
Explore Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' with this comprehensive guide covering key themes, character analyses, significant quotes, and historical context. Perfect for exam preparation and deepening your understanding of the play's exploration of ambition, betrayal, and the supernatural.
English LiteratureExplore a detailed analysis of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnet 29, 'I think of thee.' This study note includes thematic insights, poetic devices, and annotations with a color key. Understand the complexities of love and longing in Browning's work, and how it reflects her relationship with Robert Browning. Ideal for students studying love poetry and the Romantic Movement.
English LanguageExplore a detailed analysis of 'Poppies' by Jane Weir, focusing on themes of war, remembrance, and emotional turmoil. This study note delves into the poem's structure, imagery, and the complex relationship between national and personal grief. Ideal for GCSE English Literature students studying the Conflict and Power anthology.
English LiteratureExplore the intricate themes of power, legacy, and the conflict between humanity and nature in Percy Bysshe Shelley's 'Ozymandias'. This detailed analysis covers the poem's structure, imagery, and key quotes, highlighting the tyrannical ruler's fall from grace and the inevitable decay of human achievements. Ideal for students studying poetry and its deeper meanings.
English LiteratureExplore Simon Armitage's 'Remains' through detailed analysis of its themes, language, and structure. This study note delves into the psychological impact of war, the haunting memories of a soldier, and the use of colloquial language. Ideal for GCSE English Literature students, it provides insights into the poem's emotional depth and literary techniques.
English LiteratureExplore a detailed analysis of William Wordsworth's 'The Prelude', focusing on themes of nature, guilt, and the sublime. This study note includes annotations and insights into the poem's imagery, structure, and emotional impact, making it essential for GCSE English Literature students. Enhance your understanding of Romanticism and its portrayal of nature's power.
English LiteratureApp Store
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Jane Weir's "Poppies" is a powerful poem about a mother's experience of watching her son leave for war. The poem captures the raw emotions of letting go whilst exploring themes of memory, loss, and the devastating impact of conflict on... Show more
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Ever wondered what goes through a parent's mind when their child leaves for something dangerous? Weir opens the poem in medias res - right in the middle of the action - showing us a mother preparing her son to leave on Armistice Sunday.
The poppy she pins to his lapel isn't just decoration - it's a symbol of remembrance for fallen soldiers, creating an immediate sense of foreboding. Notice how she describes it with "crimped petals" and "spasms of paper red," suggesting something fragile yet violent.
The mother's actions reveal her desperation to maintain control and connection. She removes cat hairs, smooths his collar, and fights the urge to show physical affection. The phrase "steeled the softening of my face" shows her trying to be brave whilst hiding her true emotions.
Key insight: The enjambment throughout this section mirrors how her thoughts and emotions overflow - just like her feelings, the lines can't be contained within neat boundaries.
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Once her son leaves, the mother's carefully maintained composure completely unravels. The semantic field of textiles and clothing dominates this section, representing her domestic role and maternal identity.
Her journey to the war memorial is significant - she's "hat-less, without a winter coat or reinforcements of scarf, gloves." These missing items aren't just about being cold; they symbolise her loss of protection and emotional armour. Without her maternal duties, she feels exposed and vulnerable.
The final image of her leaning against the memorial "like a wishbone" is particularly powerful. Wishbones represent both hope and fragility - she's hoping for her son's safe return whilst being emotionally brittle enough to break.
Remember: The dove that "pulled freely against the sky" contrasts with her trapped feelings, whilst her son's "playground voice catching on the wind" shows how memories of his childhood innocence haunt her present reality.
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
7
Smart Tools NEW
Transform this note into: ✓ 50+ Practice Questions ✓ Interactive Flashcards ✓ Full Mock Exam ✓ Essay Outlines
Explore Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' with this comprehensive guide covering key themes, character analyses, significant quotes, and historical context. Perfect for exam preparation and deepening your understanding of the play's exploration of ambition, betrayal, and the supernatural.
English LiteratureExplore a detailed analysis of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnet 29, 'I think of thee.' This study note includes thematic insights, poetic devices, and annotations with a color key. Understand the complexities of love and longing in Browning's work, and how it reflects her relationship with Robert Browning. Ideal for students studying love poetry and the Romantic Movement.
English LanguageExplore a detailed analysis of 'Poppies' by Jane Weir, focusing on themes of war, remembrance, and emotional turmoil. This study note delves into the poem's structure, imagery, and the complex relationship between national and personal grief. Ideal for GCSE English Literature students studying the Conflict and Power anthology.
English LiteratureExplore the intricate themes of power, legacy, and the conflict between humanity and nature in Percy Bysshe Shelley's 'Ozymandias'. This detailed analysis covers the poem's structure, imagery, and key quotes, highlighting the tyrannical ruler's fall from grace and the inevitable decay of human achievements. Ideal for students studying poetry and its deeper meanings.
English LiteratureExplore Simon Armitage's 'Remains' through detailed analysis of its themes, language, and structure. This study note delves into the psychological impact of war, the haunting memories of a soldier, and the use of colloquial language. Ideal for GCSE English Literature students, it provides insights into the poem's emotional depth and literary techniques.
English LiteratureExplore a detailed analysis of William Wordsworth's 'The Prelude', focusing on themes of nature, guilt, and the sublime. This study note includes annotations and insights into the poem's imagery, structure, and emotional impact, making it essential for GCSE English Literature students. Enhance your understanding of Romanticism and its portrayal of nature's power.
English LiteratureApp Store
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Sociology