Page 2: Structural Analysis and Religious Themes

This page delves deeper into the religious themes and structural elements of both poems, showing how they contribute to portraying the impact of war.

In Exposure, the soldiers' loss of faith is evident in the line:

Quote: "love of God seems dying"

This loss of faith reflects the soldiers questioning why God would allow such torment. The verb "dying" works on two levels, representing both the loss of faith and the soldiers' gradual physical death due to the harsh conditions.

The poem's speaker adopts a resigned tone, using repetition to emphasize their hopelessness:

Quote: "shutters and doors are closed on us, the doors are closed"

This repetition suggests the soldiers are losing hope of returning home safely, with the "doors" potentially symbolizing both a physical path home and the gates of heaven.

In contrast, Poppies presents religion as a source of comfort for the grieving mother. The poem uses positive and hopeful imagery associated with religious symbols:

Quote: "like a wishbone"

This simile describes the mother leaning against a war memorial in a churchyard, suggesting she seeks communication with her deceased son through religious means.

The structural elements of both poems reflect the impact of war on the speakers. Exposure uses elongated first four lines in each stanza to reflect the long, terrifying wait for enemy attacks, with ellipses enhancing this sense of interminable waiting. The fifth line of each stanza provides an anti-climax with the refrain "Nothing happens," emphasizing the soldiers' frustration and resignation.

Poppies employs a more chaotic structure, using caesura and enjambment to capture the mother's fragmented feelings and emotional turmoil.

Highlight: The structure of both poems reinforces their themes, with Exposure reflecting the monotony and terror of warfare, and Poppies mirroring the emotional chaos of grief.

Page 3: Continued Analysis

This page continues the analysis of structural elements in Poppies and their contribution to portraying the impact of war on those left behind.

The fragmented structure of Poppies reflects the mother's emotional state as she grapples with her son's absence and potential loss. The use of caesura and enjambment creates a sense of disjointed thoughts and memories, mirroring the mother's struggle to process her emotions.

Highlight: The chaotic structure of Poppies effectively conveys the emotional turmoil experienced by families of soldiers.

This structural approach contrasts with the more regimented structure of Exposure, further emphasizing the different perspectives on war presented in the two poems. While Exposure focuses on the direct experiences of soldiers, Poppies explores the indirect but equally profound impact on families at home.

The analysis of these two poems provides valuable insights into the multifaceted nature of war's impact, making it an excellent resource for students preparing for a Power and Conflict poetry analysis grade 9 essay. By comparing and contrasting these poems, students can develop a nuanced understanding of how different poets approach the theme of war and its consequences.

Example: A grade 9 poetry comparison Power and Conflict essay could explore how both poems use imagery and structure to convey their themes, while also discussing the different perspectives they offer on the impact of war.

This comprehensive analysis of Poppies and Exposure similarities and differences provides a strong foundation for students studying the Power and Conflict Poetry Anthology.