Question 1: Identify two literary devices used in the extract and explain their effects.

Answer: Examples include imagery ('sky was a flare of blood') emphasizing chaos and vivid description, and metaphor ('soldier’s mind was a battlefield') highlighting internal conflict.

Question 2: What mood or tone is created by the language in the excerpt?

Answer: The language creates a tense, chaotic, and visceral tone reflecting the horrors of war.

Question 3: Describe the significance of the imagery 'molten iron' in the context of the poem.

Answer: It symbolizes intense emotion, pain, or the destructive power of war, emphasizing the soldier's suffering.

Question 4: Identify the specific technique used in the phrase 'stumbling across a field of clods' and discuss its impact.

Answer: The phrase uses visual imagery and alliteration ('clods', 'c') to evoke the uneven terrain and difficulty of movement, emphasizing the soldier's struggle.

Question 5: Explain how the structure of the extract contributes to the depiction of chaos and urgency.

Answer: The rapid, fragmented sentences and repetition mirror the chaos and frantic movement of the soldier, creating a sense of urgency and disorientation.

Question 6: Discuss the use of sensory imagery in the extract and its effect on the reader.

Answer: Sensory imagery such as 'hot khaki,' 'sweat,' and 'blood' immerses the reader in the soldier's physical and emotional experience, intensifying empathy.

Question 7: Analyze the theme of internal conflict in the passage. How is this conveyed?

Answer: Internal conflict is conveyed through phrases like 'soldier’s mind was a battlefield,' illustrating the clash between fear and duty within the soldier's psyche.

Question 8: Based on the passage, what might be the message or perspective the poet is conveying about war?

Answer: The poet highlights the chaos, suffering, and internal turmoil of soldiers, suggesting war dehumanizes and devastates individuals.

Question 9: Create a short poem (10 lines) that captures the emotional experience of a soldier in war, inspired by the extract.

Answer: See full answer key