Question 1: Briefly describe the historical context in which Wilfred Owen wrote 'Exposure'. Why is this background important for understanding the poem?

Answer: Wilfred Owen wrote 'Exposure' during World War I, reflecting the harsh realities of trench warfare and the mental and physical suffering of soldiers. This background helps explain the poem's focus on the brutal and inhumane conditions faced by soldiers.

Question 2: What is the main focus of this worksheet regarding 'Exposure'?

Answer: To explore the poem's context, themes, language devices, and how it compares to other poems in the Power and Conflict anthology.

Question 1: Read the opening stanza: 'Our brains ache, in the cold, back on the line.' What does this suggest about the soldiers' physical and mental state?

Answer: It indicates exhaustion and mental fatigue caused by relentless exposure to the cold and constant threat, highlighting the soldiers' suffering.

Question 2: In the line 'Dawn massing in the east her melancholy army', what is the significance of the personification of dawn and the phrase 'melancholy army'?

Answer: Personifying dawn as an 'army' emphasizes the relentless passage of time and the oppressive, mournful mood, reflecting the soldiers' despair.

Question 1: Quote: 'The poignant misery of dawn begins to grow.' How does Owen use language here to convey the soldiers' feelings?

Answer: Owen uses 'poignant misery' to intensify the sense of suffering at dawn, emphasizing emotional pain. 'Begins to grow' suggests that this misery intensifies, evoking a sense of relentless despair.

Question 2: Identify the metaphor in the phrase 'Like a dull rumour of some other war.' What is Owen suggesting about the soldiers' situation?

Answer: The metaphor compares their suffering to a distant, unconfirmed story, suggesting feelings of helplessness and detachment from hope or clarity about their future.

Question 1: How does Owen depict nature in 'Exposure'? What effect does this have on the reader?

Answer: Owen depicts nature as indifferent and hostile, emphasizing its power over humans. This creates a sense of futility and enhances the poem's bleak tone.

Question 2: Discuss how the theme of mental suffering is conveyed in the poem. Use specific examples.

Answer: Owen uses imagery of fatigue, hopelessness, and exposure to the elements to illustrate mental suffering. Phrases like 'our brains ache' and the repetitive 'but nothing happens' reflect the soldiers' psychological torment.

Question 1: Identify key themes to compare between 'Exposure' and 'Ozymandias'. How do each of the poets present the idea of power?

Answer: Both poems explore the impermanence of power; Owen shows the powerlessness of soldiers against nature and war, while Shelley depicts the fleeting nature of human achievement and authority.

Question 2: Outline how you would structure a paragraph comparing Owen’s portrayal of the passage of time with Shelley's depiction of the decay of a statue.

Answer: Introduction of theme of impermanence; compare Owen’s imagery of relentless, indifferent nature with Shelley's imagery of ruins and decay; discuss effects on the reader and poet's intentions.

Question 1: Quote: 'But nothing happens.' How does Owen use this phrase to convey the soldiers' emotional state?

Answer: The repetition of 'nothing happens' emphasizes the monotony and hopelessness of the soldiers' suffering, highlighting a sense of stagnation and despair. The phrase also underscores the futility of their sacrifice.

Question 1: What key points would you include in your paragraph to explain Owen’s use of imagery, tone, and structure?

Answer: Point out Owen’s use of bleak imagery and tone to evoke despair; analyze how the cyclical structure reflects the ongoing suffering; discuss how language choices reinforce themes of futility and the indifference of nature.