Question 1: Read the opening lines: 'I was brave and had lived alone for a long time.' What does this reveal about the narrator's emotional state and her initial attitude toward her son’s departure?

Answer: It shows her sense of independence and resilience, but also hints at underlying vulnerability as she prepares to say goodbye.

Question 2: Examine the line: 'spasms of paper red, disrupting a blockade of yellow.' What imagery is used here, and what effect does it create?

Answer: The imagery of 'paper red' and 'yellow' (possibly poppies and fields) creates a vivid contrast, symbolizing conflict and loss amidst innocence.

Question 3: Identify and interpret the metaphor in the line: 'I pinned one onto your lapel, crimped petals, spasms of paper red.' What is the significance of this metaphor?

Answer: The pinned poppy symbolizes remembrance and sacrifice; the 'crimped petals' suggest fragility, and 'spasms of paper red' evoke the violence of war.

Question 4: Quote Explosion: Analyze the phrase 'like a wishbone.' What does this simile suggest about the narrator's feelings?

Answer: It suggests hope and longing, as a wishbone is associated with making wishes, implying the narrator’s desire for her son’s safety.

Question 5: Look at the line: 'I listened, hoping to hear your playground voice.' How does this detail deepen our understanding of her emotions?

Answer: It highlights her longing and hope, emphasizing her desire to hear her son and her emotional connection to his childhood.

Question 6: Identify and analyze the personification in: 'The war graves a silence.' What is the impact of this device?

Answer: It personifies the war as 'graves' that 'silence' the area, emphasizing the lasting impact of war and loss on the narrator’s mental state.

Question 7: Describe how the structure of the poem, with its shifts between past and present, affects the reader’s understanding of the narrator's experience.

Answer: The shifts create a sense of memory and loss, allowing the reader to understand the emotional depth and ongoing impact of her son’s departure and the war.

Question 8: Compare the theme of conflict in 'Poppies' with that in 'Ozymandias.' How does each poet explore power or its absence?

Answer: Both poems explore the effects of conflict—'Poppies' through personal loss and emotional conflict, 'Ozymandias' through the rise and fall of power structures—highlighting how conflict impacts individuals and societies.

Question 1: How does Jane Weir use language to convey the theme of memory in 'Poppies'?

Answer: She uses nostalgic imagery and personal detail, such as the poppy pin and references to childhood, to evoke the persistence of memory.

Question 2: Discuss how the poem portrays the conflict between personal emotions and societal expectations of remembrance.

Answer: The narrator’s personal grief contrasts with societal rituals of remembrance, highlighting the internal emotional conflict.

Question 1: Identify key similarities and differences in how each poem explores the impact of conflict on individuals.

Answer: Both poems depict conflict’s destructive effects—'Poppies' through personal grief, 'Ozymandias' through the decline of power—highlighting different personal and societal impacts.

Question 2: Outline the points you would include in an essay comparing the poets’ use of language and structure to explore their themes.

Answer: Compare the personal, emotive language in 'Poppies' with the grand, symbolic language in 'Ozymandias.' Discuss how structure supports these themes—'Poppies' with shifts between past and present, 'Ozymandias' with its sonnet form emphasizing decay.