Question 1: Who is the speaker in this extract, and what is their emotional state?

Answer: The speaker appears to be a parent leaving their child, feeling brave yet emotional and sorrowful.

Question 2: Identify a metaphor in the extract and explain its significance.

Answer: Poppies blooming amidst ruins symbolize memories of peace and past wars, contrasting hope with destruction.

Question 3: What techniques are used to evoke a dystopian future in this poem excerpt?

Answer: a) Use of vivid imagery and symbolism

Question 4: Describe the mood created by the imagery of 'silence and dust'.

Answer: It creates a somber, desolate mood reflecting loss and abandonment.

Question 5: Discuss how the symbol of 'poppies' connects to the theme of war and memory in a dystopian setting.

Answer: Students should analyze how poppies traditionally symbolize remembrance of war dead, and in this context, they represent the lingering memories of past conflicts amidst a bleak future, emphasizing the enduring impact of war on human memory and identity.

Question 6: How does the extract depict the contrast between innocence and destruction?

Answer: It shows children playing unaware of the destruction, highlighting innocence, while the background imagery depicts chaos and ruin.

Question 7: Identify and explain the significance of the phrase 'clutching their noisy toys'.

Answer: It signifies the innocence of children and how, despite the dystopian setting, they cling to symbols of normalcy and childhood.

Question 8: Analyze the use of tone in this excerpt. How does it contribute to the overall message?

Answer: Students should discuss how the tone is somber and reflective, emphasizing loss, resilience, and the enduring memory of war, which reinforces the poem's themes.

Question 9: Create a short poem (4-6 lines) that reflects the themes of memory and hope in a dystopian future, inspired by 'Poppies'.

Answer: See full answer key