Poppies: A Summary of the Poem + Analysis and Annotations
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Course
English
Institution
GCSE
This document contains the following:
1. What the poem is about
2. Why the poem was written (context + origins)
3. 4 key quotes + analysis of techniques used
4. form and structure analysis
Name of Poem: Poppies Poet: Jane Weir
What is the poem The poem is about a mother sending her son off to war, and the grief the mother experiences in her far future
about? after her son’s death.
What is the context of When Poppies was written, British soldiers were still fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, but the poem isn’t specific
the poem (including to any war; it’s purpose is to commemorate all the soldiers who had died, but also give voice to the people at
home who in fact, may have suffered a longer extent of grief than the soldiers.
the poet’s
intentions)?
Key quotation What does it suggest? Analysis of meaning, word choice, technique, structure
1: “I rounded up as many This suggests that even though we Symbolism: the white cat hairs are evidence of home life, showing that a
white cat hairs as I typically see soldiers as men fighting soldier is not purely comprised of fighting, but also gentler moments like
could…” on frontiers, this intimate detail spending time with family at home.
shows that these men also had a life Structure: the relatively longer sentence shows how long it’s taking to
at home and people who mattered remove evidence of home from the boy – even though the mom is
to them. trying to do so, she still can’t get all of them, just like how she can’t get
the memory of childhood out of her head.
2: “to run my fingers This suggests that the mother is Symbolism: there is a Biblical reference about the blackthorns and
through the gelled trying to break the Jesus’ crown of thorns, which was what he wore when he was sacrificed
blackthorns of your hair.” perfection/rigidity that being a on the cross, and it symbolises how the soldiers were sent off as
soldier requires, but she knows that sacrifices.
if she breaks her strong façade, she Keyword: “gelled” shows the rigidity and perfection that being a soldier
won’t be able to let him go even requires to hold resolute even though home is so comforting and
though she desperately wants to tempting to return to because, according to propaganda, dying in war is
bring him back to his innocent the better choice.
childhood.
3: “A split second/and you This demonstrates how soldiers the Keyword: “split second” shows how quickly and sharply the boy left his
were away, intoxicated.” reason why soldiers were drawn mother.
from their homes: because of the Tone: the mother’s tone is bittersweet as she sends her boy off, because
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