Poppies Power and conflict analysis
“Spasms of paper red, disrupting a blockade of yellow bindings”
- Could be seen as a metaphorical bullet wound, noun ‘blockade’ acts as a barrier (protective
structure) shows how the mother aims to protect her children however the verb ‘disrupt’ implies
that this is unable to happen
- the noun ‘spasm’ imbues a sense of uncontrollable pain and agony which subverts the notion of
‘poppies’ which is conceived as a symbol of peace and hope.
- Semantic field of conflict is shown through the rough language of ‘spasms’, ‘blockade’ and ‘disrupt’
which almost dominates the line. Suggesting that the image of war has left an inescapable mark on
the mother.
- The adjective ‘red’ connotes bloodshed and gore straight away bringing graphic images of war
which contrasts with the yellow pigmented blazer – a colour that resembles and connotes hope.
Example Paragraph
- Poppies presents war in a violent way through the graphic imagery of "spams of paper red that
disrupt the blockade of yellow bindings," which may be viewed as a metaphorical bullet wound,
However, the noun "blockade" creating this image of a barrier in other words a (protective
structure), implying that the mother aims to protect her child, but the verb "disrupt" shows that this
is unable to happen. this line is reinforced by the noun "spasm”, which imbues a sense of
uncontrollable pain and agony of the soldiers being shot, subverting the notion of ‘poppies’ that
what we conceive as an enduring symbol of remembrance of the First World War. Furthermore, Jane
Weir portrays conflict in a vivid way through the use of the semantic field of the rough language
"spams", "blockade", and "disrupt" These 3 words almost dominate the whole stanza by suggesting
that the graphic images of war have left a mark of grief and pain, which is backed up by the adjective
"red", which connotes bloodshed and gore straight away, juxtaposing with the yellow pigmented
blazer, a colour that presents hope and light. Moreover, poppies present war in an unusual manner
as unlike war photographer where war is presented through a cyclical structure here its presented in
a chronological order imbuing this sense that war will always be the same as well as it also being
ambiguous since the recollections of her son's childhood are intertwined with memories of his
departing.
“Steeled the softening of my face”
- ‘steeled’ and ‘softened’ juxtapose because his mother must put on a brave face and be firm which
may contrast with her motherly, warm hearted and loving figure that she must diminish when her
son departs
- the alliteration and antithesis illustrate the linking of the two emotions, demonstrating how they
are felt simultaneously which may resemble this idea of inner turmoil.
Structure
- We see this unorganised and chaotic structure which may reflect the impact that war has left on
those at home
- There are also a couple of caesuras which create a break in the poem reflecting the emotional
breakdown of the mother as her son departs
,
“Spasms of paper red, disrupting a blockade of yellow bindings”
- Could be seen as a metaphorical bullet wound, noun ‘blockade’ acts as a barrier (protective
structure) shows how the mother aims to protect her children however the verb ‘disrupt’ implies
that this is unable to happen
- the noun ‘spasm’ imbues a sense of uncontrollable pain and agony which subverts the notion of
‘poppies’ which is conceived as a symbol of peace and hope.
- Semantic field of conflict is shown through the rough language of ‘spasms’, ‘blockade’ and ‘disrupt’
which almost dominates the line. Suggesting that the image of war has left an inescapable mark on
the mother.
- The adjective ‘red’ connotes bloodshed and gore straight away bringing graphic images of war
which contrasts with the yellow pigmented blazer – a colour that resembles and connotes hope.
Example Paragraph
- Poppies presents war in a violent way through the graphic imagery of "spams of paper red that
disrupt the blockade of yellow bindings," which may be viewed as a metaphorical bullet wound,
However, the noun "blockade" creating this image of a barrier in other words a (protective
structure), implying that the mother aims to protect her child, but the verb "disrupt" shows that this
is unable to happen. this line is reinforced by the noun "spasm”, which imbues a sense of
uncontrollable pain and agony of the soldiers being shot, subverting the notion of ‘poppies’ that
what we conceive as an enduring symbol of remembrance of the First World War. Furthermore, Jane
Weir portrays conflict in a vivid way through the use of the semantic field of the rough language
"spams", "blockade", and "disrupt" These 3 words almost dominate the whole stanza by suggesting
that the graphic images of war have left a mark of grief and pain, which is backed up by the adjective
"red", which connotes bloodshed and gore straight away, juxtaposing with the yellow pigmented
blazer, a colour that presents hope and light. Moreover, poppies present war in an unusual manner
as unlike war photographer where war is presented through a cyclical structure here its presented in
a chronological order imbuing this sense that war will always be the same as well as it also being
ambiguous since the recollections of her son's childhood are intertwined with memories of his
departing.
“Steeled the softening of my face”
- ‘steeled’ and ‘softened’ juxtapose because his mother must put on a brave face and be firm which
may contrast with her motherly, warm hearted and loving figure that she must diminish when her
son departs
- the alliteration and antithesis illustrate the linking of the two emotions, demonstrating how they
are felt simultaneously which may resemble this idea of inner turmoil.
Structure
- We see this unorganised and chaotic structure which may reflect the impact that war has left on
those at home
- There are also a couple of caesuras which create a break in the poem reflecting the emotional
breakdown of the mother as her son departs
,
