Poppies by Jane Weir Flashcards

Flashcards about the poem Poppies by Jane Weir

What is the Poppy a symbol of?

It has been the symbol of remembrance for nearly a century, remembering all soldiers who have died in war. It is also a sign of conflict, wounds/bloodshed and death.

What is the context explored in the poem?

The poem is set in the present day but reaches right back to the beginning of the Poppy Day tradition. Armistice Sunday began as a way of marking the end of the First World War in 1918.

Who is Jane Weir?

Jane Weir describes herself as Anglo-Italian, and grew up in on the outskirts of Manchester on a council estate. She is a textile designer, writer and poet.

What is the poem about?

The poem is about a mother who describes her son leaving home to fight in the army and her emotional reaction to her son leaving. She feels sad, lonely and scared for his safety.

What action does the mother take before her son leaves in 'Poppies'?

The mother prepares her son to leave for war, pinning a poppy onto his lapel.

What are the connotations of 'Sellotape bandaged around my hand'?

This conveys injury or protecting herself like a boxer.

In the poem, what is the key technique used, and what does it convey when the mother makes clothing-related imagery?

Metaphor conveys uncertainty/concern through clothing-related imagery.

What does the simile on the war memorial imply?

She is making a wish as well as perhaps linking to family mealtime memories

What is the poem about?

The poem is about the mother’s emotional reaction to her son leaving – she feels sad, lonely and scared for his safety.

What is the significance of the form of the poem?

The first-person narrative means that the reader gets a strong impression of the mother’s emotions.

How is the mother's separation from her son emphasized in the poem?

The mother’s separation from her son is emphasised by the way she can’t touch or hear him.

What does the imagery of the songbird and dove symbolize?

The song-bird is a metaphor for the mother setting the child free. This then changes into the dove, the symbol of peace – but here the peace the son has found is only the peace of death.

In the poem, what feelings does the mother express?

The mother acts as if she’s lost her son – she is struggling to move on and accept the changes. There are hints that the son may even be dead.