WWI Poetry I

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 6

6V War Poetry Project 

Discussing poetry of the first World War

Introduction

• Watch the following clip
• Find out what started World War I

Procedure

1. Form groups of three
2.  Read the poems in your booklet
3. Each person picks one poem: at least one by Owen, one by Sassoon, preferably also one by one of the femaie authors
4. Pick a date to present

Presentations schedule

Group 1: 13 October  (+0,5)

Group 2: 20 October (+0,3)

Group 3: 3 November 

Group 4: 10 November

Group 5: 17 November

Form groups asap and pick a date (first come, first served)

Procedure

5. Each person develops a thesis statement: an argument about your poem that you can support with evidence.

Wilfred Owen

(1893 - 1918)

 'All a poet can do today is warn. That is why the true Poets must be truthful'.

Born in Shropshire

Failed to get into university

Worked as a lay assistent to a vicar in Reading

Worked as an English tutor in France when the war broke out

Enlisted in 1915

Battle of the Somme 1917, came back with shellshock, Craiglockhart Hospital in Edinburgh. Met Sassoon there.

Died one week before the armistace. 

Siegfried Sassoon

(1886 - 1967)

Suicide in the Trenches

I knew a simple soldier boy

Who grinned at life in empty joy,

Slept soundly through the lonesome dark,

And whistled early with the lark.

In winter trenches, cowed and glum,

With crumps and lice and lack of rum,

He put a bullet through his brain.

No one spoke of him again.

You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye

Who cheer when soldier lads march by,

Sneak home and pray you'll never know

The hell where youth and laughter go.

Procedure

6. Work on your presentation.

7. Ready? Read the poems of your team mates. Come up with questions for discussion. 

Presentation

1. Each member presents their arguments on their poem. 

2. You discuss your poems with one another. Your teacher will serve as discussion leader. 

 

www.theguardian.com

www.bbc.co.uk

ww1lit.nsms.ox.ac.uk

www.poetryfoundation.org

www.poetryfoundation.org

Next week

Develop a thesis statement for your poem/poet.

Check with me before you continue!