Does It Matter?

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Does It Matter?

Literature

Before we start..

A short test to see what you remember

In The Soldier, why was the concealed dust 'richer'?

1. It was made of gold.
2. It was made of honour.
3. It was made by a rich man.
4. I have absolutely no idea.

Which poem was more positive about war?

1. Dulce et Decorum Est
2. The Soldier
3. Both were very positive
4. Both were very negative

Both poems take place at the same time. When was this?

Let's continue

Does It Matter?

by Siegfried Sassoon

Before we start..

What is the same with each stanza?

The similarity is...

They all start with a question. We'll see later on why this is important.

1. What is the rhyme scheme of this poem?

The rhyme scheme is...

ABBCA DBBCD EFFGE

• Here too we see masculine rhyme (hunting > remembering)

This poem can be seen as ironic. Explain why.

Discuss in pairs or groups of three.

After that: class discussion

Correct answer

The poem starts with a question whether it matters if someone has certain side effects from the war (losing legs, turning blind, PTSD) and states why it does not matter, but obviously it matters, because no one would like to have these after effects. 

3. What type or irony is this?

1. dramatic
2. situational
3. verbal

Why verbal?

the author states like all these side effects do not matter, but he means the opposite.

4. What does the author mean
with the word 'pit' in stanza 3?

The pit

• the battlefield
• the trenches

In Dulce Et Decorum Est the author talks about “smothering dreams”. In this poem the author also talks about dreams. 

4. What do you think these dreams are about?

The dreams are about

Most likely about the horrific scenes they have encountered while fighting.

What are the similarities and differences between Does It Matter and Dulce et Decorum Est?

Discuss in pairs or groups of three.

Similarities / Differences to Dulce

Similarities:

• Both poems written in 1917 (when Sassoon and Owen met)
  
• Both Dulce Et Decorum Est and Does It Matter are negative about the war.
  
• Both poems talk about having nightmares from the battlefield
  

Differences:

• Dulce et Decorum Est is much more graphic
  

I think I understand this text well enough for the test.

Yes

No

Continue

If you have answered yes, continue with your weektask.

If you have answered no, please let me know what you do not understand (yet).