The Battle

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The Battle

• Louis Simpson
• Kevin Cahill Mayfield CS

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All Quiet on the Western Front
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The BattlebyLouis Simpson

• Listen to a reading of the poem (x 2)
• Mark two lines or phrases in the poem you find
  interesting
• Write down two questions you have about the poem

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Setting of the poem

• This poem is set in World War One. It is a
  detailed description of trench warfare where
  soldiers sacrificed their lives for their
  countries. Louis Simpson evokes the sounds and
  sights of trench warfare.
• Homework Find out seven facts about World War
  one, particularly trench warfare.

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Descriptive words

• Pairwork
• Pick out verbs and adjectives that are
  descriptive in each verse of this poem
• Which ones are your favourite? Why?

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Similes

• A simile creates a comparison using like or as
• Can you find any similes in this poem?
• What are being compared to one another?

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They sank like moles
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Like the circle of a throat/ The night on every
side was turning red
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Using colour in the poem

• Pairwork
• Look for the poets use of colour.
• Write each line that emphasises a particular
  colour
• What atmosphere is created by that image

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Onomatopoeia

• Onomatopoeia when a word sounds like its meaning
• Guns thudded
• the first shell landed with a crack

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Striking Visual Imagery

• Around a cigarette, and the bright ember
• Would pulse with all the life there was
  within

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Task

• Your a soldier in World War One. Write a letter
  home to your family describing your experiences
  in the trenches.
• You may include
• - a description of the conditions at the front
• - what you think about life in the trenches
• - what you miss about home
• What you are looking forward to when you return