Analysing 'Poppies' | Exit Quiz | Oak National Academy

In 'Poppies', the mother "steel[ing] the softening of her face" could reflect...

• how she represses her grief when saying goobye to her son

• how she found it easy to say goodbye to her son

• how she does not want to be alone

Answer explanation

Perhaps through repressing her own emotions, the mother is trying to protect her son from her own grief as she knows this would sadden him.

The act of "releasing a song bird from its cage" in 'Poppies' could represent...

• the mother letting her son go

• the mother finally unleashing her grief

• the mother releasing her son's childhood pet

Answer explanation

There is more than one interpretation for this image. Consider both when writing about the poem to ensure your answer is nuanced.

The two sestets either side of long stanzas could reflect…

• how war seems to never end

• the conflict between the mother and her son

• how the mother tries to contain her grief

Answer explanation

The longer stanzas in the middle of the poem may symbolise the overwhelming, uncontrollable nature of grief that spills out of a person and cannot be contained.

"The word “stitch” could further reflect how the mother tries to keep her grief neat and tidy". This response contains...

• absolute langauge

• tentative language

• emotive language

Answer explanation

We must use tentative language in essays as we cannot be certain on any one interpretation or idea.

What is one way to ensure a nuanced answer when writing essays about poems?

• choose the first analysis that comes to your head

• name the poet's literary devices

• consider alternative interpretations of something in the poem

Answer explanation

There are multiple interpretations of the title 'Poppies', if you discuss more than one in your response, you increase the chances of your answer being nuanced.

Why might Weir have chosen the title "Poppies"?

• to encourage the reader to wear a poppy every year

• to encourage the reader to reflect on the grief that lies within the symbol

• to criticise the sheer loss of life in war

• to emphasise the many mothers that experience the same grief as the speaker

Answer explanation

Weir's poem gives us a deep insight into what the poppy means to one mother. It shows us that the poppy is not just something to wear, it carries deep histories of grief and trauma for loved ones of those that die at war.