Compare how poets present the effects of conflict in ‘Poppies’ and one other poem
In ‘Poppies’ and ‘War Photographer’, both poets present the vigorous effect of conflict as
tough but also enervate. However, in ‘Poppies’ conflict, conflicting ideas and the effects of
conflict are shown through how those away from violence are affected as loved ones are
sent away whereas ‘War Photographer’ focuses on photographer's mental wellbeing as they
are depicted as being deeply affected without any moral support or sympathy.
In ‘Poppies’, Jane Weir presents an inner conflict describing how she wishes for the intimacy
that she once had to return “like a wishbone”. This suggests that she views her son as more
important than any other soldier and just wishes for him to stay sheltered and safe.
Although she is grateful for the sacrifices and the services provided by the soldiers, the
mother cannot help but pray for the death of the other soldiers instead of her sons. The
noun “wishbone” connotes fragility as it signifies her emotional vulnerability but can also
infer that she is getting lost in her thoughts and memories which may permanently leave her
at the pinnacle of distress. However, it could also illustrate the idea that she views her son
as vulnerable and too precious to put his life at risk but acknowledges the fact that it is his
decision which demonstrates the unbreakable, vigorous bond between the two. Weir's
intention was to evoke the reader with emotion and contemplate a time that could have
brought absence or emotion in order to empathise with the mother.
Similarly, in ‘War Photographer’, Duffy presents the idea of inner conflict in order to portray
the excruciating pain and frustration as the photos are considered unimportant. The
sibilance and plosive sounds used in the quote “Sunday’s supplement” are words that roll
easily off the tongue and the way the reader is able to spit the words out highlights the war
photographer’s imagination towards society, because he cannot truly affect the naïve
members of society. To some extent, we notice the photographer acknowledge that some
readers of “Sunday’s supplement” will feel the pain and misery of the photographs, but this
is a temporary emotion, quickly surpassed and forgotten.
Jane Weir uses a variety of methods to show the effects conflict has on those not fighting
but feeling the emotions the soldiers go through.
The use of structure and language is important in presenting these features as Weir’s
metaphor “spasms of paper red" in Stanza 1, line 5 features the syntactic inversion; the
effect is subtle however it forces us to notice only the ‘spasms’, its imagery of vulnerability,
innocence and suffering. Also, the shade ‘red’ which has powerful connotations of blood,
anger and danger. Jane Weir uses the metaphors and similes to capture the cruel,
misogynistic views of the patriotic politics. She appears to confidently state how propaganda
has “intoxicated” and exposed young, gullible men into giving up everything for patriotism
and being brainwashed into leaving their mothers behind with the duty to just wait and deal
with the grief without knowing whether their son will return.
Interestingly, Duffy presents the photographers emotional, physical and psychological
conflict as he attempts to block out his emotions: “He has a job to do”. By using this
In ‘Poppies’ and ‘War Photographer’, both poets present the vigorous effect of conflict as
tough but also enervate. However, in ‘Poppies’ conflict, conflicting ideas and the effects of
conflict are shown through how those away from violence are affected as loved ones are
sent away whereas ‘War Photographer’ focuses on photographer's mental wellbeing as they
are depicted as being deeply affected without any moral support or sympathy.
In ‘Poppies’, Jane Weir presents an inner conflict describing how she wishes for the intimacy
that she once had to return “like a wishbone”. This suggests that she views her son as more
important than any other soldier and just wishes for him to stay sheltered and safe.
Although she is grateful for the sacrifices and the services provided by the soldiers, the
mother cannot help but pray for the death of the other soldiers instead of her sons. The
noun “wishbone” connotes fragility as it signifies her emotional vulnerability but can also
infer that she is getting lost in her thoughts and memories which may permanently leave her
at the pinnacle of distress. However, it could also illustrate the idea that she views her son
as vulnerable and too precious to put his life at risk but acknowledges the fact that it is his
decision which demonstrates the unbreakable, vigorous bond between the two. Weir's
intention was to evoke the reader with emotion and contemplate a time that could have
brought absence or emotion in order to empathise with the mother.
Similarly, in ‘War Photographer’, Duffy presents the idea of inner conflict in order to portray
the excruciating pain and frustration as the photos are considered unimportant. The
sibilance and plosive sounds used in the quote “Sunday’s supplement” are words that roll
easily off the tongue and the way the reader is able to spit the words out highlights the war
photographer’s imagination towards society, because he cannot truly affect the naïve
members of society. To some extent, we notice the photographer acknowledge that some
readers of “Sunday’s supplement” will feel the pain and misery of the photographs, but this
is a temporary emotion, quickly surpassed and forgotten.
Jane Weir uses a variety of methods to show the effects conflict has on those not fighting
but feeling the emotions the soldiers go through.
The use of structure and language is important in presenting these features as Weir’s
metaphor “spasms of paper red" in Stanza 1, line 5 features the syntactic inversion; the
effect is subtle however it forces us to notice only the ‘spasms’, its imagery of vulnerability,
innocence and suffering. Also, the shade ‘red’ which has powerful connotations of blood,
anger and danger. Jane Weir uses the metaphors and similes to capture the cruel,
misogynistic views of the patriotic politics. She appears to confidently state how propaganda
has “intoxicated” and exposed young, gullible men into giving up everything for patriotism
and being brainwashed into leaving their mothers behind with the duty to just wait and deal
with the grief without knowing whether their son will return.
Interestingly, Duffy presents the photographers emotional, physical and psychological
conflict as he attempts to block out his emotions: “He has a job to do”. By using this
