Year 10 - English
Analysing how Owen presents the realities of war in 'Dulce et Decorum Est'
Poetry anthology (Assessment until summer 2026)
Study Hub
Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupis explore 14 of the 18 poems from the Eduqas poetry anthology. Pupils complete two lessons about each poem: one on understanding and one on analysis. Pupils study the poems in a thematically linked order so they can complete comparative and thematic lessons during the unit.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to analyse how Owen uses language, form and structure to present the brutal reality of war.
Key Notes
- Owen uses graphic imagery to portray the brutal reality of war.
- Owen shows the vulnerability of the men in the beginning of the poem, contradicting the public perception of soldiers.
- Owen uses figurative language to convey a vivid account of the gas attack.
- Owen switches tense throughout the poem - perhaps to represent his experiences with PTSD.
- The inclusion of three tenses arguably illustrates the impact that war has had on Owen's past, present and future.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Vulnerable: able to be harmed either physically or emotionally.
- Desensitised: less sensitive or reactive to something.
- Imagery: words used to create a vivid picture in the reader's mind.
- Gruelling: extremely challenging and demanding.
- PTSD: a mental illness caused by trauma, in which the patient may suffer flashbacks, hallucinations, depression and substance abuse.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Students sometimes fail to recognise that the tense shifts as the poem progresses.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
Owen uses graphic imagery to portray the brutal reality of war. Owen shows the vulnerability of the men in the beginning of the poem, contradicting the public perception of soldiers.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'Vulnerable'
able to be harmed either physically or emotionally.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Students sometimes fail to recognise that the tense shifts as the poem progresses. Correction: Owen includes three tenses in his poem, perhaps to illustrate that the impact of war has, is and will be felt in his past, present and future.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Analysing 'Cozy Apologia' by Rita Dove Study Guide
- Analysing 'Valentine' by Carol Ann Duffy Study Guide
- Analysing Brooke's presentation of England and patriotism in 'The Soldier' Study Guide
- Analysing Hardy's presentation of the consequences of war in 'A Wife in London' Study Guide
- Analysing how Armitage presents the effects of war in 'The Manhunt' Study Guide
- Analysing how Browning presents love in 'Sonnet 43' Study Guide
- Analysing how Byron presents the woman in 'She Walks in Beauty' Study Guide
- Analysing how Hughes presents the power of nature in 'Hawk Roosting' Study Guide
- Analysing how Sheers presents the brutality and legacy of war in 'Mametz Wood' Study Guide
- Analysing ideas of community and faith in Dharker's 'Living Space' Study Guide
- Analysing ideas of power and conflict in Blake's 'London' Study Guide
- Analysing ideas of time and loss of innocence in Larkin's 'Afternoons' Study Guide
- Analysing model answers on poetry from the Eduqas anthology Study Guide
- Analysing the concept of power in Shelley's 'Ozymandias' Study Guide
- Comparing how poets explore relationships in the Eduqas anthology Study Guide
- Comparing how poets explore the experience of war in the Eduqas anthology Study Guide
- Considering the context of Sheers' 'Mametz Wood' and the futility of war Study Guide
- Critical attitudes to powerful institutions in 'London' and 'Ozymandias' Study Guide
- Developing interpretations of 'The Manhunt' with Simon Armitage Study Guide
- Exploring the Eduqas poetry anthology Study Guide
- Planning a written response on poetry from the Eduqas anthology Study Guide
- Understanding 'Cozy Apologia' by Rita Dove Study Guide
- Understanding 'Valentine' by Carol Ann Duffy Study Guide
- Understanding how Armitage presents the effects of war in 'The Manhunt' Study Guide
- Understanding how Hardy presents the consequences of war in 'A Wife in London' Study Guide
- Understanding how Hughes presents the power of nature in 'Hawk Roosting' Study Guide
- Understanding how the woman is presented in Byron's 'She Walks in Beauty' Study Guide
- Understanding ideas of community and resilience in Dharker's 'Living Space' Study Guide
- Understanding ideas of patriotism and optimism in Brooke's 'The Soldier' Study Guide
- Understanding ideas of power and corruption in Blake's 'London' Study Guide
- Understanding ideas of time, family, and pessimism in Larkin's 'Afternoons' Study Guide
- Understanding the connections between Romanticism and Shelley's 'Ozymandias' Study Guide
- Understanding the presentation of love in Browning's 'Sonnet 43' Study Guide
- Understanding the realities of war in Owen's 'Dulce et Decorum Est' Study Guide
- Writing excellent comparative essays on poetry from the Eduqas anthology Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 10 English guide library.