Year 10 - English
Understanding the Poem 'Kamikaze'
'Power and Conflict'
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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 12 of the 15 poems from the 'Power and Conflict' anthology. Pupils complete two lessons about each poem: one on understanding and one on analysis. Pupils study the poems in three groups, and they pause after each group to compare how those poems present common themes.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain the events and big ideas of the poem 'Kamikaze'.
Key Notes
- The poem is based on Kamikaze pilots in WW2 who sacrificed their lives whilst attacking enemy ships.
- Garland explores national vs personal duty in the poem.
- In the poem, thoughts of nature and family seem to make the pilot turn back on his mission.
- The Kamikaze pilot is shunned upon returning home.
- Garland explores the importance placed upon honour and national duty.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Honour: good character and reputation; highly respected.
- Shame: loss of honour or respect.
- Shun: persistently avoid or reject something/someone.
- Poignant: evoking sadness or regret.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Students may not recognise the act of storytelling in the poem nor the four generations that feature.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
The poem is based on Kamikaze pilots in WW2 who sacrificed their lives whilst attacking enemy ships. Garland explores national vs personal duty in the poem.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'Honour'
good character and reputation; highly respected.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Students may not recognise the act of storytelling in the poem nor the four generations that feature. Correction: Explain to the students the poem has one narrator but she is telling the story in 3rd person at the beginning, later revealing herself as the main character as the poem uses italics.
More Lessons In This Unit
- An introduction to themes in the Power and Conflict poetry anthology Study Guide
- Analysing ideas of power and conflict in Blake's 'London' Study Guide
- Analysing the concept of power in Shelley's 'Ozymandias' Study Guide
- Analysing the poem 'Bayonet Charge' Study Guide
- Analysing the poem 'Charge of the Light Brigade' Study Guide
- Analysing the poem 'Exposure' Study Guide
- Analysing the poem 'Extract from The Prelude' Study Guide
- Analysing the Poem 'Kamikaze' Study Guide
- Analysing the poem 'My Last Duchess' Study Guide
- Analysing the poem 'Poppies' Study Guide
- Analysing the Poem 'Remains' Study Guide
- Analysing the poem 'Storm on the Island' Study Guide
- Analysing the poem 'War Photographer' Study Guide
- Comparing 'Poppies' and Duffy's 'War Photographer' Study Guide
- Comparing 'Power and Conflict' war poems Study Guide
- Comparing conflict in war poems from the Power and Conflict anthology Study Guide
- Comparing Romantic poets' attitudes to nature Study Guide
- Comparing the presentation of power in 'My Last Duchess' and 'Ozymandias' Study Guide
- Developing interpretations of 'Remains' with Simon Armitage Study Guide
- Power and Conflict poetry: developing comparative essay writing skills Study Guide
- Understanding the connections between Romanticism and Shelley's 'Ozymandias' Study Guide
- Understanding the poem 'Bayonet Charge' Study Guide
- Understanding the poem 'Charge of the Light Brigade' Study Guide
- Understanding the poem 'Exposure' Study Guide
- Understanding the poem 'Extract from the Prelude' Study Guide
- Understanding the poem 'London' Study Guide
- Understanding the poem 'My Last Duchess' Study Guide
- Understanding the poem 'Poppies' Study Guide
- Understanding the poem 'Remains' Study Guide
- Understanding the poem 'Storm on the Island' Study Guide
- Understanding the poem 'War Photographer' Study Guide
- Writing introductions and topic sentences for poetry comparison Study Guide
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