Year 10 - English
Understanding the poem 'War Photographer'
'Power and Conflict'
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 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 what Duffy's 'War Photographer' is about and understand the underlying context for the poem.
Key Notes
- The speaker may be based on Duffy's friend, Don McCullin, a photojournalist who was moved by his time in warzones.
- In the poem, photojournalism is depicted as an important and necessary job.
- Many photojournalists wish for their photos to incite awareness and social action in the public.
- Duffy's 'War Photographer' seems to criticise our increasing indifference to the victims of conflict.
- The poem explores the lesser-explored experiences of psychological and moral conflict that war presents.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Indifference: lack of interest, concern or sympathy
- Ethical: in accordance with moral conduct
- Conscience: a person's moral sense of right or wrong
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may not understand the concept of photo developing when initially reading the poem and thus not realise what the poem is about.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
The speaker may be based on Duffy's friend, Don McCullin, a photojournalist who was moved by his time in warzones. In the poem, photojournalism is depicted as an important and necessary job.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'Indifference'
lack of interest, concern or sympathy.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils may not understand the concept of photo developing when initially reading the poem and thus not realise what the poem is about. Correction: Explain the process of photo developing film photographs in a dark room - the dark room is because photographs are light-sensitive.
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 'Kamikaze' 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
- Writing introductions and topic sentences for poetry comparison Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 10 English guide library.