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Year 10 - English

Understanding the poem 'The Man He Killed' by Thomas Hardy

'Conflict'

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupis explore 12 of the 15 poems from the 'Conflict' anthology. Pupils complete two lessons on 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 at key points in the unit.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain how Hardy explores attitudes to war.

Key Notes

  • The poem was written during the Boer War.
  • Hardy was very critical of this war and the British Empire's military tactics.
  • Hardy was suspicious that the British Empire wanted to exploit South Africa's natural resources.
  • In the poem, Hardy explores the similarities between two 'enemy' soldiers.
  • He implies that perceiving war as simply a battle between good and evil dehumanises the people fighting,

Vocabulary To Learn

  • perception: the way something is understood or interpreted, influenced by personal beliefs or biases
  • contradiction: a statement or situation that is inconsistent or incompatible with another, causing conflict
  • dehumanising: depicting people as less than human, stripping them of individuality or complexity, often for propaganda
  • propaganda: information or material spread to promote a particular cause or viewpoint, often biased or misleading
  • futility: a feeling of pointlessness or ineffectiveness in achieving a desired outcome or goal

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • This poem is written about soldiers fighting in WWI.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

The poem was written during the Boer War. Hardy was very critical of this war and the British Empire's military tactics.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'perception'

the way something is understood or interpreted, influenced by personal beliefs or biases.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: This poem is written about soldiers fighting in WWI. Correction: This poem was published during the Second Boer War (1899-1902) fought during the Victorian era. The First World War wouldn't begin for another 12 years.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 10 English guide library.