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Year 10 - English

Understanding the poem 'What Were They Like?' by Denise Levertov

'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 Levertov presents the atrocities of war.

Key Notes

  • Levertov was active in protesting against the Vietnam War.
  • The poem was written before the withdrawal of American troops in 1973.
  • The Vietnam War was about defeating communism.
  • The US used napalm, a particularly harrowing weapon, against civilians.
  • This poem explores what may have happened if the US and anti-communist forces had won the war.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • civilians: non-military individuals who are not actively engaged in armed conflict
  • napalm: highly flammable sticky substance, typically used in warfare to create firestorms
  • Agent Orange: a powerful herbicide and toxic chemical used by the US in Vietnam to eliminate forest cover and crops
  • culture: the shared customs, beliefs, practices and social institutions of a particular group of people or society
  • communism: an ideology where resources are owned collectively and distributed, aiming for a classless society

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • The Vietnam War was a conflict fought between the US and the country of Vietnam.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

Levertov was active in protesting against the Vietnam War. The poem was written before the withdrawal of American troops in 1973.

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

non-military individuals who are not actively engaged in armed conflict.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: The Vietnam War was a conflict fought between the US and the country of Vietnam. Correction: Following the First Indochina War, Vietnam was split into two regions: communist controlled North Vietnam and South Vietnam, controlled by a non-communist government (supported by the US). The Vietnam War was fought between these two regions.

More Lessons In This Unit

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