Year 10 - English
Understanding the Poem 'Kamikaze'
Poetry anthology (Assessment from summer 2027)
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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 11 of the 15 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 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
- Analysing extended responses to the Eduqas poetry anthology Study Guide
- Analysing ideas of love and relationships in Ewing's 'Origin Story' Study Guide
- Analysing ideas of uncertainty and intensity in Kay's 'Dusting the Phone' Study Guide
- Analysing ideas of war and inevitability in Hardy's 'Drummer Hodge' Study Guide
- Analysing ideas of war and isolation in Owen's 'Disabled' Study Guide
- Analysing ideas of youth and nature in Blake's 'The Schoolboy' Study Guide
- Analysing ideas of youth and nostalgia in Heaney's 'Blackberry Picking' Study Guide
- Analysing the poem 'Catrin' by Gillian Clarke Study Guide
- Analysing the poem 'Cousin Kate' by Christina Rossetti Study Guide
- Analysing the Poem 'Kamikaze' Study Guide
- Analysing the Poem 'Remains' Study Guide
- Analysing the poem 'Sonnet 29' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning Study Guide
- Comparing ideas of identity and isolation in 'Disabled and 'Kamikaze' Study Guide
- Comparing ideas of love and identity in 'Catrin' and 'Origin Story' Study Guide
- Comparing ideas of love in 'Sonnet 29', 'Cousin Kate' and 'Dusting the Phone' Study Guide
- Comparing ideas of war in Hardy's 'Drummer Hodge' and Armitage's 'Remains' Study Guide
- Comparing ideas of youth and nature in 'The Schoolboy' and 'Blackberry Picking' Study Guide
- Developing interpretations of 'Remains' with Simon Armitage Study Guide
- Exploring and responding to the Eduqas poetry anthology Study Guide
- Planning a written response on the Eduqas poetry anthology Study Guide
- Reviewing a written response on the Eduqas poetry anthology Study Guide
- Understanding ideas of love and obsession in Kay's 'Dusting the Phone' Study Guide
- Understanding ideas of love and relationships in Ewing's 'Origin Story' Study Guide
- Understanding ideas of war and isolation in Owen's 'Disabled' Study Guide
- Understanding ideas of war in Hardy's 'Drummer Hodge' Study Guide
- Understanding ideas of youth and nature in Blake's 'The Schoolboy' Study Guide
- Understanding ideas of youth and nostalgia in Heaney's 'Blackberry Picking' Study Guide
- Understanding the poem 'Catrin' by Gillian Clarke Study Guide
- Understanding the poem 'Cousin Kate' by Christina Rossetti Study Guide
- Understanding the poem 'Remains' Study Guide
- Understanding the poem 'Sonnet 29' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning Study Guide
- Writing a written response on the Eduqas poetry anthology Study Guide
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