Year 11 - English
Understanding the poem 'War Photographer'
Poetry anthology (Assessment from summer 2027)
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupis read and analyse four poems from the Eduqas poetry anthology. Pupils complete two lessons about each poem: one on understanding and one on analysis. At the end of the unit, pupils analyse themes from across the anthology and practise crafting a sophisticated comparative essay.
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
- Analysing ideas of belonging and heritage in McKay's 'I shall return' Study Guide
- Analysing ideas of belonging in Wordsworth's 'I wandered lonely as a cloud' Study Guide
- Analysing ideas of dehumanisation and apathy in Ghose's 'Decomposition' Study Guide
- Analysing the poem 'War Photographer' Study Guide
- Comparing belonging in 'I wandered lonely as a cloud' and 'I Shall Return' Study Guide
- Comparing ideas of art in Duffy's 'War Photographer' and Ghose's 'Decomposition' Study Guide
- Planning an extended written response on the Eduqas 2025 poetry anthology Study Guide
- Understanding ideas of belonging in McKay's 'I Shall Return' Study Guide
- Understanding ideas of belonging in Wordsworth's 'I wandered lonely as a cloud' Study Guide
- Understanding ideas of dehumanisation and apathy in Ghose's 'Decomposition' Study Guide
- Writing an extended written response on the Eduqas 2025 poetry anthology Study Guide
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