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Poetic terms in Anthem for Doomed Youth Matching activity

Subject(s): English

Age group(s): 12–14, 15–16

Topic: Analysing poetry

EAL Nexus resource

Licence information | This resource is free to use for educational purposes. ©British Council 2015

Source | This resource was originally developed by Alison Fisher and has been adapted by EAL Nexus.

The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells; And bugles calling for them from sad shires.

Only the stuttering rifles’ rapid rattle

passing-bells, hasty orisons, prayers, bells, choirs, candles

What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?

Only the monstrous anger of the guns.

The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;

The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells; And bugles calling for them from sad shires.

Only the stuttering rifles’ rapid rattle

The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall; Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,

The pallor of girls' brows

pall

What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?

I love to hear her speak, yet well I know That music hath a far more pleasing sound; I grant I never saw a goddess go; My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground: And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare As any she belied with false compare.

A sonnet is usually a romantic poem. It has 14 lines which are split into an octet (eight lines) and a sestet (six lines). The octet often has an abab rhyme scheme and the poem ends with a rhyming couplet.

What candles may be held to speed them all? Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes. The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall; Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds, And each slow dusk a drawing down of blinds.

Sonnet 130 – William Shakespeare My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; Coral is far more red than her lips' red; If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. I have seen roses damask'd, red and white, But no such roses see I in her cheeks; And in some perfumes is there more delight Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.

Anthem for doomed youth What passing-bells for these who die as cattle? Only the monstrous anger of the guns. Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle Can patter out their hasty orisons. No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells, Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs, - The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells; And bugles calling for them from sad shires.

contrast

alliteration

a symbol

effect

personification

a simile

comparison

onomatopoeia

a metaphor

irony

juxtaposition

Noun Verb Adjective

contrast contrast

contrasting There is a contrast

between war and ………………………………………………………………

The poet skilfully contrasts the war ……………………………..………………………….....

The contrasting ideas of war and …………………………………………………………………...

Noun Adjective

alliteration alliterative

The poet uses alliteration to create a ……………………………… …………………………………………..

The alliterative use of the -r sound helps create the sense of …………………………………………..

Noun Verb Adjective

a symbol symbolise symbolic The religious images are symbols of ……….. …………………..............

They also symbolise ………………………………………………………...

The religious images are symbolic of ……………….. ……………………………….

Noun Verb Adjective

effect affect

effective

This image creates the effect that ………………. ……………………………….

It affects the reader by creating ………….. …………………………….

There is an effective use of imagery comparing …………………………………………………………………….

Noun Verb

personification personify

Personification is used when ………………………………………………….

The poet personifies the ………………………………………………………………………………………………

Noun Verb

juxtaposition juxtapose The juxtaposition of the two worlds

…..……………………………………………. …………………………………………………

Owen juxtaposes the idea of ……………………………………………..……………………………………..........

Noun Verb

comparison compare

The poet makes a comparison between the ……………………….. …………………………………………...

The poet compares the two different worlds ……………………. ……………………………………………

Noun Adjective

onomatopoeia onomatopoeic

Onomatopoeia is used ……………………………………..

The onomatopoeic use of the word ……………………………….. ………………………...................

Noun Adjective/Adverb

a metaphor metaphorical/metaphorically

Owen uses this metaphor to suggest that ……………………….. ………………………………………….. …………………………………………..

Here, funeral flowers are represented metaphorically. ………………………………………………………........................................

Noun

a simile

This simile implies that ………………………………………………………..… …………………………………………………………………………..………………..

Noun Adjective

irony ironic

There is irony in the poem’s structure because ……………………. ……………………………………………….

The ironic use of ……………………. ………………………………………………

Noun Verb Adjective

contrast contrast

contrasting

Noun Adjective

alliteration alliterative

Noun Verb Adjective

a symbol symbolise symbolic

Noun Verb Adjective

effect affect

effective

Noun Verb

personification personify

Noun Verb

juxtaposition juxtapose

Noun Verb

comparison compare

Noun Adjective

onomatopoeia onomatopoeic

Noun Adjective/Adverb

a metaphor metaphorical/metaphorically

Noun

a simile

Noun Adjective

irony ironic