Aims of the lesson•To understand how the poem Exposure fits into the collection•To examine how the imagery is used to create meaning

Wilfred Owen• Signed up to fight in WW1 at

the age of 22• Owen wrote frankly about

his experiences of war.• He talked openly about the

suffering and horror that he witnessed which contrasted with the positive and patriotic images of war propaganda which was encouraged in Britain.

• He was killed one week before the end of the war at the age of 25

Have a look at the following two images...what

impression do you get about the

living conditions of the soldiers?

Word Meaning

merciless Showing no mercy. It is used to describe the ‘iced east winds that knive us’. Helps to build up the image of the winds as people – personification.

salientincessantlypoignantmelancholynonchalancestealthrejoiceinvinciblepuckering

Language and Imagery

In your group, discuss the phrase which you have been assigned from the list below. Analyse the phrase together.

a. Merciless iced east windsb. Mad gusts tugging on the wirec. Twitching agonies of men among its bramblesd. Like a dull rumour of some other ware. Poignant misery of dawnf. Dawn massing in the east her melancholy armyg. The air that shudders black with snowh. Pale flakes with fingering stealth

Language and ImageryPhrase

“Mad gusts tugging on the wire”

Analysis

The personification suggests despair, violence and helplessness. The alliteration reflects a quick jerky action and conveys a violent image of life in the trenches.

Self assessment

1. Did my partner name a language device?2. Did my partner integrate quotes effectively?3. Did my partner comment on how the language

conveys the poet’s ideas?4. Did my partner develop their argument by

making links to another part in the poem?5. Did my partner use the key words of the

question in their final line to show they had answered the question? /5

What have you learned? Pick out one example from the poem which explores the idea of clashes and

collisions