THEME: CONFLICTS

1. WILFRED OWEN: DULCE ET DECORUM EST Biography: Refer to Dictionary of Literature Themes: Overall conflicts between humans Conflicts manifested through war Killing without mercy Cruelty of Mankind Is WAR the solution? Are there any other means to settle differences? Language: Stanza 1 stark reality of wars exhausted soldiers bent double old beggars knock-kneed burdened by war, lines- a lot of redundancy repeating emphasising stark reality - bent double under sacks of coal in order to reinforce the image of extremely tired, exhausted soldiers. Stanza 2 Sense of urgency, panic, helplessness as conveyed by fumbling, yelling stumbling, floundering and ultimately drowning and under the toxic imagery green sea image of drowning man Like being swallowed by a death mist, drowning in poisonous gas Sudden urgency - there was Gas - more like saying that while they were walking, suddenly there is gas in the dark and something exploded End of first stanza - it was dark, shell every where yet cant be bothered and suddenly one exploded before them Image of fumbling, lost, dont know what to do Floundering, a sense of helplessness like fish out water gasping for air Stanza 3 Only 2 lines Dreamlike quality as if unreal yet it is real - stark! To see a person really dying raw image of dying person and he brings it back to the present in the last 4 lines 1st & 2nd stanza in the past tense but in 3rd stanza, present tense - it is real. He still has nightmares about it. Cannot get out of the situation. He plunges at me.. grammar ing (pr cont tense) as if real, still happening, can still feel it haunting him, he is drowning in his past, the horror of his experience is still haunting . it is a recurring nightmare, helplessness; tenses show it - pr cont tense green sea very deep end of the sea you just cannot go anywhere or escape

Stanza 4 Raw image of a dying man, white eyes, hanging face never in your wildest imagination can you see or feel it unless you have seen one experienced it so you call this dying for your country? Reaction of the soldier dying in such excruciating circumstances likens it to cancer incurable source innocent tongues did not go with the real idea of war young & nave. Bringing us back to the present reality. Think doing an honourable deed dying for the country think that going to war for the country is n honourable act. Is it so? Is it indeed honourable to die for the country and in excruciating depressing circumstances ? The old lie if u knew how extreme the circumstances wer u wouldnt say it is patriotic to die for ones country. Tone to say/tell u the horrors of war. The glorified version of going to war The reality of war is not what u think but it is far worse than u could ever imagine. So tone begins with n depressing one and it move to panic and finally end in reflection panic and u come to a situation where u cannot escape helplessness negative reflective tone Point of View personas personal experience. How does it contribute to the whole poem again it reinforces the stark reality of the war Figures of Speech Similes bent double like old beggars under sacks, bitter as a cud of vile Metaphors stanza 2 - whole thing a clear metaphor of a drowning man Comparisons comparison in terms of time Flashback from the present but it cannot be divorced from the past Imagery colour - bloodshot eyes, green sea, white eyes - sense of sight No personification - Merely describing with a lot of similes Suggested Activities Scrap book on war, suffering soldiers Talk ab hist of WW1 / wars Film clips or pics of soldiers during WW1. Internet reseach / project work Questions to ponder A.1. Ll 1&2 what image is conveyed from these lines 2. St 2 L l 3-6 what has happened to a) the soldiers b) one man in particular B. Describe how the persona show the stark reality of war C. From the personas point of view why is it not honourable to die for ones country? Can differences between / within countries be settled through wars?

2. THOMAS HARDY :The Man He Killed Biography: Refer to Dict of Lit Themes; In war you dont know who your friend or enemy is Senselessness of war War severs/dissolves friendship Message Even in times of war ur friend could be ur enemy Language Monosyllabic words very strong words to express how he kills so easily pressing idea of negativity foe not enemy That give u the stress points no staccato stress, stress so the line between friendships is merely a thin line that can be dissolved with war. Hardy employs the 4-lines trad style alternate rhymes Poems short following poetic style showing u the frivolousness of killing people choice of words and the monosyllabic words is musical no big deal to kill the life of another human The carelessness of human life No value, respect for human life Just so my foe Shoot first then look for reason for shooting St 3 The simplicity of the language and words used , the actions , the reasons given foe killing his foe , the monosyllabic words used bring upon us rthe starkness and horror of war as if its alright to kill because its WAR Quaint curious war all in one line in relation to war make us wonder where humanity has gone to Lack of humanity Lack of compassion for the death of another fellow human Stanza 1- friendly Nipperkin drinking buddies Stanza 2 war, foe Since they were both in the army infantry, shot Stanza 3 Justifying his action because killed him Stanza 4 Joined as soldiers because no work, no animal to trap as hunter

Stanza 5 War is strange u kill where u could have been good drinking buddies or even share to buy drinks Tone: Casual Matter-of-fact No feeling of remorse today u r friend, tomorrow foe Scary when man comes to such a sitn Frivolous St 5 killing , casual so starkness of war treated casually and matter of factly Scary because your friend could be ur enemy next Point of View; Personas point of view Suggested Activities: Give examples of how human life is seen as valueless Discussion of why people turn against each other Questions to Ponder: S1 What would have happened if the two men had met in an inn? S2 Describe the circumstances under which the two men actually meet. S3 What reason does the speaker give for shooting? S4 In what ways does the speaker compare the dead man to himself? Interpretation: Explain the irony of line 17 and of the poem in general What is your attitude towards war from your reading of the poem? A. Why did the persona shoot the other person in S3 5m B. Explain the irony in the relationship between the persona and the person he met C. Do you agree with the persona that there is a thin line between friend and foe. D. Why do you think the persona says that war is quaint and curious

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3. CECIL RAJENDRA: Death of a Rainforest Biography Themes: Mans disregard of nature in favour of money The whole poem is a process which leads to the destruction of the enviroment Language: A lot of repetition. But no words will come repeated three times No action, No ones doing anything ab it or speaking of them All in pr cont tense still on-going Later past tense all gone see the stark reality of the process Metaphorically no words will come means no action. Tone: Sense of helplessness, speechless, hopelessness Hopelessness everything gone foe money widowed wind howling m- nothing to block it Nature is already complaining but Man not saying or doing anything, no action, Personification in last stanza S3 a lot of words on noise S2 line see a process but in the end, no one does anything. Environment gone , desecrated End tone of anger being personified in frustration Suggested Activities Pre-reading: Remind students about The Dead Crow Watch a documentary or movie about saving the rainforests Post-reading Project _ go around and take pictures about the destruction of the environment / rainforests Questions to Ponder 1. In S4, why are there no words to describe what is happening? 2. What is Mans attitude towards Nature? 3. Progress comes with a price. Based on the poem, what does the poet reveal in this poem?

4. STANLEY KUNITZ: The War Against the Trees Biography Themes War against the trees the result is permanent destruction Battle small; war bigger scale Decisiveness Language Use of narrative mode to show the war against nature with specific reference to the destruction of trees Metaphors It took centuries to grow but just a short while to destroy them Bulldozers working full time drunk with gasoline Magnanimous picture of tree giants being felled by modernisation the green world turned its death-foxed page - confusing why this green world should give way to its destruction LI 25 the destruction is so great that it is difficult to accept it. Roots torn from the earth look ugly like a gorgon head, ugly because of the damage done to the earth In the rear-view (30) see everything gone and past. Hyphenation of words frequent compound words but oxymoron forsythia-forays, hydrangea-raids capturing the moment at that time death-foxed centuries of beautiful trees suddenly outwitted, shocked by this destruction. Stresses the idea of devastation No remorse from the man who sold his land Tone Narrative Matter-of-fact reconcile oneself to the situation of destruction to the natural environment Point of View Personas first person Suggested Activities Pre-reading: Remind students about The Dead Crow Watch a documentary or movie about saving the rainforests Post-reading Project _ go around and take pictures about the destruction of the environment / rainforests

Questions to Ponder 1. L1-4 Why did the man find the situation amusing? 2. How is the sense of decisiveness conveyed in the poem? 3. Destruction comes stealthily. With reference to this poem, discuss whether you agree with it.

5. OMAR MOHD NOOR: A Quarrel Betwee Day And Night Biography Themes Conflict over the allocation of time A metaphorical conflict of night and day Constant struggle between - good vs evil Enjoyment vs work Language S1 - We seem to be losing focus in our priorities S3 - Night time activities more seductive, dominating are more seductive What is attractive? the stars, moon and all city lights Tone Disappointment that the attractions of night have overwhelmed those of the day Metaphorical idea using quarrel bet nt and day, but about humans losing priorities in life. Since nt activities too long, therefore the next day is all upset and we are not able to perform as well. Loss of focus on ones duty, withdrawal symptoms of longing for something or having too much of a good thing. Losing track of time and priorities Point of View Personas Suggested Activities 1. Word-association eg: night what activities, etc day Questions to Ponder

6. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE: Crabbed Age and Youth Cannot Live Together Biography Meaning: Crabbed age period of time in life when one becomes more difficult, fussy, and less tolerant, and incapable of too much activity or movement L12 he resigns himself to old age, though he doesnt want to accept it. He knows there is no point in fighting it He is frustrated because he is still vibrant, amorous and passionate about love though he has aged and physically isnt as fit anymore Themes: Contradictions of life esp between age and youth Difficulty of accepting age when you still feel young Language Rhyme ababcdcdefef Similes like summer morn,etc Metaphor ages breath is short my love, my love is youth metaphor to describe that though he is physically old yet he is capable of love and passion , young at heart Personification Youth is nimble, age is lame Age is sweet shepherd (nature) Punctuation a lot of commas, so a lot of pauses indicating persona revelling in youth and finds it difficult that when you age, life become a contrast - exclamation mark excited that his ability to love is still young and vibrant Juxtaposition he juxtaposes youth and age , brings out the contrast by using antonyms such as summer winter, nimble lame, abhor - adore Tone: Excitement vs frustration Anger vs resignation A mixed up personality emotionally chaotic does not like natures way of incapacitating man Suggested Activities Weaker students antonyms Construct sentences using antonyms, then same sentences to show irony Write using conjunction s to join sentences Word association Age, youth, show pictures of youth age or older people leading youthful lives

Questions to Ponder 1. L1-4 Based on these lines, why cant age and youth live together? 2. How does the persona convey his frustration between youth and age in the poem? 3. In literature, we learn that Life is ironical. How is this statement portrayed in the poem?

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