Conflict Poetry Anthology
CCEA’s Unit 2 Drama and Poetry examination requires students to study one of three anthologies: Identity, Conflict and Relationships. This page includes articles to support analysis of the poems in the Conflict anthology. The full list of poems with ThinkLit analysis articles are hyperlinked for you below:
- The Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred, Lord Tennyson
- Vitaï Lampada by Henry Newbolt
- The Man He Killed by Thomas Hardy
- Who’s for the Game? by Jessie Pope
- Easter Monday (In Memoriam E.T.) (1917) by Eleanor Farjeon
- Anthem for Doomed Youth by Wilfred Owen
- An Irish Airman Foresees His Death by W B Yeats
- What lips my lips have kissed, and where, and why (Sonnet XLIII) by Edna St. Vincent Millay
- Vergissmeinnicht by Keith Douglas
- Bayonet Charge by Ted Hughes
- Requiem for the Croppies by Seamus Heaney
- Mametz Wood by Owen Sheers
- Last Post by Carol Ann Duffy
- Poppies by Jane Weir
- Out of the Blue – 12 by Simon Armitage
Get your CCEA Conflict Poetry Knowledge Organiser to make revision that little bit easier.
This printable download packs notes on all 15 poems, past paper questions, themes and essential points to learn into two pages! It’s absolutely rammed with important information … so much we had to make the font size tiny! But not so much to overwhelm you. It’s true: good things come in small packages.
Conflict Study Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the past paper questions for CCEA's Conflict Anthology?
(a) Look again at Mametz Wood by Owen Sheers which deals with the theme of the effects of conflict, and at one other poem from the CONFLICT anthology which also deals with the theme of the effects of conflict.
With close reference to the ways each poet uses language, compare and contrast what the speakers in the poems say about the effects of conflict. You should include relevant contextual material.
(b) Look again at Who’s for the Game by Jessie Pope which deals with the theme of the reasons for conflict, and at one other poem from the CONFLICT anthology which also deals with the theme of the reasons for conflict.
With close reference to the ways each poet uses language, compare and contrast what the speakers in the poems say about the reasons for conflict. You should include relevant contextual material.
(a) Look again at Anthem for Doomed Youth by Wilfred Owen which deals with the theme of the impact of conflict, and at one other poem from the CONFLICT anthology which also deals with the theme of the impact of conflict.
With close reference to the ways each poet uses language, compare and contrast what the speakers in the poems say about the impact of conflict. You should include relevant contextual material.
(b) Look again at An Irish Airman Foresees his Death by W B Yeats which deals with the theme of attitudes to conflict, and at one other poem from the CONFLICT anthology which also deals with the theme of attitudes to conflict.
With close reference to the ways each poet uses language, compare and contrast what the speakers in the poems say about attitudes to conflict. You should include relevant contextual material.
(a) Look again at Easter Monday (In Memoriam E.T.) (1917) by Eleanor Farjeon which deals with the theme of loved ones in a conflict situation, and at one other poem from the CONFLICT anthology which also deals with the theme of loved ones in a conflict situation.
With close reference to the ways each poet uses language, compare and contrast what the speakers in the poems say about loved ones in a conflict situation. You should include relevant contextual material.
(b) Look again at The Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred, Lord Tennyson which deals with the theme of courage, and at one other poem from the CONFLICT anthology which also deals with the theme of courage.
With close reference to the ways each poet uses language, compare and contrast what the speakers in the poems say about courage. You should include relevant contextual material.
a) Look again at The Man He Killed by Thomas Hardy which deals with the realities of conflict, and at one other poem from the CONFLICT anthology which also deals with the realities of conflict.
With close reference to the ways each poet uses language, compare and contrast what the speakers in the poems say about the realities of conflict. You should include relevant contextual material.
(b) Look again at What lips my lips have kissed, and where, and why (Sonnet XLIII) by Edna St Vincent Millay which deals with the theme of remembering the past, and at one other poem from the CONFLICT anthology which also deals with the theme of remembering the past.
With close reference to the ways each poet uses language, compare and contrast what the speakers in the poems say about remembering the past. You should include relevant contextual material.
a) Look again at Out of the Blue – 12 by Simon Armitage which deals with the theme of fear, and at one other poem from the CONFLICT anthology which also deals with the theme of fear.
With close reference to the ways each poet uses language, compare and contrast what the speakers in the poems say about fear. You should include relevant contextual material.
b) Look again at Poppies by Jane Weir which deals with the theme of grief, and at one other poem from the CONFLICT anthology which also deals with the theme of grief.
With close reference to the ways each poet uses language, compare and contrast what the speakers in the poems say about grief. You should include relevant contextual material.
a) Look again at Bayonet Charge by Ted Hughes which deals with the theme of the horror of conflict, and at one other poem from the CONFLICT anthology which also deals with the theme of the horror of conflict.
With close reference to the ways each poet uses language, compare and contrast what the speakers in the poems say about the horror of conflict. You should include relevant contextual material.
b) Look again at Requiem for the Croppies by Seamus Heaney which deals with the theme of death, and at one other poem from the CONFLICT anthology which also deals with the theme of death.Â
With close reference to the ways each poet uses language, compare and contrast what the speakers in the poems say about death. You should include relevant contextual material.
What are the main themes of the poems in this conflict anthology?
The honour of armed conflict
The theme of honor is pervasive throughout the anthology, with poets delving into the various aspects of armed conflict and the impact it has on individuals and societies. ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ by Alfred, Lord Tennyson vividly captures the courage and sacrifice of soldiers in the midst of battle. On a similar note, ‘Vitaï Lampada’ by Henry Newbolt explores the idea of duty and the honor associated with serving one’s country.
Thomas Hardy’s ‘The Man He Killed’ takes a reflective approach, delving into the internal conflict faced by a soldier who questions the humanity of killing an enemy who, in different circumstances, could be a friend. Jessie Pope’s ‘Who’s for the Game?’ contrasts with the previous poems, presenting a more jingoistic perspective on war, appealing to the sense of duty and excitement.
The dehumanising effects of war
Ted Hughes’ ‘Bayonet Charge’ vividly portrays the chaos and brutality of battle, capturing the disorienting experience of a soldier caught in the midst of conflict. Owen Sheers’ ‘Mametz Wood’ explores the aftermath of battle, depicting the landscape and the relics left behind as a haunting testament to the violence that occurred. ‘Vergissmeinnicht’ by Keith Douglas also explores the dehumanising effects of war, showing a dead soldier beside a photograph of his girlfriend.Â
Individual Perspectives
Several poems in the conflict anthology provide individual perspectives on war and its aftermath. ‘An Irish Airman Foresees His Death’ by W.B. Yeats offers a unique perspective as the speaker contemplates his impending death while acknowledging the complexities of national allegiance. In ‘What lips my lips have kissed, and where, and why (Sonnet XLIII)’ by Edna St. Vincent Millay, the theme of conflict is explored on a personal level, focusing on the emotional aftermath and the impact on individual lives. Keith Douglas’ ‘Vergissmeinnicht’ similarly delves into the personal repercussions of war, examining the lingering memories and emotions of those who have seen each other face to face in combat, and those left behind at home. Jane Weir’s ‘Poppies’ and Simon Armitage’s ‘Out of the Blue – 12’ both examine the impact of conflict on civilians. ‘Poppies’ reflects on the experience of a mother whose son is involved in the military, while ‘Out of the Blue – 12’ provides a harrowing account of a civilian caught in the crossfire of a terrorist attack.
Loss and remembrance
‘Easter Monday (In Memoriam E.T.) (1917)’ by Eleanor Farjeon and ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’ by Wilfred Owen both grapple with the profound loss experienced during war. Farjeon’s poem reflects on the personal impact of losing a loved one, while Owen’s work is a poignant condemnation of the senseless destruction and loss of young lives on the battlefield. ‘Requiem for the Croppies’ by Seamus Heaney and ‘Last Post’ by Carol Ann Duffy also delve into the theme of remembrance and the lasting impact of war on communities and individuals. These poems reflect on the collective memory of sacrifices made and the enduring significance of honoring those who have fallen.
