The document provides learning objectives and materials for understanding imagery in poetry about conflict. It includes analysis of the poem "Futility" by Wilfred Owen. Students are asked to annotate images in the poem that convey meaning, such as the "kind old sun" representing warmth and life versus the "clay of a cold star" contrasting bitterness and emotional coldness. Explaining how these images are used to comment on the pointlessness of life lost in war.

1. Poetry
Futility

2. Learning Objectives
We are learning to...
• Understand how imagery can be used to create
and emphasise meaning in a poem
• Explain how imagery can convey
feelings/attitudes about conflict
S4L: Commitment to success

4. Futility
1. The quality of having no useful result;
uselessness.
2. Lack of importance or purpose; frivolousness.

5. Futility (made into a haunting song
with WWI footage)
Futility (read by Kenneth Branagh)

6. 30 second pair share– what’s
happening?

7. Look closely at the images created
Draw the images created (quickly!) and annotate
them to show the meaning conveyed.

8. What you need to do to do well
Skilled 1.Draw the images created with
annotation consideration of those created by the
will.... poet
2.Explain how the poet uses imagery to
comment on conflict
Excellent 1.Create a sophisticated depiction of
Writing the images created by the poet
will 2.Commentary develops precise,
perceptive identification of imagery
FOCUS! and how this conveys the poet’s ideas
Only 8 about conflict.
mins

9. The use of imagery is of the
sun as benevolent and a life
giver. The adjective ‘kind’
amplifies the sun is ‘gentle’
and warm emotions.
‘kind old sun’ Similarly, the term ‘old’,
although being literally
true, also could be seen as a
term of affection. It also
conveys a sense of the
wisdom of the ‘ old sun’
particularly as the sun is
then seen to ‘know’.

10. The use of imagery is of the
sun as benevolent and a life
giver. The adjective ‘kind’
amplifies the sun is ‘gentle’
and warm emotions.
‘kind old sun’ Similarly, the term ‘old’,
although being literally
true, also could be seen as a
term of affection. It also
conveys a sense of the
wisdom of the ‘ old sun’
particularly as the sun is
then seen to ‘know’. The
sun is personified and this
could be seen to make the
sun feel some pity for the
soldier, the ‘kind’ sun could
show pity for the soldier
and, sensing the futility of
the war, will use this pity to
bestow life upon him.

11. What you need to do to do well
Skilled 1.Draw the images created with
annotation consideration of those created by the
will.... poet
2.Explain how the poet uses imagery to
comment on conflict
Excellent 1.Create a sophisticated depiction of
Writing the images created by the poet
will 2.Commentary develops precise,
perceptive identification of imagery
FOCUS! and how this conveys the poet’s ideas
Only 8 about conflict.
mins

12. Images? Are these the same all the
way through?
Does the imagery change?
‘Sun’
‘snow’
‘kind old sun’ Can you spot any
‘seeds’ contrasting images?
If so, what does this do?
‘clay of a cold star’
‘Fatuous sunbeams toil’
‘Earth’s sleep’ Annotate the links now and
explain how they amplify
the meaning put forward by
Owen.

13. ‘kind old sun’ The use of imagery is of the
sun as benevolent and a life
giver. The adjective ‘kind’
amplifies the sun is ‘gentle’
and warm emotions.
Similarly, the term ‘old’,
although being literally
true, also could be seen as a
term of affection. It also
conveys a sense of the
wisdom of the ‘ old sun’
particularly as the sun is
then seen to ‘know’. The
sun is personified and this
could be seen to make the
sun feel some pity for the
soldier, the ‘kind’ sun could
show pity for the soldier
and, sensing the futility of
the war, will use this pity to
bestow life upon him.

14. ‘kind old sun’ The use of imagery is of the
sun as benevolent and a life
giver. The adjective ‘kind’
amplifies the sun is ‘gentle’
and warm emotions.
Similarly, the term ‘old’,
although being literally
true, also could be seen as a
term of affection. It also
conveys a sense of the
wisdom of the ‘ old sun’
particularly as the sun is
then seen to ‘know’. The
sun is personified and this
could be seen to make the
sun feel some pity for the
soldier, the ‘kind’ sun could
show pity for the soldier
and, sensing the futility of
the war, will use this pity to
bestow life upon him.

15. ‘kind old sun’ The use of imagery is of the
sun as benevolent and a life
giver. The adjective ‘kind’
amplifies the sun is ‘gentle’
and warm emotions.
Similarly, the term
‘old’, although being
literally true, also could be
seen as a term of affection.
It also conveys a sense of
the wisdom of the ‘ old sun’
particularly as the sun is
then seen to ‘know’. The
‘clay of a cold star’ sun is personified and this
could be seen to make the
sun feel some pity for the
soldier, the ‘kind’ sun could
show pity for the soldier
and, sensing the futility of
the war, will use this pity to
bestow life upon him.

16. ‘kind old sun’ The use of imagery is of the
sun as benevolent and a life
giver. The adjective ‘kind’
amplifies the sun is ‘gentle’
and warm emotions.
Similarly, the term
‘old’, although being
literally true, also could be
seen as a term of affection.
It also conveys a sense of
the wisdom of the ‘ old sun’
particularly as the sun is
then seen to ‘know’. The
‘clay of a cold star’ sun is personified and this
could be seen to make the
(I’m limited to sun feel some pity for the
Google images, you soldier, the ‘kind’ sun could
can create a much show pity for the soldier
better cold star!) and, sensing the futility of
the war, will use this pity to
bestow life upon him.

17. ‘kind old sun’ The use of imagery is of the
sun as benevolent and a life
giver. The adjective ‘kind’
amplifies the sun is ‘gentle’
and warm emotions.
Similarly, the term ‘old’,
The ‘clay of the cold star’ although being literally
contrasts with the image true, also could be seen as a
of the ‘kind old sun’ and term of affection. It also
conveys a sense of the
bitterly undercuts the
wisdom of the ‘ old sun’
sentiments conveyed in particularly as the sun is
the first stanza as it then seen to ‘know’. The
suggests an emotional sun is personified and this
‘clay of a cold star’ coldness. This image could be seen to make the
(I’m limited to recognises the power of sun feel some pity for the
Google images, you the Sun to create life, but soldier, the ‘kind’ sun could
can create a much also amplifies the show pity for the soldier
better cold star!) pointlessness of life that and, sensing the futility of
the war, will use this pity to
is squandered in conflict.
bestow life upon him.

18. • fat·u·ous
adj. Foolish or silly, especially in a smug or self-
satisfied way.
Does this contrast with ‘kind old sun’?
What does this do?

19. What you need to do to do well
Skilled 1.Identify at least 2 links between the
annotation images created
will.... 2.Explain how this contributes to
meaning
Excellent 1.Identify an increasing range of links
Writing between images
will 2.Explain with precision, perceptive
identification of imagery and how
FOCUS! this changes the meaning in the
Only 6 poem
mins

20. Move him into the sun -
Gently its touch awoke him once,
At home, whispering of fields unsown.
Always it woke him, even in France,
Until this morning and this snow.
If anything might rouse him now
The kind old sun will know.
Think how it wakes the seeds, -
Woke, once, the clays of a cold star.
Are limbs, so dear-achieved, are sides,
Full-nerved, - still warm, - too hard to stir?
Was it for this the clay grew tall?
- O what made fatuous sunbeams toil
To break earth's sleep at all?

21. What’s missing in this poem?
Think – pair – share
The poem is about the harsh brutality and
violence of war.
Do the images in this poem show this?
Does this make this more or less effective as a
poem?
(There’s no right or wrong – it’s what you think)

22. How is Conflict presented in this poem?
Write a paragraph that responds to this question.

23. What you need to do to do well
Skilled 1.Explain the feelings/attitudes/ ideas
annotation the poet is considering in his
will.... presentation of conflict
2.Comment on how the poet used
imagery to comment on conflict
Excellent 1.Have a detailed explanation, with
Writing appropriate terminology, of how the
will poet’s attitudes are conveys
2.Comments begin to develop precise,
perceptive identification of how the
Obviously – have
quotes!!!
poet uses imagery to show ideas
about conflict.

24. Homework
• Research Poppies
• Come to the lesson on Monday with your poem
fully annotated and be able to teach your peers
about it.