Questions
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1 |
What do you notice about the form of the poem? [shape, rhyme scheme,
rhythm, line structure] |
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2 |
Who is speaking? |
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3 |
What is the setting? [physical surroundings, time of day, time of
year] |
|
4 |
What is the poem about? [narrative, description, reflection] |
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5 |
Identify important language features [phonetic techniques, imagery, language
features] |
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6 |
How do these techniques influence readers? |
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7 |
Comment on a theme in the poem |
Jessie Pope composed crude war verses for the Daily Mail.
She was particularly detested by the First World War soldier and poet
Wilfred Owen, who saw her as typical of the unfeeling civilian who was
supporting the war from the relative safety of the Home Front.
Why do you think Jessie Pope uses a slang style, for
example, ‘sit tight’, ‘up to her neck,’ in her poem?
The poet uses comparison throughout this poem. What is it?
What is your opinion of it?
What do you think of the phrases, ‘rather come back with a
crutch’ and ‘out of the fun’?
Who’s for the Game by Jessie Pope
Who’s for the game, the biggest that’s played,
The red crashing game of a fight?
Who’ll grip and tackle the job unafraid?
And who thinks he’d rather sit tight?
Who’ll toe the line for the signal to ‘Go!’?
Who’ll give his country a hand?
Who wants a turn to himself in the show?
And who wants a seat in the stand?
Who knows it won’t be a picnic – not much-
Yet eagerly shoulders a gun?
Who would much rather come back with a crutch
Than lie low and be out of the fun?
Come along, lads – but you’ll come on all right –
For there’s only one course to pursue,
Your country is up to her neck in a fight,
And she’s looking and calling for you.
