AQA English GCSE Poetry: Exposure Quiz

AQA English GCSE Poetry: Power and Conflict - Exposure by Wilfred Owen

• Brief Summary: The poem describes the terrifying experience of a soldier in the trenches during World War I, showcasing the trauma soldiers faced.

• Synopsis:

  • Soldiers wait in a trench, fearful of attack.
  • The anticipation of attack is relentless and constant.
  • Natural elements (weather) dominate and are a source of suffering and misery.
  • They hear the sounds of the conflict in the background.
  • The setting and context portray the relentless and brutal nature of war, showing the horror of the experience for soldiers.
  • The passing of time is marked by snow changing into signs of spring.

• Context:

  • Wilfred Owen (1893-1918) was a soldier during World War I.
  • His inspiration included John Keats and Siegfried Sassoon.
  • He is known for his realistic portrayal of the horrors of war.
  • The poem was written in 1917, reflecting his experiences in the trenches of WWI.
  • Owen was disillusioned with his role as a soldier and suffered from shellshock.

• Structure:

  • Cyclical structure, repeated imagery and anaphora contribute to the repetition of feeling.
  • The cyclical structure mirrors the experience of war.
  • The poem consists of stanzas, which build through the different sensory experiences.
  • The repeated phrase "but nothing happens" emphasises the monotony and futility of trench warfare.
  • Use of natural imagery and rhetorical questions.
  • Imagery of nature is cyclical and repetitive mirroring the continuous nature of war and the relentless feelings of soldiers.

• Language:

  • Natural imagery (cold, wind, snow) creates a sense of bleakness and despair.
  • Rhetorical questions highlight soldiers' anxieties and disillusionment.
  • Repetition of phrases emphasizes the relentless nature of the fighting and suffering experienced.
  • Use of sibilance (repetitious S sounds): The sound creates an eerie and unsettling atmosphere reflecting the gunfire.
  • Personification of nature: Nature is personified as a powerful and threatening adversary.

• Key Themes:

  • The futility of war, reflecting the sense of pointless suffering.
  • The psychological impact of war and the trauma experienced by soldiers.
  • The disillusionment of soldiers with the war effort.
  • The contrast between nature's beauty and the brutality of war.

• Form:

  • Consistent rhyme scheme emphasises the monotony of war.
  • Owen uses pararhymes creating an underlying atmosphere of unease.
  • Use of ellipses to highlight the waiting and boredom.
  • Owen's use of cyclical structure and anaphora.

• Comparisons: This section compares "Exposure" with other poems, specifically The Prelude by William Wordsworth and The Charge of the Light Brigade by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, highlighting similarities and differences in their themes and styles.

• Imagery, Symbolism, and Tone: Details the role of nature, imagery, symbolism, and tone in the poem.

• Overall Impression: Provides an overall summary about the poem and the impressions it might leave the reader with.

• Techniques: Discusses the techniques used by Owen in the poem that make it an effective piece of literature.