This model essay is based on Owen Sheers’ ‘Skirrid Hill’ collection of poetry. It would be helpful to A Level students studying Owen Sheers’ ‘Skirrid Hill’. It is approximately 1,778 words long and 3 pages in length. The essay answers the following question: How far do you agree with the view that ‘Border Country’ is the key to the collection? For more learning resources, please visit Poetry Essay’s website.

Annotation prompts for Wilfred Owen’s ‘Spring Offensive’. ‘Spring Offensive’ refers to the German Spring Offensive / Kaiserschlacht (Kaiser’s Battle) / Ludendorff Offensive: 21st March – 18th July 1918. The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on Wilfred Owen’s ‘Spring Offensive’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource complements the video annotation of Wilfred Owen’s ‘Spring Offensive’, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

Annotation prompts for Wilfred Owen’s ‘Miners’. ‘Miners’ was written by Owen in Scarborough, January 1918, shortly after being discharged from Craiglockhart War Hospital where he had been recovering from shell-shock. The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on Wilfred Owen’s ‘Miners’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource complements the video annotation of Wilfred Owen’s ‘Miners’, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

Annotation prompts for Wilfred Owen’s ‘Futility’. Wilfred Owen’s ‘Futility’ concentrates on the pointlessness of war and even questions life itself. The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on Wilfred Owen’s ‘Futility’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource complements the video annotation of Wilfred Owen’s ‘Futility’, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

Annotation prompts for Wilfred Owen’s ‘Exposure’. Wilfred Owen’s ‘Exposure’ focuses on the impact of weather and the harsh conditions that were encountered during World War 1. The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on Wilfred Owen’s ‘Exposure’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource complements the video annotation of Wilfred Owen’s ‘Exposure’, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

Annotation prompts for Wilfred Owen’s ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’. Wilfred Owen’s ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ concentrates on the suffering of those who fought during World War 1, on the battlefield. The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on Wilfred Owen’s ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource complements the video annotation of Wilfred Owen’s ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

Annotation prompts for Wilfred Owen’s ‘Disabled’. ‘Disabled’ accounts for a soldier who has lost some of his limbs in a battle. The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on Wilfred Owen’s ‘Disabled’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource complements the video annotation of Wilfred Owen’s ‘Disabled’, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

Annotation prompts for Wilfred Owen’s ‘Conscious’. ‘Conscious’ describes a wounded soldier moving in and out of consciousness, in a war hospital. The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on Wilfred Owen’s ‘Conscious’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource complements the video annotation of Wilfred Owen’s ‘Conscious’, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

Annotation prompts for Wilfred Owen’s ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’. Wilfred Owen’s ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’ is an elegy – it mourns death like a funeral song. The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on Wilfred Owen’s ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource complements the video annotation of Wilfred Owen’s ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

Annotation prompts for William Wordsworth’s ‘Extract from, The Prelude’. ‘Extract from, The Prelude’ is about the spiritual and moral development of man growing up. The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on William Wordsworth’s ‘Extract from, The Prelude’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource complements the video annotation of William Wordsworth’s ‘Extract from, The Prelude’, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

Annotation prompts for William Wordsworth’s ‘Composed Upon Westminster Bridge’. ‘Composed Upon Westminster Bridge’ is about someone observing events from the famous London landmark. The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on William Wordsworth’s ‘Composed Upon Westminster Bridge’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource complements the video annotation of William Wordsworth’s ‘Composed Upon Westminster Bridge’, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

Annotation prompts for William Shakespeare’s ‘Sonnet 116’. ‘Sonnet 116’ is taken from Shakespeare’s collection of 154 sonnets – published 1609. The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on William Shakespeare’s ‘Sonnet 116’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource complements the video annotation of William Shakespeare’s ‘Sonnet 116’, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

Annotation prompts for William Blake’s ‘The Chimney Sweeper’ (Songs of Innocence). ‘The Chimney Sweeper’ is set against a backdrop of child labour (prominent in England in the late 18th and 19th century). The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on William Blake’s ‘The Chimney Sweeper’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource complements the video annotation of William Blake’s ‘The Chimney Sweeper’, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

Annotation prompts for William Blake’s ‘London’ (Songs of Experience). ‘London’ is a poem that depicts England’s capital city during the Industrial Revolution (1760-1820/40). Poem was published in Songs of Experience (1794). The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on William Blake’s ‘London’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource complements the video annotation of William Blake’s ‘London’, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

Annotation prompts for W H Auden’s ‘O lurcher-loving collier, black as night’. ‘O lurcher-loving collier, black as night’ is a poem that describes a collier (a coal miner or person who carries or sells coal). The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on W H Auden’s ‘O lurcher-loving collier, black as night’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource complements the video annotation of W H Auden’s ‘O lurcher-loving collier, black as night’, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

Annotation prompts for W H Auden’s ‘In Memory of W B Yeats’. ‘In Memory of W B Yeats’ is an elegy – it mourns death. The poem commemorates the life and work of the Irish poet William Butler Yeats (13.06.1865 – 28.01.1939). The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on W H Auden’s ‘In Memory of W B Yeats’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource complements the video annotation of W H Auden’s ‘In Memory of W B Yeats’, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

Annotation prompts for W B Yeats’ 'To a Friend Whose Work Has Come To Nothing’. 'To a Friend Whose Work Has Come To Nothing’ is addressing a companion whose work has been futile or unproductive. It is about maintaining dignity and integrity in the face of defeat. The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on W B Yeats’ 'To a Friend Whose Work Has Come To Nothing’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource complements the video annotation of W B Yeats’ 'To a Friend Whose Work Has Come To Nothing’, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

Annotation prompts for W B Yeats’ ‘A Coat’. ‘A Coat’ is literally about an outer garment with sleeves; a natural covering (e.g. fur of an animal); a layer or covering of anything. However, this coat could be an extended metaphor for Yeats relinquishing an older style, belief or poetic voice, and embracing another one. The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on W B Yeats’ ‘A Coat’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource complements the video annotation of W B Yeats’ ‘A Coat’, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

Annotation prompts for Vernon Scannell’s ‘Nettles’. ‘Nettles’ is written from a father’s perspective – he witnesses his son falling into a bed of nettles, before attempting to eradicate them. Metaphorically it represents parents not being able to protect their offspring from life’s impending problems. The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on Vernon Scannell’s ‘Nettles’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource complements the video annotation of Vernon Scannell’s ‘Nettles’, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.

Annotation prompts for Ted Hughes’ ‘View of a Pig’. ‘View of a Pig’ is about someone observing a swine that has died. The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further poetry analysis and interpretation. Resources included: an editable PowerPoint presentation on Ted Hughes’ ‘View of a Pig’; a poetry planning table; 20 poetry analysis questions; and a booklet containing the poetry questions, with space to respond. This poetry resource complements the video annotation of Ted Hughes’ ‘View of a Pig’, on Poetry Essay’s YouTube channel.