Learning Objective: To explore the theme of conflict as it is shown in
Base Details.
KW: tone, language, layout, rhythm, rhyme, theme
MUST: Demonstrate understanding of how the theme is demonstrated
within the poem
SHOULD: Be able to choose and explore ‘rich’ quotes linked to the
theme
COULD: Explore an alternative viewpoint about conflict linked to the
poem
Task: Explore the ways poets present their ideas about conflict. You should
refer to the poem below and two poems from the Clashes and Collisions
collection.
(24)
Base Details
If I were fierce, and bald, and short of breath
I’d live with scarlet Majors at the Base,
And speed glum heroes up the line to death.
You’d see me with my puffy petulant face,
Guzzling and gulping in the best hotel
Reading the Roll of Honour. “Poor young chap,”
I’d say – “I used to know his father well;
Yes, we’ve lost heavily in this last scrap.”
And when the war is done and youth stone dead,
I’d toddle safely home and die – in bed
Siegfried Sassoon
Using the TRUE or
FALSE statements,
annotate the
poem with the
statements you
think are TRUE
What CONFLICT(s) can we find in the poem?
Highlight any references to conflict:
• physical conflict
• mental conflict
• personal conflict
• reader’s conflict
GROUP 1: Adjective and verbs
Base Details
If I were fierce, and bald, and short of breath
I’d live with scarlet Majors at the Base,
And speed glum heroes up the line to death.
You’d see me with my puffy petulant face,
Guzzling and gulping in the best hotel
Reading the Roll of Honour. “Poor young chap,”
I’d say – “I used to know his father well;
Yes, we’ve lost heavily in this last scrap.”
And when the war is done and youth stone
dead,
I’d toddle safely home and die – in bed
Siegfried Sassoon
GROUP 2: Tone and Feelings
Base Details
If I were fierce, and bald, and short of breath
I’d live with scarlet Majors at the Base,
And speed glum heroes up the line to death.
You’d see me with my puffy petulant face,
Guzzling and gulping in the best hotel
Reading the Roll of Honour. “Poor young chap,”
I’d say – “I used to know his father well;
Yes, we’ve lost heavily in this last scrap.”
And when the war is done and youth stone
dead,
I’d toddle safely home and die – in bed
Siegfried Sassoon
GROUP 3: Alliteration and
imagery
Base Details
If I were fierce, and bald, and short of breath
I’d live with scarlet Majors at the Base,
And speed glum heroes up the line to death.
You’d see me with my puffy petulant face,
Guzzling and gulping in the best hotel
Reading the Roll of Honour. “Poor young chap,”
I’d say – “I used to know his father well;
Yes, we’ve lost heavily in this last scrap.”
And when the war is done and youth stone
dead,
I’d toddle safely home and die – in bed
Siegfried Sassoon
GROUP 4: Rhythm and Rhyme
Base Details
If I were fierce, and bald, and short of breath
I’d live with scarlet Majors at the Base,
And speed glum heroes up the line to death.
You’d see me with my puffy petulant face,
Guzzling and gulping in the best hotel
Reading the Roll of Honour. “Poor young chap,”
I’d say – “I used to know his father well;
Yes, we’ve lost heavily in this last scrap.”
And when the war is done and youth stone
dead,
I’d toddle safely home and die – in bed
Siegfried Sassoon
GROUP 5: Theme
Base Details
If I were fierce, and bald, and short of breath
I’d live with scarlet Majors at the Base,
And speed glum heroes up the line to death.
You’d see me with my puffy petulant face,
Guzzling and gulping in the best hotel
Reading the Roll of Honour. “Poor young chap,”
I’d say – “I used to know his father well;
Yes, we’ve lost heavily in this last scrap.”
And when the war is done and youth stone
dead,
I’d toddle safely home and die – in bed
Siegfried Sassoon
STRUCTURE
Base Details
If I were fierce, and bald, and short of breath
I’d live with scarlet Majors at the Base,
And speed glum heroes up the line to death.
You’d see me with my puffy petulant face,
Guzzling and gulping in the best hotel
Reading the Roll of Honour. “Poor young chap,”
I’d say – “I used to know his father well;
Yes, we’ve lost heavily in this last scrap.”
And when the war is done and youth stone
dead,
I’d toddle safely home and die – in bed
Siegfried Sassoon
Using the words below, write 10 sentences about the poem ‘Base
Details’. Remember to use your notes to help you. Each sentence must
use a different word related to ‘Conflict’.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siegfried_Sassoon
How does the poet present
conflict in ‘Base Details’?
• 1 PEEEEEE chain
• Use your notes
• Use the key words