Poppies
Edexcel GCSE English Literature revision on Poppies. Aligned to the Edexcel GCSE English Literature 1ET0 specification. This bank has 15 practice questions on this topic.
Sample questions (3 of 15)
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Question 1
What literary technique does the writer use in: 'spasms of paper red, disrupting a blockade'?
- A) Metaphor
- B) Simile
- C) Personification
- D) Hyperbole
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Answer: Metaphor
The word 'spasms' is a metaphor comparing the petals to the involuntary muscle contractions of a dying or injured person. This creates a jarring image that links the floral imagery of the poppy to the physical trauma of war.
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Question 2
What does this line reveal about the mother: 'I pinned one onto your lapel, crimped petals, spasms of paper red'?
- A) She is angry at her son
- B) She is attempting to hold onto him
- C) She is indifferent to his departure
- D) She is proud of his uniform
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Answer: She is attempting to hold onto him
The mother's tactile interaction with her son's clothing shows her struggle to maintain a connection as he prepares to leave. The 'crimped petals' suggest a delicate but desperate attempt to comfort or protect him before his departure.
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Question 3
What theme is most developed by: 'the world overflowing like a treasure chest'?
- A) Loss
- B) Ambition
- C) Innocence
- D) Patriotism
Show answer
Answer: Innocence
The simile 'like a treasure chest' suggests a sense of wonder and excitement, reflecting the son's view of the world as full of potential. This contrasts sharply with the mother's later experience of grief and loss.
Want to test yourself on the remaining cards for this topic?
12 more questions on Poppies — plus mistakes tracking and spaced repetition across the whole English Literature spec.