Dulce et Decorum Est – Wilfred Owen

Overview

Perspective is a lens through which we learn to see the world; it shapes what we see and the way we see it. In a text these values are expressed and/or implied through the composer’s language and structure which may position the responder to accept them. 

During these lessons’ students will explore Wilfred Owen’s Dulce et Decorum Est. Students will use language to shape and make meaning according to purpose, audience and context. It will also help students discover the personal enrichment to be gained from a love of English, literature and learning.

This lesson is literacy based to explore the vocabulary in the content. It is designed to upskill students on using Literacy Strategies to build their depth and breadth of knowing vocabulary. It is also the orientation of the poem to build enjoyment of the story and discover the structure and language. 

Learning intentions

Students will:

• define the concept using the Frayer Model – perspective 

• derive a generalisation from abstract ideas in texts (UnT11) as the poems are seen through the frame of war

• identify language used to create tone or atmosphere (UnT9)

Outcome

• responds to and composes increasingly sophisticated and sustained texts for understanding, interpretation, critical analysis, imaginative expression and pleasure  EN5-1A

Students will deepen their understanding of the language forms and features of poetry. They will analyse how these have been used to position their response as a reader and shaped their perspective toward the poem’s content. This will help students develop a more complex understanding of the impact of figurative language devices. At the end of the annotation task student will explain their perspective of the content of the poem and reflect on the similarities and differences between their perspective and the poet’s.

Learning intentions

Students will:

• analyses the language forms and features authors use to position readers (Unt10)

• evaluate a text using metalanguage (Unt9)

• interpret and analyse complex figurative language (UnT11)

• provide an extended explanation and evaluation of a complex issue and perspective (InT7)

Outcome

• selects and uses language forms, features and structures of texts appropriate to a range of purposes, audiences and contexts, describing and explaining their effects on meaning EN5-3B 

Students will think deeply about, interpret and question the poem ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ through the ‘See, think, wonder’ thinking routine. They will build on their understanding of Owen’s use of language through guided questions and explore how poetic form can be used to communicate perspectives of war. This lesson also includes an extension task in which students explore a traditional sonnet. They are challenged to compose their own on a topic about which they are passionate. 

Learning Intentions

Students will:

• identify language features used by the composer (Unt9)

• explain how these language features affect the meaning of the poem (Unt10)

• explore how language form and features can be used to communicate perspectives of war.

Outcome

• selects and uses language forms, features and structures of texts appropriate to a range of purposes, audiences and contexts, describing and explaining their effects on meaning EN5-3B

• thinks imaginatively, creatively, interpretively and critically about information and increasingly complex ideas and arguments to respond to and compose texts in a range of contexts EN5-5C

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