GCSE Poetry Comparison: War Photographer and Poppies Sample Essay

Welcome back to our series on the AQA Power and Conflict anthology—your go-to guide for writing comparative poetry essays!

In AQA GCSE English Literature, poetry comes toward the end of the exam, as part of Paper 2. By this point, you’ve already tackled a modern text you’ve prepared for and a daunting unseen section.

Then, you’ve got to analyse two anthology poems and compare them. It’s a lot to handle, and by this stage, you’ll be feeling tired. That’s why anything you can do to prepare will be a huge help! 

With this in mind, we’re diving into comparative essays for every poem in the AQA anthology. We’ll break down key points, quotes and analysis, so you can be fully prepared to write a standout essay.

Today, we’re comparing War Photographer by Carol Ann Duffy and Poppies by Jane Weir. These are two of the most popular poems, as they’re written in a modern style with a powerful emotional impact. But do they have much in common beyond their strong messages?

Check out this sample essay comparing the two. As you read, get your mark scheme ready and think critically. Consider your own feelings and responses to the poems. What extra points or quotes would you add to make it even stronger?

In “War Photographer” by Carol Ann Duffy, the poet explores ideas about inner conflict. Compare this with “Poppies” by Jane Weir.

In “War Photographer” by Carol Ann Duffy and “Poppies” by Jane Weir, both poets explore inner conflict, focusing on how war impacts those left behind or who bear witness. Duffy portrays the moral struggles of a war photographer processing the horrors he’s captured. On the other hand, Weir delves into a mother’s grief and anxiety as her son goes to war. Both use vivid imagery and thoughtful structure to convey the deep psychological effects of war, though the nature of their inner conflicts differ significantly.

Duffy’s “War Photographer” examines a photographer managing the chaos of war through his work. The darkroom becomes a metaphor for his mind, where he confronts the images he’s captured: “spools of suffering set out in ordered rows.” This imagery contrasts the need for control with the overwhelming nature of war. The alliteration in “spools of suffering” adds a sinister undertone to the scene, while the later image of a “half-formed ghost” highlights the way memories and traumas still haunt him.

In contrast, “Poppies” presents a mother’s personal battle as she prepares to send her son to war. The opening, “Three days before Armistice Sunday / and poppies had already been placed / on individual war graves,” blends remembrance with foreshadowed loss, suggesting her awareness of what could come. While Duffy’s imagery evokes distant conflict, Weir’s use of domestic detail, pinning “crimped petals” onto her son’s blazer, brings the reader closer to the intimate pain of loss. The contrast between the mother’s care and the violence her son may face is heightened by the phrase “spasms of paper red,” subtly alluding to war wounds.

Both poets emphasise inner conflict through form. Duffy’s regular structure reflects the photographer’s methodical attempts to process his emotions. The tension between order and chaos mirrors the contrast between the structured form and the photographer’s inner turmoil. The poem shifts when the photographer realises the public’s detachment from his work, their emotions fleeting: “The reader’s eyeballs prick / with tears between the bath and pre-lunch beers.” This emphasises his isolation, deepening his internal struggle as his experiences are dismissed.

In contrast, Weir uses a free-verse structure reflecting the unpredictability of the mother’s emotions. The lack of consistent rhyme or stanza length mirrors the chaotic flow of her thoughts as she wrestles with fear and pride. Weir’s enjambment, particularly in lines like “I resisted the impulse / to run my fingers through the gelled / blackthorns of your hair,” captures the fluidity of her emotional state, contrasting sharply with Duffy’s more rigid form.

Contextually, both poets come from different perspectives. Duffy, as poet laureate, often explores political and social issues, using “War Photographer” to highlight the emotional toll on those who document suffering. She challenges readers to consider the distance between war’s reality and their perception. Weir, drawing on personal experience, focuses on the intimate pain of a mother’s sacrifice. Her poem speaks to the personal costs of war, contrasting Duffy’s more external focus on media and societal detachment.

In conclusion, while both “War Photographer” and “Poppies” explore the inner conflict caused by war, they approach it from different angles. Duffy’s focus on the emotional struggle of documenting war contrasts with Weir’s intimate portrayal of a mother’s grief and anxiety. Together, they provide a powerful commentary on the psychological scars war leaves behind, highlighting the inner battles fought by those affected by it.

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What are your thoughts on the essay and how the poems are compared? How do you feel about the two poems? Is there anything you’d include, change or something you’d disagree with? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.