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Analyse Poetry in Context: 'The Man He Killed'

In this worksheet, students will read the poem 'The Man He Killed' by Thomas Hardy. Then they analyse the influence of the the social, historical and cultural context in which it is written.

Worksheet Overview

First, read the following poem by Thomas Hardy:

 

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The Man He Killed

 

soldier pointing a gun

 

Had he and I but met
By some old ancient inn,
We should have set us down to wet
Right many a nipperkin!

But ranged as infantry,
And staring face to face,
I shot at him as he at me,
And killed him in his place.

I shot him dead because--
Because he was my foe,
Just so: my foe of course he was;
That's clear enough; although

He thought he'd 'list, perhaps,
Off-hand like--just as I--
Was out of work--had sold his traps--
No other reason why.

Yes; quaint and curious war is!
You shoot a fellow down
You'd treat, if met where any bar is,
Or help to half a crown.

 

Thomas Hardy  (1902)

 

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Now, let's take a look at some questions on the poem.

 

If you need to read it again as you go through the questions, you can click on the red help button.

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