details
The coursework is about the poems ‘Disabled’ by Wilfred Owen and ‘Bright Lights of Sarajevo’ by Tony
Harrison. The topic question is: Compare and contrast how war is presented in ‘Disabled’ and ‘Bright Lights
of Sarajevo’. It is out of 30 marks.
Firstly, begin the coursework with a 300 word commentary about why you chose to write about ‘Disabled’
and ‘Bright Lights of Sarajevo’. Talk about the aspects of the theme they share and what made them
interesting to you. Explain why loss is the subject you decided to reflect on. Briefly, link the poems’ themes
to modern day events. Using persuasive writing, explain why you chose to compare the two poems. This
300 word commentary is worth 6 marks.
After the commentary part, compare and contrast the two poems. Talk about the similarities and
differences. In the Introduction: you might like to begin with a quotation from either poem about war which
you revisit in your conclusion. Talk about the effects and expectations of the titles of the two poems (before
and after reading). Mention ideas about form and structure; effects of patterns of language and language
choices; effects of sound patterns and the effect of the final line. Also, talk about the colors mentioned in
the poem and the overall theme of loss, mood, tone and creation of atmosphere.
The effect of the final line(s) is important to comment on. It should wrap up the poem or present a shift in
the argument. In terms of the conclusion, look to make 2-3 comparative points on the similarities and
differences between both poems