1. Base Details – Siegfried Sassoon Date:
Objectives
Introduce the poem.
Examine the images and themes of War:
(This could also be a poem with a special meaning for you or with interesting images)
Warm –up – picture on next page
I see, I think, I wonder

2. I see I think I wonder....
Warm-up

3. In case other image blurry
I see I think I wonder....
In case other image blurry

4. Quick background before we begin.
The poet, Siegfried Sassoon, fought in World War One. He was very angry at how many soldiers died. He
felt like the lives of the frontline soldiers
were not valued enough and were
wasted needlessly. Even after publically
voicing this opinion though, he stayed in
the front lines and fought with his men.

5. Base Details
If I were fierce, and bald, and short of breath  I'd live with scarlet Majors at the Base,  And speed glum heroes up the line to death.  You'd see me with my puffy petulant face,  Guzzling and gulping in the best hotel,  Reading the Roll of Honour. "Poor young chap,"  I'd say — "I used to know his father well;  Yes, we've lost heavily in this last scrap." And when the war is done and youth stone dead,  I'd toddle safely home and die — in bed.
Siegfried Sassoon

6. Base Details Exercise 1: First Impressions
First of all – Blackadder Goes Forth – Great representation of World War 1 feelings.
If I were fierce, and bald, and short of breath  I'd live with scarlet Majors at the Base,  And speed glum heroes up the line to death.  You'd see me with my puffy petulant face,  Guzzling and gulping in the best hotel,  Reading the Roll of Honour. "Poor young chap,"  I'd say — "I used to know his father well;  Yes, we've lost heavily in this last scrap." And when the war is done and youth stone dead,  I'd toddle safely home and die — in bed.
Siegfried Sassoon
Exercise 1: First Impressions
Having read the poem once, write down one sentence in response and share it.
Try using: I think, I know, I don’t know, I want to know.

7. Notes – notes copy – Lines 1-3
The poet’s dislike or distain for British officers can be seen in the opening of the poem. They are old, unfit men, covered in red, who send others to the front lines of battle.
The uniforms are red in places, but
what else is red?
If I were fierce, and bald, and short of breath  I'd live with scarlet Majors at the Base, 
And speed glum heroes up the line to death.

9. Notes – Lines 4-5 What should they be doing?
The poet imagines what it would be like to be an officer. He would have innocent childish features and get drunk in luxury hotels.
What should they be doing?
Why is he bitter and angry?
You'd see me with my puffy petulant face,  Guzzling and gulping in the best hotel, 

10. Notes – Lines 6-8
We see the image of the officers talking very casually about the death of front line soldiers. They disrespect the dead in how easygoing they are, referring to a battle as a “scrap”.
Has scrap another
meaning?
Reading the Roll of Honour. "Poor young chap,"  I'd say — "I used to know his father well;  Yes, we've lost heavily in this last scrap."

12. Notes – Lines 9-10
The final image of the poem is the old officer returning safely home to die of old age, peacefully. This is in contrast to the young soldier who is “stone dead”.
Stone dead
What is made of stone related
to death?
Would you liked to be called
a stone? Why?
And when the war is done and youth stone dead,  I'd toddle safely home and die — in bed.

13. Final note It s all about that Base
The name of the poem has several meanings as well. Base could refer to a military strategy building, a starting foundation or the lowest bottom of something. You decide.
It s all about that Base

14. Homework questions – in exercise copy
Homework questions – in exercise copy. 3-5 sentences long with one “quote” each answer.
Part 1
Has this poem affected your opinion of war?
What do you think the poet wants to change?
Is there an image you find interesting here?
Would you recommend this poem?

15. Homework part 2 Learn the first four lines.
If I were fierce, and bald, and short of breath  I'd live with scarlet Majors at the Base,  And speed glum heroes up the line to death.  You'd see me with my puffy petulant face,

16. Base Details
If I were fierce, and bald, and short of breath  I'd live with scarlet Majors at the Base,  And speed glum heroes up the line to death.  You'd see me with my puffy petulant face,  Guzzling and gulping in the best hotel,  Reading the Roll of Honour. "Poor young chap,"  I'd say — "I used to know his father well;  Yes, we've lost heavily in this last scrap." And when the war is done and youth stone dead,  I'd toddle safely home and die — in bed.
Siegfried Sassoon

17. Part 2

18. Base Details 2 – Siegfried Sassoon Date:
Objectives
To examine the poetic techniques of Base Details, including:
Rhyme (it actually has some )
Tone
Alliteration
Warm –up - next slide

19. Base Details Warm-up exercise
If I were fierce, and bald, and short of breath  I'd live with scarlet Majors at the Base,  And speed glum heroes up the line to death.  You'd see me with my puffy petulant face,  Guzzling and gulping in the best hotel,  Reading the Roll of Honour. "Poor young chap,"  I'd say — "I used to know his father well;  Yes, we've lost heavily in this last scrap." And when the war is done and youth stone dead,  I'd toddle safely home and die — in bed.
Siegfried Sassoon
Write down the words that rhyme in the poem like follows: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10
Is there any connection between some of the words and what they rhyme with?

20. Base Details Warm-up exercise
If I were fierce, and bald, and short of breath  a I'd live with scarlet Majors at the Base, b And speed glum heroes up the line to death. a You'd see me with my puffy petulant face, b Guzzling and gulping in the best hotel, c Reading the Roll of Honour. "Poor young chap," d I'd say — "I used to know his father well; c Yes, we've lost heavily in this last scrap.“ d And when the war is done and youth stone dead,e I'd toddle safely home and die — in bed. e
Siegfried Sassoon
Write down the words that rhyme in the poem like follows: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10
Is there any connection between some of the words and what they rhyme with?

21. Notes – Rhyme
A poet’s choice of rhyming words are important as they are connected not only by sound but by meaning as well. These words are compared and contrasted. They are perhaps the most key words in the entire poem.
Here, they highlight the indifferent attitude of the officers and the poet’s bitterness towards them.
Question: What images do those words highlight?
Breath – death , Base – face, Hotel – well, Chap – scrap, Dead – bed.

22. Notes – Rhyme
Any change in rhyme is significant. The last two lines form a couplet, highlighting the fates of the soldiers and officers.
And when the war is done and youth stone dead, I'd toddle safely home and die — in bed.

23. Quick Question. What is irony?
Can someone give an example of something ironic?

24. Irony – language or situations that seem to reverse normal expectations.
Not
Just
Coincidence
Not
Whenever
Something
Bad
Happens.
It is the
Opposite
Of normal
Expectations.
If they spelled ‘Hospital’ wrong – not ironic. School is where you learn to spell so it is.

25. Notes – Tone
The tone is angry and ironic. The poet imagines himself to be an officer to show us what is wrong with them. He says one thing but means another.
Question: “If I were...” are the opening words of the poem. What does he say he would do and would he really do them do you think?

26. Notes – Alliteration
Alliteration is used to speed up the pace of the poem and call attention to certain words. Here, it is only used to describe the officers.
Question: The words around the officers are faster because of this technique. Is the poet mocking them? Could you insult their speed or lack thereof.

27. Base Details Learning the poem
If I were fierce, and bald, and short of breath  I'd live with scarlet Majors at the Base,  And speed glum heroes up the line to death.  You'd see me with my puffy petulant face,  Guzzling and gulping in the best hotel,  Reading the Roll of Honour. "Poor young chap,"  I'd say — "I used to know his father well;  Yes, we've lost heavily in this last scrap." And when the war is done and youth stone dead,  I'd toddle safely home and die — in bed.
Siegfried Sassoon
Harder without stanzas and the images are tougher to imagine or draw, but try this.

28. Base Details Learning the poem
Divide by rhymes – 3 stanzas, at least 3 images.
Part 1: we have red officers and sad soldiers
Part 2: Relaxed drinking old men and fights.
Part 3: that bed is a beautiful image as is the poor soldier.
If I were fierce, and bald, and short of breath  I'd live with scarlet Majors at the Base,  And speed glum heroes up the line to death.  You'd see me with my puffy petulant face, 
Guzzling and gulping in the best hotel,  Reading the Roll of Honour. "Poor young chap,"  I'd say — "I used to know his father well;  Yes, we've lost heavily in this last scrap.“
And when the war is done and youth stone dead,  I'd toddle safely home and die — in bed.
Siegfried Sassoon

29. Homework Copy the poem into your notes with images beside it.
Remember, the point is to help you learn the poem so choose images you see as being linked to the words.