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Who's for the Game?

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Zaxapias
Zaxapias

The document is a recruitment poem titled "Who's for the Game?" published in The Daily Mail newspaper during World War I. The poem uses sports metaphors and patriotic language to encourage young men to enlist in the British armed forces. It portrays military service as a game where those who join up will have fun, be part of the action, and help their country, while those who do not enlist will be sitting on the sidelines. The target audience is suggested to be working-class young men, portraying enlistment in a positive light as courageous and exciting.

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WHO’S FOR THE GAME?
JESSIE POPE
THE DAILY MAIL Remember: The Daily Mail was considered a low quality newspaper at the time. It also had a reputation for often being sensationalist (shocking people). Even today it is known for its support of the armed forces.
WHO’S FOR THE GAME? Who knows it won’t be a picnic – not much – Yet eagerly shoulders a gun? Who would much rather come back with a crutch Than lie low and be out of the fun? Come along, lads – But you’ll come on all right – For there’s only one course to pursue, Your country is up to her neck in a fight, And she’s looking and calling for you. Jessie Pope Who’s for the game, the biggest that’s played, The red crashing game of a fight? Who’ll grip and tackle the job unafraid? And who thinks he’d rather sit tight? Who’ll toe the line for the signal to ‘Go!’? Who’ll give his country a hand? Who wants a turn to himself in the show? And who wants a seat in the stand?
WHO’S FOR THE GAME? WRITE YOUR ANSWERS DOWN IN SENTENCES. (10MIN) In pairs decide how this poem persuades people to join up: Do you think that it successfully achieves its purpose? How? Who is this poem targeting? What does the poem suggest about those who enlist to fight? What does it compare war to and how? Which techniques can you find? How do they create an impact for Pope’s audience? How would the British public have reacted? What about the soldiers fighting in the trenches?
2 MINUTES – IN YOUR BOOKS: • How would people react to this poem knowing it was written by a woman? • How would soldiers react? • Think about women’s role before the war. • If you can – think about the type of audience ‘The Daily Mail’ had at the time.
SOME EXAMPLES…

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Who's for the Game?

  • 3. THE DAILY MAIL Remember: The Daily Mail was considered a low quality newspaper at the time. It also had a reputation for often being sensationalist (shocking people). Even today it is known for its support of the armed forces.
  • 4. WHO’S FOR THE GAME? Who knows it won’t be a picnic – not much – Yet eagerly shoulders a gun? Who would much rather come back with a crutch Than lie low and be out of the fun? Come along, lads – But you’ll come on all right – For there’s only one course to pursue, Your country is up to her neck in a fight, And she’s looking and calling for you. Jessie Pope Who’s for the game, the biggest that’s played, The red crashing game of a fight? Who’ll grip and tackle the job unafraid? And who thinks he’d rather sit tight? Who’ll toe the line for the signal to ‘Go!’? Who’ll give his country a hand? Who wants a turn to himself in the show? And who wants a seat in the stand?
  • 5. WHO’S FOR THE GAME? WRITE YOUR ANSWERS DOWN IN SENTENCES. (10MIN) In pairs decide how this poem persuades people to join up: Do you think that it successfully achieves its purpose? How? Who is this poem targeting? What does the poem suggest about those who enlist to fight? What does it compare war to and how? Which techniques can you find? How do they create an impact for Pope’s audience? How would the British public have reacted? What about the soldiers fighting in the trenches?
  • 6. 2 MINUTES – IN YOUR BOOKS: • How would people react to this poem knowing it was written by a woman? • How would soldiers react? • Think about women’s role before the war. • If you can – think about the type of audience ‘The Daily Mail’ had at the time.