Interpretation of World Interpretation of World War One:War One:

Gallipoli versus Gallipoli versus BlackadderBlackadder

Plymstock School History Plymstock School History DepartmentDepartment

Aims:Aims:

How has WWI been How has WWI been interpreted?interpreted?

Which is version better for Which is version better for understanding WWI?understanding WWI?

Can we ever begin to Can we ever begin to understand what it was like to understand what it was like to

be in World War One?be in World War One?

Over the next two lessons you Over the next two lessons you will be watching two very will be watching two very

different interpretations of WWI.different interpretations of WWI.

Movies and TV are often ways in Movies and TV are often ways in which we learn a lot about the which we learn a lot about the past. In these lessons I will be past. In these lessons I will be asking you to evaluate their asking you to evaluate their

usefulness to historians and to usefulness to historians and to think about how film makers get think about how film makers get

their messages across.their messages across.

Answer the following Answer the following questions to aid your questions to aid your

comparison:comparison:

How are the ordinary soldiers portrayed?How are the ordinary soldiers portrayed?

How are the generals portrayed?How are the generals portrayed?

How realistic is the setting?How realistic is the setting?

What emotions does the film create?What emotions does the film create?

How does the writer/director achieve How does the writer/director achieve these emotions?these emotions?

Interpretation One: Interpretation One: GallipoliGallipoli

Set in 1915, Gallipoli tells the story of the Set in 1915, Gallipoli tells the story of the ANZAC’s, Australian and New Zealand ANZAC’s, Australian and New Zealand

soldiers who fought for the British Empire soldiers who fought for the British Empire during World War One.during World War One.

Like most soldiers in the conflict, our two Like most soldiers in the conflict, our two hero's, Archie (Mark Lee) and Frank (Mel hero's, Archie (Mark Lee) and Frank (Mel

Gibson), had no idea about what they Gibson), had no idea about what they were letting themselves into, they were were letting themselves into, they were just swept along on a spirit of adventure just swept along on a spirit of adventure

and patriotism.and patriotism.

Archie FrankFrank

Turkey has joined the war on the side of Turkey has joined the war on the side of Germany, and by closing the entrance to the Germany, and by closing the entrance to the

Black Sea, has cut Britain's Russian ally off from Black Sea, has cut Britain's Russian ally off from outside supplies. outside supplies.

The British government decides to invade The British government decides to invade Turkey, march on its capital Constantinople and Turkey, march on its capital Constantinople and

knock the Turks out of the war.knock the Turks out of the war.

Lee and Gibson back home in Australia were Lee and Gibson back home in Australia were promising athletes, a fact which has a direct promising athletes, a fact which has a direct

bearing on the story. bearing on the story.

We join the film with the Australians pinned on We join the film with the Australians pinned on the beaches of the Gallipoli Peninsular by the the beaches of the Gallipoli Peninsular by the Turks. More Australians are being ferried in by Turks. More Australians are being ferried in by boat in order to prepare for a fresh attack. The boat in order to prepare for a fresh attack. The

plan is to distract the Turks while the British land plan is to distract the Turks while the British land a force ashore further down the coast.a force ashore further down the coast.

Further Research

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallipoli_%281981_film%29

Interpretation Two: Interpretation Two: BlackadderBlackadder

Set in 1917, on the Western Front in France, Set in 1917, on the Western Front in France, Blackadder Goes Forth shows the latest Blackadder Goes Forth shows the latest

incarnation of the Blackadder family gene pool.incarnation of the Blackadder family gene pool.

Our anti hero,Blackadder and his company of Our anti hero,Blackadder and his company of men, have been stuck in their trench for three men, have been stuck in their trench for three years. Blackadder, a professional soldier has years. Blackadder, a professional soldier has become predictably more cynical, though his become predictably more cynical, though his

companions, George and Baldrick, seem to retain companions, George and Baldrick, seem to retain some of their optimism and a lot of ignorance. some of their optimism and a lot of ignorance.

All three of them await fresh orders on the next All three of them await fresh orders on the next ‘Big Push’ to end the war. What will Field ‘Big Push’ to end the war. What will Field

Marshall Haig’s strategy be? Will his deputy, Marshall Haig’s strategy be? Will his deputy, General Melchett bring sanity to the situation? General Melchett bring sanity to the situation?

Can Blackadder avoid going ‘over the top’?Can Blackadder avoid going ‘over the top’?

Baldrick

George

DarlingMelchett

Blackadder

Answer the following Answer the following questions to aid your questions to aid your

comparison:comparison:

How are the ordinary soldiers portrayed?How are the ordinary soldiers portrayed?

How are the generals portrayed?How are the generals portrayed?

How realistic is the setting?How realistic is the setting?

What emotions does the film create?What emotions does the film create?

How does the writer/director achieve How does the writer/director achieve these emotions?these emotions?

John MaCraeJohn MaCrae  

In Flanders fields the poppies blowIn Flanders fields the poppies blowBetween the crosses, row on row,Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place….That mark our place….  

We are the Dead. Short days agoWe are the Dead. Short days agoWe lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,Loved and were loved, and now we lieLoved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fieldsIn Flanders fields

Further Research

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodbyeee...