1 - Who’s For The Game Flashcards
What is the context of the poem ‘Who’s for the Game’?
Presents war as exhilarating and heroic experience, urging young men to enlist by depicting it as a thrilling game.
Downplays horrors of war and emphasises excitement an flory of battle.
Jesse Pope was a patriotic and motivated propaganda war poet.
Believed it was honourable to fight for your country in war.
WW1, poem reflects prevailing attitude of time, significant pressure on young men to enlist and fight.
Published in ‘The Daily Mail’, newspaper known for patriotic and pro war stance.
What is the structure and form of the poem ‘Who’s for the Game’?
4 quatrains.
Every other line is indented, reinforces distinction between 2 types of men.
First 3 lines of first 3 stanzas dedicated to brace volunteers, while final line in each stanza designated to cowards.
Rhyme - alternating ABAB pattern reinforces distinction between brace individuals willing to join army and cowards missing out on excitement and thrill of war.
Rhythm mainly anapaest feet, 4 feet in lines 1 and 3, 3 feet in lines 2 and 4.
Effect of rhythm is sense of driving forward or galloping like a horse.
Upbeat rhythm has positive effect on reader, helping persuasive effect.
What are the main themes of the poem ‘Who’s for the Game’?
Duty
Reasons for conflict
Attitudes to conflict
What poems can be used to compare with the poem ‘Who’s for the Game’ for the theme of duty?
The Charge of the Light Brigade
Vitaï Lampada
The Man He Killed
An Irish Airman Foresees His Death
What poems can be used to compare with the poem ‘Who’s for the Game’ for the theme of reasons for conflict?
The Man He Killed
Requiem for the Croppies
Bayonet Charge
An Irish Airman Foresees His Death
What poems can be used to compare with the poem ‘Who’s for the Game’ for the theme of attitudes to conflict?
Anthem for Doomed Youth
The Man He Killed
Bayonet Charge
An Irish Airman Foresees His Death
Last Post
What is the analysis for stanza 1 of the poem ‘Who’s for the Game’?
‘Who’s for the game’ - metaphor depicts war as enjoyable and action-packed, fails to acknowledge brutality of war.
‘the biggest that’s played…’ - superlative attempts to make war seem more attractive, reinforces its grandeur and scale.
‘The red crashing game…’ - reference to “red” doesn’t allude to bloodshed, instead evokes energy, passion and vitality of those who participate.
‘The red crashing game…’ - onomatopoeic term suggest chaotic nature of war, yet is exciting.
‘The red crashing game of a fight’ - rhetorical questions challenge reader, offering opportunity to demonstrate their bravery and courage.
‘…grip and tackle…’ - active verbs reinforce war as a game by making it seem exciting and tense, makes joining war effort seem easy.
‘Who’ll grip and tackle the job unafraid?’ - appeals to sense of duty, joining army and fighting in war depicted as necessary action.
‘And who thinks he’d rather sit tight?’ - offers implicit criticism of those who don’t join, believes failing to join war effort will limit opportunities for excitement and glory that await reader.
Enthusiastic tone used throughout.
Constant juxtaposition between those eager to join and those left behind. Speaker questions their masculinity as persuasive tactic, to demean further relegates them to cowards.
What is the analysis for stanza 2 of the poem ‘Who’s for the Game’?
‘Who’ll toe the line for the signal to ‘Go!’’? - continues positive depiction of war by comparing to race, fast-paced, action#packed and competitive.
‘Who’ll give his country a hand?’ - anaphora create sense that this is a “call to arms”.
‘Who’ll give his country a hand?’ - patriotic tone suggests everyone has duty to support their country in any way they can.
‘Who’ll give his country a hand?’ - colloquial metaphor lessens enormity of potential sacrifice.
‘Who wants a turn to himself in the show?’ - metaphor reinforces spectacle of grandeur of war.
‘Who wants a turn to himself in the show?’ - pronoun suggests men being offered s chance to prove themselves and achieve individual glory, also promotes sense of belonging and inclusivity.
‘And who wants a seat in the stand?’ - sibilants reinforces disgust and condemnation of those who don’t join, depicting them as outsiders.
‘And who wants a seat in the stand?’ - metaphor suggests those who don’t fight will be relegated to role of spectators, missing out on fun.
What is the analysis for stanza 3 of the poem ‘Who’s for the Game’?
‘Who knows it won’t be a picnic…’ - tone remains light-hearted and jovial, continues to downplay brutality of war.
‘-not much- ‘ - Caesarea slows pace to acknowledge that men will face some difficulties.
‘Yet eagerly shoulders a gun?’ - conjunction and adverb suggest men are willing to fight on behalf of country and show bravery in spite of difficult circumstances, heroism to overcome them is emphasised.
‘…come back with a crutch’ - alliterative phrase highlights view that selflessly fighting and injuring yourself is preferable to not fighting.
‘…come back with a crutch’ - image is optimistic, illustrates ignorance of serious injuries suffered by the men.
‘Than lie low…’ - alliteration depicts men as cowardly, afraid of conflict and warfare.
What is the analysis for stanza 4 of the poem ‘Who’s for the Game’?
‘Come along, lads..’ - imperative creates motivational tone, rallying men to join.
‘Come along, lads…’ - friendly, controversial language further appeals to potential volunteers and youthful energy.
‘…but you’ll come on all right’ - reassuring tone assures men are making the right decision, will take common-sense approach and join army, inevitable.
‘…only one course to pursue’ - alliteration suggests joining army and fighting is both practical and moral thing to do.
‘Your country…’ - pronoun fosters sense of patriotism by personalising relationship between men and country.
‘…is up to her neck in a fight’ - personification reinforces dire circumstances country is in, in extreme need of help.
‘And she’s looking and calling for you.’ - personification depicts country as damsel in distress in need of rescuing, attempts to appeal to young men.
‘And she’s looking and calling for you.’ - depicts young men who sign up as only hope of saving country.
‘…calling for you.’ - direct address, poem narrows focus in personal and direct appeal to reader.
What is the content, meaning and purpose of the poem ‘Who’s For The Game’?
Poem presents war as exhilarating and heroic experience, urging young men to enlist by depicting it as thrilling game.
Downplays horrors of war and emphasises excitement and glory of battle, aiming to recruit soldiers for military.
