After Blenheim Flashcards
When does this poem take plaec?
During a summer evening
What is the name of the grandfather?
Old Kaspar
Who were the grandfather’s grandchildren?
His granddaughter was Wilhelmine and his grandson was Peterkin
Where and when did Peterkin find the skull?
He found it beside the rivulent while playing there
How is the skull described?
The skull is described as being “large”, “smooth” and “round”
Are skulls common in the garden? How does Old Kaspar know?
Skulls are common in the garden.
He knows this because, often, when he goes to “plough”, the “ploughshare” “turns” the skulls “out”.
Who wanted to know about the war first?
Peterkin
Who fought in the Battle of Blenheim? Who won?
The English and the French. The English won
What consequences did Old Kaspar face due to the war?
Old Kaspar’s father lived at Blenheim during the war, “yon stream hard by”. His “dwelling” was burnt to the ground and he was “forced to fly”. He fled with his wife and child and he did not have any place to “rest his head”.
What consequences did the country overall face because of the battle of Blenheim?
The country was “wasted fire and wide” with “fire and sword”. Many childing mothers and newborn babies died.
What shocking sight was seen after the Battle of Blenheim?
After the Battle of Blenheim, “many thousand bodies” laid “rotting in the sun” on the battle field. This was the “shocking sight” that was seen.
Who won great praise for victory in the Battle of Blenheim?
The Duke of Marlbro’ and prince Eugene
Does Kaspar know the reason for the war?
No.
When asked by Peterkin what good came of the war at last, Old Kaspar said that he “could not tell”.
Additionally, when explaining the sides of the war, he said that he could not make out what the French and the English fought for.
What is the genre of After Blenheim?
Ballad
Refrain in After Blenheim
The poetic device refrain is used for the phrase “the great victory” in order to cement the irony of the war.
Although the war was praised by everyone for its greatness, throughout the poem, Kaspar cannot find a reason for the war to occur. This makes it seem like a meaningless massacre.
This irony is shown to emphasise that, despite what any propaganda that may be indoctrinated to people says, wars are senseless, futile and evil and that, in war, there are no winners.
Alliteration in After Blenheim
Alliteration is used in the phrase “with wonder-waiting eyes”(where the ‘w’ sound is repeated) in order to add to the rhythm of the poem.
Irony in After Blenheim
Irony is seen in After Blenheim in the constant repetition of the phrase “great victory”.
This is ironic because the poem is an anti-war poem outlining the horrors of war.
This irony is shown to emphasise that, despite what any propaganda that may be indoctrinated to people says, wars are senseless, futile and evil and that, in war, there are no winners.
Metonymy in After Blenheim
Metonymy is used in the phrase “sported on the green” because the word “green” is used to refer to green fields. It is used in order to make the imagery of Wilhelmine and Peterkin playing on the field more vivid.
Where is Kaspar sitting at the start of the poem?
He was sitting “before his cottage door” “in the sun”.
Polysyndeton in After Blenheim
Polysyndeton is used in the phrase “large and smooth and round” in order to emphasise the shape of the skull.
Archaism in After Blenheim
Archaism is used in the phrases “quoth”, “twas” and “nay”.
Hyperbaton in After Blenheim
Hyperbaton is used in the phrase “which he besides the rivulet” to emphasise that it is Peterkin who found the skull.
Consonance in After Blenheim
Consonance is used in the phrase “little Wilhelmine Looks Up” where the ‘l’ consonant is repeated in order to add to the rhythm of the poem.
Author of After Blenheim
Robert Southey
