Eavan Boland - War Horse Flashcards
Where did the stray horse come from
The tinker camp of the Enniskerry Road
What does neighbours hiding suggest
Ordinary people have a part to play in war but choose not to
It represents suburban indifference in the face of violence and war
Appearing normal and ordinary Onomatopoeia and alliteration Death is considered a casual thing now Hard biting change in tone Sinister
Nothing unusual about the clip clop casual of his iron shoes as he stamps death
Simile comparing horse to machine of war
Assonance
Rhythm represents industrial efficiency of war
Like a mint on the innocent coinage of earth
Conflict is far from their suburban lives
Not too bothered
Gentle images of suburbia alongside horrific violence
Stark contrast puts into perspective the damage of flowers and plants
Of distant interest like a maimed limb
“Only” unbothered
Flowers = victims
Soldiers will never reach full potential like roses will never climb
Only a rose which will now never climb
Flower was young as were soldiers when they died
Won’t grow anymore
Vivid violent
Blown from growth
We have not got the fear of a need to commit to our country because there is little to no violence
Our unformed fear of fierce commitment
It it’s not affecting them they don’t care
Used to war
Indifferent because of time and distance
Why should we care
Simile
Horse represents war as he carries out similar activities
Like a rumour of war
Neighbours hiding
Blocking chaos
Powerless
Purposely blinding themselves to the problem
Deliberately ignorant
Hiding from other neighbours - embarrassing?
Neighbours use the subterfuge of curtains
Thankful conflict is elsewhere and hurting others not them
Makes us look at our behaviour
Thankfully passing us
For a second only, she identifies with her ancestors who experienced war.
It seems to stirrup some deep ancestral memory of conflict and violence
For a second, she wants to fight back
For a second only my blood is still with atavism
Purpose of neat order of rhyming couplets of poem
Suburban attitudes, well kept gardens, this contrasts with the destructiveness of the horse
Themes
War and violence Suburban life (its artificiality and fragility)
