The Man He Killed. Flashcards
Who was Thomas Hardy?
Victorian poet. Realism and romanticism. Highly critical in victorian society. Openly against the second Boer War. Britain was fighting at the time the poem was wrote.
How does this poem link to conflict?
Conflict in wartime. Reality of conflict. Memories of conflict.
What are the two themes Thomas Hardy explores?
Theme 1. The futility of War (How pointless it is). Strong anti-war message.
Theme 2. Dehumanisation.
How is the poem structured.
Dramatic monologue. Friendly idea of two men drinking together. Slow realisation. Stanza 5 sums up the futility of war.
What quote would you use to show this?
“Yes; quaint and curious war is! You shoot a fellow down”
What are the terms used to describe how punctuation is used in the poems?
Enjambment and caesura are used to affect the rhythm and pace of the poem, and to emphasise meanings.
What quote could I use to show this?
“Was out of work — had sold his traps — No other reason why.” End stopping
Why is repetition and fillers used in the poem?
“because” is reapeated over a line break. Buying the speaker thinking time. ‘although’ and ‘perhaps’ are filters.
Why does Hardy use colloqualism? what quotes show this?
Stanza 4, where the speaker suggests that the man he killed may have, like he, ‘sold his traps’ (his belongings).
Much of the poem uses simple and matter of fact language - why?
No emotive language, No details given on the man killed because he had to be detached.
What quote shows this?
“I shot at him as he at me, And killed him in his place.”
