The man he killed Flashcards
Who was Thomas Hardy?
(1840-1928) Victorian poet
Realism and romanticism
Highly critical victorian society
openly against the Second Boer War, which Britain was fighting at the time the poem was written
How does this poem link to conflict?
Conflict in wartime
Reality of conflict
Memories of conflict
What are the two themes Thomas Hardy explores?
The Futility (how pointless it is) of War
strong anti-war message
What are the two themes Thomas Hardy explores?
This represents the idea that they do not matter to those in power
How is the poem structured?
Friendly idea of two men drinking together in an Inn, to brutally killing each other on a battlefield
Internal conflict
What quote could 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.”
Why is repetition and fillers used in the poem?
Words are repeated, and fillers are inserted, to show the speaker struggling to think about why he had to kill the man
Why does Hardy use colloqualism ? what quotes show this?
Enables the reader to view the speaker and his foe as ordinary men
Much of the poem uses simple and matter of fact language - why?
This reflects the speaker’s background and character: a working class, ‘everyday’ man.
What quote shows this?
“I shot at him as he at me, And killed him in his place.”
