The Soldier Flashcards
The “soldier”
Here Rupert brooke is talking about the ideal soldier, shown in definite article by the. He is not talking about himself only. He also only used the first person “I” once, suggesting it is not specific to him and that the poem could be representing all soldiers
Imperative in “ if I should die;think only this of me”?
Willingness?
Directly addresses the reader of the poem and makes them feel responsible for carrying out so,dier’s request. It shapes the opinion onto the reader more as they feel forced to feel about them in this way
Caesura also changes subject from war to love, highlights theme if poem quickly.
Also accepts dying and should feels like he wants to die for England, becaus Brooke hsd this idealistic view of war of achieving martyrdom
Also patriotic because he is serving even after death…
That there’s some corner of a foreign field?
Why some and a
These words make this area highly unspecific. This is be aus it is so far away from England and so strange that the poet does not attach any feelings to it, he does nit care as it is nit English, the superior nation and so not given much description.
Alternatively could show that it could be anywhere on Earth they may die but always carries England with them…
“That is for ever England”
Context, why some critical?
Imperialistic phrase, on hand means conquered and. Ow English territory but also contrasts between morts,its snd immortality, even if his morals body dies, firgursgively because his body will always be there. He does not want to be grieved but rather celebrated.
Also paradox, foreign land is now England.
To reader may be slightly over exaggerated in terms of feelings towards England, especially in real horrors of war, but shows his true value to England.This imperialistic mindset was a driving factor to why world war continued between Britain and Germany too, so audience at time would have this COLONIAL PRIDE that they could own anything. However now the exaggeration may lead to anti war people as critical
In that rich earth richer dust concealed
Shows nationalistic views
Euphemism - how is it slightly cruel to reader?
How religious imagery
By making comparison he suggests anything English will always be superior to feign lands, and his remains will be a testament to it. Shows naturalistic views
“Dust “ also echoes ashes to ashes dust to dust from book of common prayer, spoken at burials .religious imagery here as he is being rewarded after death and made richer.
U,timst Ely trying to show patriotic values and that shouldn’t be scarred of death, but ironically he never had this combat anyways…
2) yet also euphemistic, speaking metaphorically to cover the true fact- death shows poet trying to soften potential blow of death, making the death seem insignificant, and masking the true implications behind this . This propaganda style text is what caused many people to argue back about true war and how bad it is…
Second half of octet he talks more about England effect on him
England, bore, shaped, made aware
Repetition of England ?
What about use of nature
This personifies England as a mother, a person who bore him snd shapes him , emohsied bu FEMALE pronouns.
Not only highlights poet loyalty to mother but also desire to protect them with life, as men would have been expected to fight for women and children. This extended metaphor shows again why you dedicate life to England
3) Repetitom shows extreme devotion and slightly obsessive feelings to England, deep admiration in this love poem dedicated to it
4) talks about idyllic nature and landscape as a way to show affection for England and devotion to its beauty too- loves everything about England,
Ends the octet with
Washed by ruhe Reviers, blest by the suns of home?
Again religious , “blest” suggests she is his benefactor and his protector . Washed is almost making him pure , as if he is getting baptised, shows deeper level of connection towards England on a spiritual level too.
“Suns” is also a pun on son , showing patriotic desire again to fight and protect mother. But sun is also warmth and Provides, showing England is like this to him.
Ends on home , which is England , last image shows how important England is to him
Context
Idealism?
Navy
Dead
Themes
Poem written in 1914 in World War One . When war first broke out there were ideas of many men eager to serve to their country- idealism, and this is captured in the poem highlighting an ideal soldier . Very patriotic and shows an obsessive psssion for all of England as a whole
Brooke commissioned into the Royal Navy and after 27th birthday took part in the Royal Navy Division Expedition .
However he could never actually take part in frontline combat ironically, as he himself was buried in a foreign field of Cyprus
Dying from sepsis of mosquito bite
This is highlighted in other poems, he had no perspective of war and other poets written as direct way to prove these lies wrong
Form snd structure? Why is it a sonnet
How is caesura used ?
How is extra metre used to enhance ides of giving? IMPORTANT
14 lines, rhyme variation there , iambic pentameter (for the most part) , love , change in shift between stanzas
Psonnet form (Petrarchan) which is tradionslly love fro someone , but in this case England. He romantisches and praises it for beauty and what it gave.
Octave snd sestet about two speedster ideas, octave about hoe England has enriched his life and how it made him who he is whereas sestet is about returning the “gifts” he was given after his death to England when he unfixed with eternal mind “god”
2) second stanza he manetiins evil , and uses a reflective mood shown by commas which slow down pace of poem.
Caesura also creates perfect balance , with alliteration on both sides, which calms down the war and evil he mentions . Created a more beautiful construct , making it more appealing to die for your country . Sibilants also creates calm tone
3) generals,y pentameter , but 67 11 and 14 all 11 syllables. Here it is talking about how much England gave or what they will give back, showing they will give MORE THAN YOU THINK as the rest are ten legal label sesch…
Second stanza
.this heart, all evil shed away / a pulse in the eternal mind “
Continuation from first statement
Here after death he is Süd- of all evil- horrors of war and murder , and hatred for others and sacrifices have been purified, snd his spirit is now a beat in the everlasting heaven. He has been purified by death and brought closer to the eternal mind- god, here he will eternally give back the values to this place . This is emphasised by relfective tone , wondering what he can give back to England after everything it has done for him
Gives back somewhere back the thoughts by England given
Sights sounds, happy dreams laughter
(What does it echo)
Cyclical structure of returning the favour but also when someone thinks of him they will receive the thought of England
He then gives back all the positive memories , presenting England as idyllic and not too far off being a heaven, origin of all worldly happiness
The warmth and kindness here is also rememsnts if “sun” before
In hearts at Peace, under sn English heaven
What was Poet really trying to do?
Peace contrasts with war perhaps suggesting that the way to break free is to die.
Finally English heaven, the heaven he enters will be English because no doubt England is already heavly. Suggests overall attitude of love and devotion to England.
Here he was romanticising with England and presented dying as a glorified and honourable, however unlike it being propaganda it was certainly used as propaganda, and the effects of real war is nit explored maybe because he never got to experience it himself…
Overall?
Sonnet form allows him to present his devotion towards englsnd, and straight away it shows it is not much a war poem but more a love.
Presents desth overall to be honourable and glorified, snd he is extremely patriotic and almost wants to die
At the start he shows how himself will decompose into England,
Middle how englsnd has enriched him and gave him everything he is worth as. Smother
Last is how after death he will give qualities back under heaven which is English naturally
Celebrated englsnd throughout , Motivation because he loves not trying to progadnsds but that’s how it was legacy wise ultimately…
How englsnd presented as?
Brooke used semantic field of utopia to show England, representing patriotic thoughts of a soon to be soldier
Superior to other tying else
Jolly, peaceful,
And Eden like (nature and heaven)
- Pure clean , purity of water ,
- but also protector religious
