The Soldier

Question 1

Author

Answer 1

Rupert Brooke

Question 2

context

Answer 2

Brooke’s death, en route to a foreign field: Rupert Brooke never experienced front-line combat but was sailing for Gallipoli with the British Mediterranean Expeditionary Force when he contracted blood poisoning from a mosquito bite. He died on April 23 1915 (St George’s Day), aged 27.

Question 3

The solider

Answer 3

Definite article suggests ‘the’ soldier is important and significant or that this soldier is representing all the soldiers.

Question 4

‘think only this of me’

Answer 4

Imperative- shaping reader’s opinion of them as they are forces to think or feel for the soldiers.

Question 5

‘This is for ever England’

Answer 5

Imperialistic- suggests the soldier will conquer foreign soil by being buried in it

Question 6

‘rich earth a richer dust’

Answer 6

Nationalistic pride- richer is a comparative adjective (positive), he’s saying being English is the best

Question 7

‘richer dust concelaed’

Answer 7

softens the blow of potential death- suggests the personal may not be ready to accept it. Euphemism.
Author is downplaying death and makes it seem insignificant to soften emotional impact on reader.

Question 8

‘Her’, “bore, shaped, made aware’

Answer 8

England has been personified as a woman and mother. Highlights persona’s loyalty to England, as well as his desire to defend and protect her.

Question 9

‘England’

Answer 9

Obsessive- repetition shows deep admiration and love towards their country

Question 10

‘home’

Answer 10

emphasises how important England is to the persona

Question 11

”,” (last six lines)

Answer 11

Caesurae- helps slow down pace of poem, creating a reflective tone

Question 12

Englands presentation

Answer 12

Persona presents England as ideal and positive.

Question 13

‘peace’

Answer 13

‘Peace’ contrasts with the chaos of war, persona is aware battlefield are far from nice.

Question 14

‘English heaven”

Answer 14

Positive image of death to end poem with. Suggests glory and righteousness. By dying fro their country they are dying for all the right reasons. Sums up poet’s overall opinion towards war. He never actually experienced fighting for his country so the real aspects of war aren’t shown. His stance could be considered naive, idealistic and ill formed.

Question 15

‘richer dust’, ‘her flowers to love’, ‘her ways to roam’, ‘breathing English air’, ‘all evil shed away’, ‘gentleness’, ‘English heaven’

Answer 15

England has been presented a a utopia
Presented as:
- superior
- pure
- clean
- jolly
- peaceful
- Eden- like
He's used a semantic field of Utopianism.

Question 16

Sonnet form

Answer 16

Adoration for England

Question 17

Meaning

Answer 17

reassures reader by telling them if they are to die, they are doing it for England, showing patriotic views characteristic of pre war England.

Question 18

why’s

Answer 18

• Brooke romanticises the idea of dying for one’s country, implying this act of self sacrifice is a true honour and will be considered the ultimate act of heroism
• By personifying England as a female figure, Brooke appeals to societal expectations of masculinity, promoting the view that men are protecting and defending women
• Brooke promotes patriotism, implying that all men are indebted to their country and shape;d sacrifice themselves to preserve it.
• He glorifies England and elevates it to an Eden-like stage.