The Soldier Flashcards
Soldier overview
Brooke uses “the soldier” as a vehicle to celebrate the bravery of the soldiers who fought in the front line of war. He dies in the early parts of world war 1 so he didn’t write about his tragic experiences, which is reflected by the patriotism that runs through the poem.
Soldier para 1 quote 1
“In some corner of a foreign field”
- use of the term “some” and the alliteration “foreign field” highlights the sacrifices made by soldiers as they walked blind for their country
Soldier para 1 quote 2
“In that rich earth a richer dust concealed”
- suggests the ground and soil is better with buried soldiers because they died for the right cause,
- describes and presents them as honorary
Soldier para 2 quote 1
“Her flowers” “breathing English air”
- romanticises England as he thinks it is honourable to fight for the right side which he feels is England
- giving the country possession as if a person they are fighting for
Soldier para 2 quote 2
“Blest by the suns of home”
- suggests when fighting nothing could go wrong because god is on their side because they are fighting for their country
- blest is symbolic of the propaganda going around at the time telling people it was only moral to fight for their country
Soldier para 3 quote 1
“Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given”
- the use of the verb “gives” suggests it is the soldiers duty as they ow their country.
- “England” repetition demonstrates his patriotism which fuels his desire to fight in this poem
Soldier para 3 quote 2
“Her sights and sounds; dreams as happy as her day”
- use of “her” demonstrates how he further romanticises his country
- use of “sights and sounds” demonstrates how in all senses soldiers should fight for their country as they will be made happy in all ways
- use of the simile demonstrates how he rates his happiness against the countries,
Soldier structure
Octave and sestet
Short and sweet shows how he thinks it is simple that they should go to war
