The soldier

Question 1

Summary

Answer 1

-The poem is almost a love sonnet to England, glorifying the ‘honour’ in dying for your country and presenting a very patriotic and idealistic view of war

Question 2

Context

Answer 2

-Rupert Brooke was a soldier during WW1 who died of blood poisoning. He was never involved in active service so could be naive/ignorant. This was written at the start of WW1 when attitudes towards war were overly positive..

Question 3

Structure/form

Answer 3

• The poem is written in sonnet form, and so ‘The Soldier’ acts as as love poem to England.
• The poem follows the Shakespearean sonnet rhyme scheme, very harmonious, reflecting his positive attitude towards war and England

Question 4

Themes

Answer 4

• Conflict

- Relationships

Question 5

‘richer dust concealed’

Answer 5

• The comparative adjective ‘richer’ indicates that he thinks the remains of his body are superior to the ground he lies in because he is English.
• The phrase has religious overtones and relates to the religious idea of our bodies becoming dust when we die. The use of religious overtones shows how he sees death for his country as the highest honour and almost a holy act

Question 6

‘hearts at peace, under an English heaven’

Answer 6

• The noun ‘peace’ implies that dying for England would bring comfort and tranquility
• The phrase ‘English heaven’ shows his pride in England presents England as a paradise. The use of the noun ‘heaven’ further adds to the religious imagery

Question 7

‘Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day’

Answer 7

-The phrase romanticises England and informs the reader of his cherished memories of England and home, shared with friends

Question 8

‘blest by suns of home’

Answer 8

-The verb ‘blest’ adds on to the religious imagery and implies England is his holy protector

Question 9

‘If I should die’

Answer 9

-The opening line suggest an acceptance of death and the modal verb ‘should’ implies a willingness to die for his country. The line introduces the reader to Brooke’s views on dying for your country as an honourable sacrifice.

Question 10

‘England’

Answer 10

-Brooke repeats the noun ‘England’ six times, which emphasise his patriotism and love for England

Question 11

‘whom England bore’

Answer 11

-Brooke personifies England and presents it in a motherly way, as the place that nurtured and shaped him. This might suggest that he lives England, as a son loves their mother, which further highlights his patriotism.

Question 12

Comparison

Answer 12

• Dulce et Decorum Est