The Soldier Flashcards
1
Q
who is the writer?
A
Rupert Brooke
2
Q
when was it written?
A
1914
3
Q
themes?
A
- faith and worship
- negative emotions
- sense of place
4
Q
context?
A
- influenced John Gillespie Magee (a celebrated war poet)
- this poem was recited in the St Paul’s Cathedral
- he wrote poems in WW1
- his poems promote that sacrifice of life is for a greater good
- he died on the way to fight - he never actually fought in a war himself
- pro-war
- propaganda
- patriarchal
5
Q
form + structure?
A
- this poem is a Petrarchan sonnet (an octet and a sestet)
- octet rhyme scheme: abab
- sestet rhyme scheme: abcabc
6
Q
what are the messages from this poem?
A
- this poem makes soldiers feel pride to fight for their country whom they love: England
- presents war as a heroic battle to save the motherland
- glorification of loss
7
Q
what does the use of the conditional tense ‘If’ show in the first line?
A
- future conditional tense
- hypothetical
- no fear
8
Q
what does the word ‘only’ show?
A
- the poet is very patriarchal
- wants to be remembered for his efforts for his country
9
Q
what does the phrase ‘some corner of a foreign field’ show?
A
- inferior to England - controversial
- if he dies, his English body will forever leave a mark
10
Q
what does the phrase ‘That is forever England’ show?
A
he is proud of his country
11
Q
what does England being personified as ‘her’ show?
A
- that England is the motherland
- idolising England
- romanticised
12
Q
what type of imagery is ‘flowers to love’?
A
buccolic imagery - countryside
13
Q
what does the repitition of ‘England’ show?
A
shows continuity of English dominance and pride
14
Q
what does the metaphor ‘eternal mind’ show?
A
- once dead all is remembered in memory
- soldiers will forever be remembered
15
Q
what does this phrase show: ‘Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given’
A
- voice of a martyr
- happy to sacrifice himself for his country
