The Soldier

Question 1

‘The Soldier’

Answer 1

• ‘The’ —> use of determiner implies that it is not a general term and implies a specific soldier. This can imply that Brooke speaks from a specific perspective as if he speaks from experience. This opposes the purpose of the poem as he aimed to romanticise war despite never fighting in a war.
  It also suggests that this persona is the archetype of the perfect patriotic British soldier, who all men should follow after.
• ‘Soldier’ —> This gives the narrator a military identity and can create connotations of pride and honour. This can link to Brooke’s intentions to commemorate soldiers as patriotic and encourage people to join the war. This is a form of propaganda.

Question 2

‘Think only this of me:/ That there’s some corner of a foreign field/ That is forever England’

Answer 2

• ‘only’ —> the adverb portrays how the narrator wants to be singularly commemorated as English and with no other identity. This centralises the idea of England within the narrative portraying it as the overall purpose of their life.
  ‘Corner of a foreign field’ —> corner uses dimensional imagery. This is vital since in war, dimensional land and space is used as a marker for success within conflict. As a result, the idea of ‘England’ have a ‘corner’ implies that a soldiers’ death results in success which is ‘for ever’
  ‘For ever England’ —> ‘for ever’ portrays a sense of eternity implying that England is long-lasting, as a result, serving may supply an eternal reward.
  ‘Foreign field’ —> fricative sound and alliteration both mimic a sense of optimism by softening the harsh nature of death. Also, the use of enjambment implies that the narrator is trying to convey a sense of cohesion and no hesitancy when facing death. Is willing to die for country.

Question 3

‘Shall be/ In that rich earth a richer dust concealed; a dust whose England bore, shaped, made aware’

Answer 3

• ‘shall’ —> modal verb —> definitive in decision and full conviction in narrator’s actions.
• ‘Rich earth a richer dust’ —> use of suffix ‘er’ —> implies how English ashes and remains are more lavish and valuable compared to ‘earth’. —> elevated view portraying English produce as better compared to other land.
  ‘Bore, shaped, made aware’ —> asyndetic triadic —> parental imagery —> England guides and gives people purpose —> evokes sense of responsibility to protect the country similar to parents.

Question 4

‘Body of England’s, breathing English air, washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home’

Question 5

‘Pulse in the eternal mind, no less gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given’

Question 6

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

Question 7

‘Gentleness, in hearts at peace, under an English heaven’.

Question 8

‘Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam’