The Soldier Flashcards
Give one pieces of context for “The Soldier”
It is set in WW1 (Brooke was enlisted in the Royal Naval Division).
Give one pieces of context for “The Soldier”
Died of blood poisoning from a mosquito bite while on route to Gallipoli with the navy
Give one pieces of context for “The Soldier”
Rupert Brooke became a symbol in England for the tragic loss of talented youth during WW1.
Give one pieces of context for “The Soldier”
The poem is about selflessness- the idealized selflessness of a soldier who sacrifices himself for his country.
Give one pieces of context for “The Soldier”
The poem is about a soldier who speculates about his possible death, which he feels should not be mourned but understood as a selfless tribute to his much-loved England.
What do you compare “The Soldier” to in the anthology?
Dulce et Decorum Est
Give 3 ways in which Rupert Brooke presents war in his poem.
Glorified and noble act.
Patriotic and spiritual duty.
Provides Christian hope of eternal redemption.
Give 2 ideas for the introduction
Highly romantic and idealized.
Instead of violence and pain, it is about spiritual rejuvenation and ardent patriotism.
Give one way in which Brooke presents war as a glorified and noble act.
The speaker’s reference to “some corner of a foreign field/ That is forever England” The burial is orderly and stately-there is a designated “corner,” and the bodily is tidily “concealed”.
Give one way in which Brooke presents war as a glorified and noble act.
The “corner” is enriched metaphorically + literally by body of the soldier, making that foreign land “England.”
Give one way in which Brooke presents war as a glorified and noble act.
The soldier’s identity will not be forgotten but remembered with pride “forever.”- CONTEXT- big English graveyards/young people like Brooke signed up with pride. -To die for England was a privilege.
Give one way in which Brooke presents war as a patriotic and spiritual duty.
She “bore, shaped, made aware,” presents an idyllic childhood with pastoral imagery of “rivers” and “suns” to suggest England’s generosity which the soldier should return with his selfless sacrifice.
Give one way in which Brooke presents war as a patriotic and spiritual duty.
Brooke’s sonnet form replaces the traditional female lover with England herself. In death, the heart returns to God “the thoughts by England given.” England is Christian creating a sense that it is one’s religious duty to obey England’s call for war.
Give one way in which Brooke presents war as a patriotic and spiritual duty.
“The Soldier” is deliberately ambiguous so that its message speaks to all men. In this reading of the poem, war is romanticized as a privileged and dutiful sacrifice, reflecting the excitement of “The Soldier” and all like him, enlisting to fight.
Give one way in which Brooke shows that war provides Christian hope of eternal redemption.
Soldier’s body will be “washed by the rivers, blest by the suns of home.” Water imagery recalls Christian baptism while the “sun” suggests the redemptive power of God’s son Jesus (as “light of the World”).
Give one way in which Brooke shows that war provides Christian hope of eternal redemption.
Soldier will become “A pulse in the eternal mind” meaning he will return to God who is the ultimate paternal figure of care and protection. Would have brought comfort to mourners.
Give one way in which Brooke shows that war provides Christian hope of eternal redemption.
The poet points to time of peace when “all evil” will be “shed away”-a biblical idea in Revelation (last book of the Bible.) This also gives idea of ultimate enlightenment and forgiveness of sins/redemption-another Christian idea.
Give one ideas for the conclusion
War was to many, the end but here it is presented as a temporary force that will ultimately be defeated for good.
