The Soldier Flashcards
Who was The Soldier written by?
Rupert Brooke
When was the Soldier written?
1914
What are context points about Rupert Brooke?
- When WW1 broke out in 1914, he was 27 and enlisted to fight
- Studied at Cambridge, was very popular
- Travelled widely but suffered homesickness
- The Soldier was read out at the St Paul’s Easter Service on 4 April 1915
- Died on a ship of sepsis in 1915 before actually fighting
- Buried in Skyros, Greece
Why is the structure of The Soldier significant?
Sonnet conveys passion and shows Brooke’s love for England
Analysis of the title of The Soldier?
The definite article “the” suggests this soldier represents all soldiers
“If I should die…
…think only this of me”
“some corner…
…of a foreign field”
“forever…
…England.”
“rich earth…
…a richer dust”
“England bore…
…shaped, made aware”
What semantic field is there in The Soldier?
Nature: “flowers” “air” “rivers” “suns” - conveys care and beauty of England, creates peaceful, idyllic tone
How many times is England/English repeated in The Soldier?
6 - emphasises love for England
What is England personified as in The Soldier?
A Mother - “bore” “her” “gentleness”: Brooke’s desire to protect her
“blest by…
…suns of home.”
“this heart,…
…all evil shed away”
