The Soldier Flashcards
who wrote the soldier?
Rupert Brooke
describe Rupert Brooke?
he was a WW1 soldier- however he never actually made it to war- very patriotic
context and meaning of the Soldier?
-the poet’s lack of experience of physical warfare and violence perhaps explains why he is able to take such a glorified and positive view of dying for your country
-the poet accepts that death is a possible consequence of fighting in war, but regards it as an honour rather than a tragedy or a waste
-he presents England as “heaven” implying a religious quality to sacrificing yourself for the values of England
what perspective is The soldier written from and analyse this?
first person- Rupert Brooke
-emphasise the personal sacrifice of each individual in war
-soldier remains anonymous to imply that the individual does not matter- collective sacrifice for England
how does Brooke use comparative in the soldier?
in “in that rich earth a richer dust concealed”
-emphasises how Brooke regards English material as superior to other countries
-repetition on rich emphasises the contrast
How does Brooke use personification in the soldier and analyse it?
-Personifies England
-“bore” implies that England is like a mother to its people
-“shaped, made aware” suggests how England raises and guides the moral character of Englishmen
- the use of a list of three emphasises the many things England does to nurture and mould the character of its subjects
describe and analyse the form and structure of The Soldier.
-written as a sonnet- could be considered a love poem for England
-regular rhyme scheme creates a sense of order and certainty to emphasise how confident the poet is in his views
analyse the quotation “England bore, shaped, made aware”
England is seen as a nurturing mother- use of the extended metaphor reflects how the narrator feels about dying for his country- its shaped him as a person and now to give back he will die for England- reassures him
analyse the quotation “flowers to love, her ways to roam”
presents England as an idyllic countryside
-implies freedom of the country
-the England countryside is part of his devotion to his country
analyse the quotation “the eternal mind”
soldier transcends into immortality
-implies death is a positive transition because you become part of something greater
-closer to God
-death is purifying
analyse the quotation “under an English Heaven”
implies that England as a country is mirrored in heaven above- he thinks of England as a heaven
-Strengthens his idea that England is a perfect country
-patriotic- benefit him in the after life
analyse the repetition of “England”
the love for ones country is so overwhelming that he can’t explain it
