The Soldier

Question 1

when was it written

Answer 1

1914

Question 2

context

Answer 2

• WW1 broke out in August 1914
• lots of young men wanted to enlist in the army -> some people even got fake IDs so they looked old enough to join
• most people were not aware of the horrors of war
• this optimism soon faded
• the Soldier was written about optimism at the start of the war
• Rupert Brooke served in the Royal Navy but fell ill and died in 1915

Question 3

who wrote it

Answer 3

Rupert Brooke

Question 4

the soldier quotations

Answer 4

‘England bore, shaped, made aware’

‘all evil shed away’….’eternal mind’

‘under an English heaven’

Question 5

‘England bore, shaped, made aware’

Answer 5

• presenting England as nurturing and mother-like
• reflects how speaker feels England shaped him as a person
• mothers are often associated with comfort - may explain why thinking about his country was reassuring

Question 6

‘evil shed away’…’eternal mind’

Answer 6

• because he will die for his country, his sins will be washed away and he will be purified to be closer to god
• emphasises his belief that dying for your country was heroic and brave

Question 7

‘under an English heaven’

Answer 7

• as he gave his life for his country in a brave way, he believes he should go to an english only heaven
• could be interpreted as a xenophobic and racist belief as he seems to look down on other races and nationalities
  -> thinks england is superior

Question 8

themes in the soldier

Answer 8

• faith and worship
• death and loss
• effects of war
• nature
• sense of place