The Soldier Flashcards
Form:
rhyme in the first stanza but none in the second - suggests more complicated values of british values over british land
Sonnet- love for England
Direct appeal to reader through imperative ‘think’. Militarism - we feel commanded.
First person narrative only apparent in first line- could be about any soldier
Caesura
Highlights patriotism and reflective attitude
Listing using caesura
There is no way to fit all of his descriptions in so he’s having to cram them together
Structure:
Material things
Then british mindset
Growth in positivity
Confident -> reflective (Through caesura)
Octave - how British has enriched his life
Sestet - how he will repay his country after death . Insinuates a sense of gratuity and humility that reinforce Britain’s goodness.
Repetition of ‘england’ makes the reader’s patriotism seem overwhelming
Repetition of England/English
‘Home’
Patriotism and hyperbolic devotion to his country
Despite to his foreign death, he will be home in spirit
Language
Semantic field of peace, strength and contentment
Extended metaphor for Britain as a mother - the country made him who he is, and reassures him during war. Stereotypical female descriptions present her as caring
Natural imagery - idyllic, symbolic of the country’s inherent goodness
Religious - exemplifies soldiers faithful nature and a hope that he will live on, despite a horrific corporeal death he must be aware is possible
Maternal imagery
Bore
Her flowers
Indicates unconditional and maybe almost necessary love
Sense of growth
Personification
A body of England’s breathing English air
the thoughts by England given
Her sights and sounds
Idealist imagery
dreams Laughter Friends Gentleness Peace Hearts
Omits typical gruesome descriptions of war, could be trying not to imagine it to quash fear? Externally brave?
If I should die
Sudden, impactful start
This man is brave and does not fear death because he has faith that heaven will be peaceful
for ever England
Patriotic tone
Literally because of the possibility we will win the war
Symbolically because he body remains there- there is a part of English’s remain
Foreign field
Fricatives -> far away?
Isolated grave, depressing image subverted by persistent and insistent faith
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed
biblical allusion - “ashes to ashes, dust to dust” - Book of Common Prayer, read at funeral
he believes that England is so perfect, it must have been crafted by god
Comparative because of the faith and inherent goodness of his ppl -> arrogance?
And think, this heart, all evil shed away
Disjointed - maybe he does subconsciously fear death
Evil is in the world, he recognises, but not England!
Death is purifying and brings him closer to god
Eternal mind
Means god
Abstract imagery and more personification
