The Soldier

Question 1

Context

Answer 1

Written in 1914 - everyone very patriotic near start of WW1
Died in 1915 from mosquito bite then he developed sepsis.
Aristocratic upbringing skewed perception of harsh realities of war
Difficult relationship with mother so he chose to use England as a ‘motherly figure’

Question 2

Form/Structure

Answer 2

The poem is written in sonnet form (a typical love poem consisting of 14 lines) and includes iambic pentameter throughout (x5 ‘iambs’ or pairs,
one unstressed syllable, the other stressed). The first 8 lines of the poem discuss the possibility of the soldier dying and reflect on the role England has had in his development. In the ninth line, the soldier reflects on what heaven would be like and this creates a change in the poem’s direction. The final part of the poem explores the afterlife and moves away from earth

Question 3

‘corner’

Answer 3

corner of a foreign field / That is forever England

Question 4

‘dust’

Answer 4

dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware

Question 5

‘washed’

Answer 5

Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home

Purity

Question 6

‘laughter’

Answer 6

And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness

He reminds us of the cherished memories he spent in England

Question 7

‘peace

Answer 7

In hearts at peace, under an English heaven