The Soldier - Rupert Brooke

Question 1

Structure

Answer 1

Shakespearean sonnet - 14 lines in iambic pentameter

Question 2

Themes

Answer 2

Courage
Nationalism
Self-sacrifice

Question 3

Context

Answer 3

The poet died not long after the war began so he never saw the horrible consequences of WW1 where approximately 18 - 20 million people died
The whole poem is jingoistic (full of extreme patriotism)

Question 4

If I should die, think only this of me:

Answer 4

The poem opens with a conditional command, showing that he has accepted the possibility of his own death, establishing a tone of bravery from the outset. The adverb ‘only’ establishes a sense of patriotism that motivated many young men to join the war effort when it was seen as fun and idealistic

Question 5

That there’s some corner of a foreign field
That is for ever England. There shall be

Answer 5

He suggests that his death and burial in the soil marks the spot as a part of England forever and the use of alliteration in ‘foreign field’ emphasises his point. It represents the dominant, patriotic views of his time before the horrors of war revealed themselves. Throughout, the poem there is a constant use of enjamblement to link ideas in different lines. The modal verb ‘shall’ shows he doesn’t question the morality of war

Question 6

In that rich earth a richer dust concealed

Answer 6

The noun ‘dust’ represents human flesh as he suggests that his remains are enriching the soil with his Englishness. The phrase is commonly used in an Anglican prayer showing the strong Christian beliefs many held at this time. There is a use of polyptoton (when words derived from the same root are repeated) on the word rich

Question 7

A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam

Answer 7

The is another example of strong patriotism as it implies that even as dust he represents England’s society and beliefs. He then builds up the emotional impact through the phrase ‘shaped, made aware, gave, once’ by compressing the verbs and nouns and excluding conjunctions for extra intensity (a technique known as asyndeton). The use of ‘her’ personifies the country as female suggesting it is kind and loving

Question 8

A body of England’s, breathing English air

Answer 8

Another use of polyptoton. The alliterative b’s gives an extra emphasis and creates a soft sound instead of an explosive one

Question 9

Washed by the rivers, blest by the suns of home.

Answer 9

The first phrase holds religious connotations as Jesus was baptised in a river again showing the traditional mindset of the time and the second phrase ends the stanza with a sense of optimism despite the subject of death

Question 10

And think, this heart, all evil shed away

Answer 10

This line is widely considered the volta as the previous lines were on the subject of death but the last 6 line are more patriotic. The poet believes that in dying for your country, you become martyred and with it your soul becomes purified and renounced of sin

Question 11

A pulse in the eternal mind, no less

Answer 11

He believes that all the evil of the world will be forgotten in the afterlife and everyone can bask in joy

Question 12

Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;

Answer 12

He feels that he can give back his Englishness (his gift) but to whom we don’t know. He employs the use of a chiasmus (a technique through high 2 or more clauses are related to each other through the reversal of structures)

Question 13

Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness

Answer 13

In these lines, he depicts an idealised version of England, creating a peaceful atmosphere helped by the alliteration of ‘sights’ and ‘sounds’ and ‘laughter’ and ‘learnt’. It’s deeply ironic considering most of the country was filled with poverty, slums and diseases

Question 14

In hearts at peace, under an English heaven

Answer 14

The previous lines refer to those who will survive and return home back to their seemingly idealistic lives whereas the final line and more specifically this phrase ‘hearts at peace’ refers to those who will die fighting as he believes they will find rest in an ‘English heaven’ suggesting he sees England as some sort of earthly Heaven

Question 15

Whys

Answer 15

Brooke romanticises the prospect of dying for one’s country, implying this act of martyrdom and self-sacrifice is a true honour and will be considered the ultimate act of heroism.
By personifying England as a female figure, Brooke appeals to societal expectations of masculinity, promoting the view that men are responsible for protecting and defending women.
Brooke promotes patriotism, implying that all men are indebted to their country and should sacrifice themselves to preserve it.