The soldier - Rupert Brooke Flashcards
How old was Brooke when he enlisted to fight in WW1?
27
where was Brooke educated
university of Cambridge
What was Brookes life like before WW1 started
he travelled widely and completed some journalistic work - although he did suffer with homesickness from time to time
what did Brooke do after he was enlisted but before he fought
he wrote a sequence of sonnets collectively entitled 1914
what sonnet was the soldier
the fifth and final sonnet
when and why did Brooke become a literary celebrity
1915 his last two sonnets were read
these poems caught spirit of the time with a country yet to feel the impact of war
when and how did Brooke die
by dying what did this mean for his war journey
in April 1915
he was bitten by a mosquito and suffered from sepsis
he nerver got to fight
where was Brooke buried
skyros, greece
when was Brookes poems published
a month after he died
what is the importance of the title “the solider”
the definite article (the) suggests that the soldier is representing all soldiers
“think only this of me”
by using this imperative, the persona is shaping the readers opinion of them, acting on there last wishes
“that there’s some corner of a foreign field”
its a generic and unspecific line
The persona cares less about these spaces, as they are apart of a “foreign field” and are not actually English
“that is forever England”
This phrase is imperialistic and suggests the soldier will “conquer” foreign soil by being buried in it
“rich earth a richer dust”
rich = base adjective
richer = comparative adjective (positive)
Suggesting England is the best
what is the effect of this euthemisitic image?
“richer dust concealed”
softens the blow of potential death
suggests the persona may not be ready to accept it
What is the importance of these quotes?
“her” “England bore, shaped, made aware” “a body of Englands”
England is personified as a women and mother. Highlights the personas loyalty to England as well as his desire to protect and defend her.
what is the importance of the repletion of “England/English”
shows deep admiration and love, almost obsession
What is the importance of ending the octave with “home”
emphasizes how important England is to the persona
in the last stanza what is the importance of caesura
it slows down the pace of the poem and creates a reflective tone
what will the persona return to England and what does this suggest about England
the persona will return
- sights and sounds
- (happy) dreams
- laughter
positive things, presenting asideyllic
“peace”
contrasts with the chaos of the war
“English heaven”
image of death
suggests glory and righteouness
In this poem, how has language been used to present England as a utopia?
words such as “richer” “flowers” “roam” “English air” “sun oh home” etc
present England as superior, pure, clean, jolly, peaceful, eden like
to what extent is this poem a sonnet
this poem is almost perfect
it reflects how perfect the persona thinks England is
