The Soldier (War/Conflict) Flashcards
Who wrote The Soldier?
Rupert Brooke
Describe the story of The Soldier
-Speaker is ready to die for his country, which he sees as good.
-England’s legacy will remain in the spot where he dies.
-He’s prepared to die protecting England as ‘she’ made him the man he is today.
-Dying for his country will cleanse him.
-He will be remembered (live on) forever (immortal).
-Describes a joyous, peaceful scene - he’ll go to heaven for his sacrifice.
-Title implies it’s about war
Who is The Soldier from the perspective of?
A soldier who is ready to sacrifice himself for England in war
What does the title of ‘The Soldier’ suggest about this poem/sonnet?
-Brooke may be trying to convey the idea that the perfect soldier will be English and will be willing to die for England
Describe what ‘If I should die, think only this of me’ shows (first line)
-Poem is in first person
-It’s striking opening representing death for their country and also to grab reader’s attention
-Opening is ironic as it is in 1st person as Brooke actually wasn’t at the war (died of blood poisoning before reaching battle front)
-Brooke thinks there’s eternal glory of dying at war and wants to be remembered for his patriotic attitude towards war
-‘should’ suggests it’s almost inevitable which conveys his conscious act of heroism
-Proud tone
What does a ‘dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware’ show? (5th line)
-‘bore’=gave birth to
-Personification using verbs illustrates England as an eternal being/mother figure (maternal) that shaped him-England is caring/loving
-England made him into man he is today so he must protect her
-His patriotic sacrifice in death ensure England will still be alive in ‘dust’ of his body
Describe what ‘Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home’ shows (end of first stanza)
-‘washed’ links to purity- possibly showing England is pure
-‘blest’=religious imagery
-England is a goddess/higher figure that purifies everyone
-the religious imagery of ‘washed’ and ‘blest’ might show that he thinks that his devotion and sacrifice to England will cleanse him of his sins and give him peace within death?
-the natural components of ‘rivers’ and ‘suns’ may show that England harnesses the power of nature and is as pure as can be
Describe what ‘all evil shed away’ illustrates (first line in Stanza 2)
-possible religious imagery again maybe linking to devil?
-cleansing images- England cleanses the impure
-Idea of patriotism (devoted to one’s country)
-‘all evil shed away’ might suggest a return of innocence in death as his sins are gone (been cleansed) due to his sacrifice for England
What might ‘A pulse in the eternal mind’ convey? (2nd line in Stanza 2)
-metaphor
-Noun ‘pulse’ is shown to be the rhythmic throb of memories of patriotism and sacrifice of these soldiers that fought for England- could also illustrate that England is an actual being due to everyone’s patriotism uniting together
-Adjective of ‘eternal’ shows soldiers will never be forgotten living on in memory for eternity
-‘eternal’ could also convey England lives forever/will always be present
What could ‘In hearts at peace, under an English heaven’ show? (last line)
-‘hearts at peace’ could illustrate English heaven is more superior than normal heaven
-‘English heaven’ may show England was made especially by God/England is heaven and a place for love and hope?
-‘English heaven’=religious imagery could create impression of peace and salvation (preservation from harm) through sacrifice
Tell me the context of The Soldier
-Brooke NEVER fought on the battlefield, dying of blood poisoning before reaching the battle front.
-Brooke was known for showing war as being a patriotic and a good thing to be able to die for your country.
-His poetry was used as propaganda to encourage men to join the army- he almost fantasised war
Describe the structure/techniques of The Soldier and what it conveys
-ABAB rhyme scheme in 1st Stanza ‘aware’, ‘roam’, ‘air’, ‘home’ shows England is perfect
-Religious imagery may convey England is omnipotent/a goddess
-A sonnet (love poem) as there’s 14 lines- love poem to England
-Split into two stanzas- signifies one half of his heart is buried away in a foreign country where he might die and the other half is in England which is his place of heaven
-Proud tone in this poem signifies celebration of being English
-Enjambment could show England=eternal
Who is the perspective of The Soldier from?
A patriotic soldier that’s ready to die for England and is proud of his country
