Vergissmeinnicht

Question 1

What is Douglas communicating about conflict?

Answer 1

Detached - non-judgemental
Initial happiness of killing enemy soldier, who was equally trying to kill him
Realisation of humanity of soldier
Photograph - realising this man also treasured & will be missed back home in Germany
Graphic/gory nature of warfare

Question 2

What is the structure used in “Vergissmerinnicht”?

Answer 2

Quatrains - clearly highlights narrative/thought process

Autobiographical - shows Douglas’s thoughts on being involved in killing enemy soldiers

Question 3

What are the techniques used in “Vergissmerinnicht”?

Answer 3

Personification - “frowning barrel” - pointing down, gun is sad (terrible scene)
Similes - “like the entry of a demon”, “stomach like a cave” - powerful & dangerous/completely blown out/open
Metaphor - “lover and killer are mingled” - soldier’s humanity

Question 4

What is the imagery used in “Vergissmerinnicht”?

Answer 4

“on his skin the swart flies move”, “paper eye”, “burst stomach” - graphic & gruesome picture of war (uncomfortable)

Question 5

What is the vocabulary used in “Vergissmerinnicht”?

Answer 5

“soldier sprawling” - describes position of soldier (irony)
“dishonoured picture” - poor condition of photograph despite so much effort
“Mortal hurt” - emphasising impact on lover back home

Question 6

What is the rhythm/rhyme used in “Vergissmerinnicht”?

Answer 6

Varying rhyme scheme (alternate for last 3) - reflects changing/chaotic nature of scene
Loose iambic tetrameter (caesuras & enjambment)