ThAct: War Poetry
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War poem : World war 1 Click here
"Home".
Edward Thomas
Fair was the morning, fair our tempers, and
We had seen nothing fairer than that land,
Though strange, and the untrodden snow that made
Wild of the tame, casting out all that was
Not wild and rustic and old; and we were glad.
Fair, too, was afternoon, and first to pass
Were we that league of snow, next the north wind.
There was nothing to return for, except need,
And yet we sang nor ever stopped for speed,
As we did often with the start behind.
Faster still strode we when we came in sight
Of the cold roofs where we must spend the night.
Happy we had not been there, nor could be.
Though we had tasted sleep and food and fellowship
Together long.
“How quick” to someone's lip
The words came, “will the beaten horse run home.”
The word “home” raised a smile in us all three,
And one repeated it, smiling just so
That all knew what he meant and none would say.
Between three counties far apart that lay
We were divided and looked strangely each
At the other, and we knew we were not friends
But fellows in a union that ends
With the necessity for it, as it ought.
Never a word was spoken, not a thought
Was thought, of what the look meant with the word
“Home” as we walked and watched the sunset blurred.
And then to me the word, only the word,
“Homesick,” as it were playfully occurred:
No more. If I should ever more admit
Than the mere word I could not endure it
For a day longer: this captivity
Must somehow come to an end, else I should be
Another
man, as often now I seem,
Or this life be only an evil dream.
Summary
"Home" by Edward Thomas is a reflective and melancholic poem that explores themes of longing, nostalgia, and the emotional connection to a place called home. The speaker describes a peaceful rural setting, evoking a sense of comfort and belonging. However, this sense of security is tinged with sadness, as the poem hints at the transient nature of life and the inevitability of change. The imagery of nature and solitude emphasizes the speaker’s yearning for stability and emotional refuge, while also acknowledging the impossibility of fully reclaiming past comforts.
The Soldier by Rupert Brooke Click here
If I should die, think only this of me:
That there’s some corner of a foreign field
That is forever England. There shall be
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam;
A body of England’s, breathing English air,
Washed by the rivers, blest by the suns of home.
And think, this heart, all evil shed away,
A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
In hearts at peace, under an En
glish heaven.
Summary
Comparision
The poems “Home” by Edward Thomas and “The Soldier” by Rupert Brooke both reflect themes related to World War I, but they approach the subject of war from very different perspectives. While “The Soldier” glorifies sacrifice and patriotism, “Home” focuses on longing, loss, and emotional disconnection. Below is a comparative analysis of the two poems in terms of style, language, and treatment of the theme of war.
1. Style and Structure
“The Soldier” by Rupert Brooke is a sonnet, a traditional form often associated with love and admiration. It has a formal, lyrical style, reflecting Brooke’s idealized and romantic view of war. The structure creates a sense of order and harmony, suggesting that death in war is noble and meaningful.
“Home” by Edward Thomas, on the other hand, is written in free verse, giving it a more conversational and reflective tone. Its style mirrors the speaker’s wandering thoughts and emotional struggles, emphasizing uncertainty and restlessness rather than patriotic certainty
2. Language and Imagery
Rupert Brooke employs romantic and idealistic language in “The Soldier”, portraying England as a sacred and nurturing homeland. Phrases like “a richer dust concealed” and “her flowers to love, her ways to roam” depict England as a source of comfort and beauty, even in death. The imagery is peaceful and reverent, celebrating sacrifice for one’s country.
In contrast, Edward Thomas uses melancholic and understated language in “Home”, emphasizing feelings of isolation and yearning. The imagery of nature and the countryside highlights a sense of loss and emotional turmoil. The poem does not mention direct combat but reflects the psychological impact of war through its focus on displacement and longing for stability.
3. Treatment of the Theme of War
“The Soldier” treats war as a noble and honorable cause. Brooke views death as a way to preserve the values and beauty of England, making the ultimate sacrifice seem meaningful and almost sacred. The poem embodies the early enthusiasm for World War I, before its brutal realities became widely known.
“Home” takes a more introspective and somber approach, focusing on the emotional and psychological consequences of war. While it does not glorify battle or sacrifice, it subtly highlights the sense of alienation caused by conflict. The speaker longs for home but cannot return, symbolizing how war disrupts lives and severs connections to personal identity and security.
4. Differences and Similarities
Differences:
Tone: Brooke’s tone is optimistic and patriotic, while Thomas’s is melancholic and reflective.
Perspective: Brooke focuses on external sacrifice for a greater cause, whereas Thomas reflects on internal struggles and personal loss.
Imagery: Brooke uses idealized pastoral imagery, while Thomas employs natural imagery tinged with sadness to convey displacement.
Focus: Brooke emphasizes dying for one’s country, while Thomas highlights longing for stability and the psychological cost of war.
Similarities:
Both poems express a connection to home and nature, symbolizing peace and comfort.
Both reflect the impact of war—Brooke celebrates it as noble, while Thomas mourns its emotional consequences.
Both use symbolism related to England, but Brooke idealizes it, whereas Thomas questions its fragility.
The Hero by Siegfried Sassoon:
"Jack fell as he'd have wished," the Mother said,
And folded up the letter that she'd read.
"The Colonel writes so nicely." Something broke
In the tired voice that quavered to a choke.
She half looked up. "We mothers are so proud
Of our dead soldiers." Then her face was bowed.
Quietly the Brother Officer went out.
He'd told the poor old dear some gallant lies
That she would nourish all her days, no doubt.
For while he coughed and mumbled, her weak eyes
Had shone with gentle triumph, brimmed with joy,
Because he'd been so brave, her glorious boy.
He thought how "Jack," cold-footed, useless swine,
Had panicked down the trench that night the mine
Went up at Wicked Corner; how he'd tried
To get sent home; and how, at last, he died,
Blown to small bits. And no one seemed to care
Except that lonely wo
man with white hair.
The Fear by Wilfrid Wilson Gibson:
I do not fear to die
'Neath the open sky,
To meet death in the fight
Face to face, upright.
But when at last we creep
Into a hole to sleep,
I tremble, cold with dread,
Lest I wake up
dead.
War poetry often transcends simple pro- or anti-war narratives and delves into deeper existential questions about life, identity, morality, and the human condition. Both “The Hero” by Siegfried Sassoon and “The Fear” by Wilfred Wilson Gibson exemplify this perspective, addressing themes of guilt, courage, humanity, and death in the context of World War I. While neither poem explicitly condemns war, they reveal its psychological and emotional costs, exploring complex moral and ethical questions.
1. “The Hero” by Siegfried Sassoon
Theme and Context:
Siegfried Sassoon’s “The Hero” exposes the hypocrisy and lies surrounding the glorification of soldiers’ deaths in war. The poem critiques the way society conceals the horrors of war by fabricating noble narratives to comfort grieving families. It reveals the tension between duty and human vulnerability, as well as the guilt of those who survive.
Key Ideas:
Identity and Loyalty: The poem examines how soldiers’ identities are reduced to heroic symbols, masking their fear, suffering, and weaknesses.
Death and Deception: The soldier’s death is sanitized to make it appear honorable, sparing his mother the painful truth of his fear and unheroic end.
Guilt and Humanity: The officer who delivers the news feels a mix of pity and guilt, knowing he must protect the family’s illusion while hiding the grim reality of war.
Quotes:
“Jack fell as he’d have wished.” – A comforting lie to his mother.
“He’d told the poor old dear some gallant lies.” – Highlights the emotional burden of maintaining illusions.
2. “The Fear” by Wilfred Wilson Gibson
Theme and Context:
“The Fear” explores the psychological trauma and dread faced by soldiers in battle. It shifts focus from physical courage to internal struggles, portraying war as a test of human endurance and emotional strength. The poem does not glorify war but highlights the dehumanizing effects of fear and the constant awareness of death.
Key Ideas:
Innocence and Courage: Soldiers are portrayed as ordinary men battling their deepest fears rather than fearless heroes.
Desire and Death: The desire to survive conflicts with the inevitability of death, creating a tension that defines the soldier’s experience.
Compassion and Humanity: The poem humanizes soldiers, showing their vulnerability and shared fears, challenging the romantic image of fearless warriors.
Quotes:
“We’re all in it; we’re all in it, / And every man knows that he’s done for.” – Emphasizes collective fear and despair.
“Then he plunged, and we saw him no more.” – Reflects sudden death and the fragility of life.
3. Comparison and Discussion
Similarities:
1. Both poems focus on the psychological and emotional impact of war rather than its physical battles.
2. They portray soldiers as vulnerable humans, not invincible heroes, challenging traditional narratives of bravery and honor.
3. Themes of guilt, fear, and death dominate both poems, questioning the moral cost of war.
4. Neither poem explicitly condemns war but highlights its emotional contradictions, balancing themes of duty and despair.
Differences:
Tone and Focus:
“The Hero” has a bitter and ironic tone, critiquing society’s glorification of war and its false narratives.
“The Fear” adopts a dark and suspenseful tone, emphasizing the internal struggles and terror faced by soldiers.
Perspective:
“The Hero” is told from the perspective of an officer, focusing on the experience of survivors and families.
“The Fear” is more immersive, depicting the soldier’s immediate experience of terror in the trenches.
Dulce Et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen:
Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs,
And towards our distant rest began to trudge.
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots,
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots
Of gas-shells dropping softly behind.
Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!—An ecstasy of fumbling
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time,
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling
And flound’ring like a man in fire or lime.—
Dim through the misty panes and thick green light,
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.
In all my dreams before my helpless sight,
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.
If in some smothering dreams, you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin;
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,—
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie: Dulc
e et decorum est
Pro patria mori.
The Target by Ivor Gurney:
I shot him, and it had to be
One of us 'Twas him or me.
'Couldn't be helped' and none can blame
Me, for you would do the same
My mother, she cant sleep for fear
Of what might be a-happening here
To me. Perhaps it might be best
To die, and set her fears at rest
For worst is worst, and worry's done.
Perhaps he was the only son. . .
Yet God keeps still, and does not say
A word of guidance anyway.
Well, if they get me, first I'll find
That boy, and tell him all my mind,
And see who felt the bullet worst,
And ask his pardon,if I durst.
All's a tangle. Here's my job.
A man might rave, or shout, or sob;
And God He takes takes no sort of heed.
This
is a bloody mess indeed.
Ivor Gurney’s “The Target” and Wilfred Owen’s “Dulce et Decorum Est” are both powerful war poems that confront the grim realities of World War I. While they share similarities in addressing the horrors of war and its emotional toll, they differ in their tone, focus, and perspectives. Below is a comparative analysis of these two poems and their poets.
1. Similarities
1. Theme of the Horrors of War:
Both poems depict the brutal reality of war and challenge the glorified image of battlefield heroism.
Owen emphasizes the physical suffering of soldiers and the horrific imagery of a gas attack, while Gurney focuses on the emotional burden and moral conflict experienced by a soldier who has killed someone.
2. Anti-War Sentiment:
Both poets critique the futility of war.
Owen’s poem ends with the bitter irony of the phrase “Dulce et decorum est / Pro patria mori” (It is sweet and right to die for one’s country), exposing this sentiment as a “lie”.
Gurney’s speaker struggles with guilt over his actions and questions whether his survival was worth the cost of another life.
3. Human Cost of War:
Both poets highlight the psychological damage inflicted by war.
Owen portrays the lingering trauma of witnessing death, while Gurney explores the moral consequences of killing another human being in battle.
4. Imagery and Realism:
Both poems use vivid and realistic imagery to describe the battlefield.
Owen’s imagery is graphic—“guttering, choking, drowning”—evoking the physical horror of gas attacks.
Gurney’s imagery is more reflective and introspective, focusing on internal guilt and moral uncertainty rather than physical suffering.
2 .Difference
The Poets’ Backgrounds and Perspectives
Wilfred Owen:
Owen’s poetry was deeply influenced by his personal experience in the trenches of World War I. He saw firsthand the suffering and horrors of war, and his works often challenge propaganda and patriotic ideals. Owen’s tone is angry and critical, and he writes with the intention of exposing the truth about war to the public.
Ivor Gurney:
Gurney, like Owen, served as a soldier, but he also battled mental illness and emotional struggles during and after the war. His poetry is more introspective and personal, reflecting the moral dilemmas faced by soldiers. While Owen’s poetry seeks to denounce the politics and ideals behind war, Gurney’s work delves into the emotional impact of survival .
