This is the weekly Blog discussion of the students in English 3319, Survey of British Literature II, at Texas Wesleyan University. Spring 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
Poetry of WWI
If you had to choose only two poems from those we read about World War I to show someone who knows nothing of the poetry of that era, which would they be and why?
I would choose to show them Hardy’s poem “The man he killed” and Owen’s poem “Strange Meeting.” Both of these poems are similar in the fact that they focus on the cruelty of war and how it disrupts people into doing things they never would have done otherwise. These both display how fighting for honor and loyalty to your country can be tragic and frightening when absolute despair is not expected from the soldiers. These poems provide real examples of when men were faced with a dilemma—kill the man in front of you, or watch as he kills you. If these people had met in any other place, they might have been friends. It was not these people that were personally at war with each other, but their countries that were fighting. I would pick these because they display the sadness and tragedy that resulted from these violent encounters.
I agree. The two poems you mentioned above both illustrate the fact that these are the people that are dying for thier country. The soldiers are young man facing terrible outcomes. These men could have been friends had they, like Hardy illustrates, been in another place and not on the battle field. I also agree that all of the poems focus on the importance of remebering the soldiers for their loyalty and bravery;nonetheless, after wars end, people move on with life, and at times, these indiviuals become a part of a distant memory. The poets of this era are telling the reader that these soldiers should not be a distant memory; however, life goes on regardless of the outcomes of war.
The poetry of WWI proves to be very diary like. One can sense the emotion illustrated by the speakers, but one cannot ever even begin to imagine the cruelty these men faced at the hands of war. The two poems that I would suggest one read would be "Drummer Hodge," "In Time of 'The Breaking of Nations'" by Hardy and "The Soldier" by Rupert Brooke. With "Drummer Hodge," Hardy demonstrates the importance of place. In this poem, the speaker tells us that the soldier who died (Drummer Hodge) was left where he died. The other soldiers dug a grave for him and placed his dead body in there, leaving it behind; however, if the soldier had died in England,a whole ceremony would have been dedicated to him, and he would have been given a proper funeral. The notion of the poem is that Drummer Hodge was just a kid at war, obeying the oders he was given. With this poem, as well as his other poems, Hardy relies heavily on the importance of place. If it was not for war, this soldier (or any soldier for that matter) would not have died. The other poem that proves significant for someone who does not know much about WWI and its effects is "In Time of 'The Breaking of Nations'" also by Hardy. He uses this poem to illustrate that the war did not change the rural life much, and the war was as perdicatble as the form (Ballad Stanza) he writes in. Regardless, Hardy establishes the notion that even after the war, life goes on. This is evident when the speaker says Younder a maid and her wight Come whispering by: War's annals will cloud into night Ere thier story die. (9-12) Hardy wants to know what will happen to the memory of these soldiers. Will thier bravery be forgotten? He hopes that people will remember these soldiers for their bravery, but he knows that life will go on after the war. "The Soldier" by Rupert Burke is another powerful poem that would demonstrate the importance of the WWI poetry era. The poem is all about being patriotic and all about sacrifice. The speaker declares, "If I should die, think only this of me:/ That there's some corner of a foreign filed/That is forever England." (1-3) The speaker wants to be remembered for his bravery; however, his sacrifice (the loss of his life) foever demonstrates the negativity of WWI. To further explain WWI poetry, "The General" also by Burke proves of great importance. The poem illustrates the general's lack of knowledge of the situation, and he is the one that sends this young men to die. In short, WWI poetry captures something extra that the other era's do not. This time frame captures real life as it is happening through the eyes of soldiers. They are the ones that write thier poems, illustrating their horrifying experiences. Anyone who reads just several of these poems and understands the importance of their meaning would succeed in learning what the WWI soldiers faced.
I agree. These poems that you have picked definitely display the horror that the soldiers had to face. They are tough poems to read because they are so heart wrenching, and so awful to think that something like that was actually happening. These men had to endure so much pain and were expected to be able to handle the psychological effects of killing someone. They had to have been extremely brave to be in those situations and do what they did for their country. By reading those poems, you definitely get a sense of what the war was all about.
I would choose Rupert Brooke's "The Soldier" and Owen's "Dulce Et Decorum Est" to explore different views. They are both easy to understand and have a direct message. One would easily distinguish between the tones of the poems and would most likely form a decision about which poem is most agreeable. The poems are clear and concise, strict in form and intention. They simply provide a general scope when compared to each other and it is possible that one could side with both--one can definitely appreciate both. Each poem provides a view about WWI as it was happening, interestingly enough and on one hand, from a citizen (Brooke), and a soldier (Owen) on the other. How easy it would be to teach an entire class period with just these two poems (and the backgrounds of the authors with a little knowledge of WWI)! I can see it!
I would choose to show them Hardy’s poem “The man he killed” and Owen’s poem “Strange Meeting.” Both of these poems are similar in the fact that they focus on the cruelty of war and how it disrupts people into doing things they never would have done otherwise. These both display how fighting for honor and loyalty to your country can be tragic and frightening when absolute despair is not expected from the soldiers. These poems provide real examples of when men were faced with a dilemma—kill the man in front of you, or watch as he kills you. If these people had met in any other place, they might have been friends. It was not these people that were personally at war with each other, but their countries that were fighting. I would pick these because they display the sadness and tragedy that resulted from these violent encounters.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI agree. The two poems you mentioned above both illustrate the fact that these are the people that are dying for thier country. The soldiers are young man facing terrible outcomes. These men could have been friends had they, like Hardy illustrates, been in another place and not on the battle field. I also agree that all of the poems focus on the importance of remebering the soldiers for their loyalty and bravery;nonetheless, after wars end, people move on with life, and at times, these indiviuals become a part of a distant memory. The poets of this era are telling the reader that these soldiers should not be a distant memory; however, life goes on regardless of the outcomes of war.
DeleteThe poetry of WWI proves to be very diary like. One can sense the emotion illustrated by the speakers, but one cannot ever even begin to imagine the cruelty these men faced at the hands of war. The two poems that I would suggest one read would be "Drummer Hodge," "In Time of 'The Breaking of Nations'" by Hardy and "The Soldier" by Rupert Brooke. With "Drummer Hodge," Hardy demonstrates the importance of place. In this poem, the speaker tells us that the soldier who died (Drummer Hodge) was left where he died. The other soldiers dug a grave for him and placed his dead body in there, leaving it behind; however, if the soldier had died in England,a whole ceremony would have been dedicated to him, and he would have been given a proper funeral. The notion of the poem is that Drummer Hodge was just a kid at war, obeying the oders he was given. With this poem, as well as his other poems, Hardy relies heavily on the importance of place. If it was not for war, this soldier (or any soldier for that matter) would not have died. The other poem that proves significant for someone who does not know much about WWI and its effects is "In Time of 'The Breaking of Nations'" also by Hardy. He uses this poem to illustrate that the war did not change the rural life much, and the war was as perdicatble as the form (Ballad Stanza) he writes in. Regardless, Hardy establishes the notion that even after the war, life goes on. This is evident when the speaker says
ReplyDeleteYounder a maid and her wight
Come whispering by:
War's annals will cloud into night
Ere thier story die. (9-12)
Hardy wants to know what will happen to the memory of these soldiers. Will thier bravery be forgotten? He hopes that people will remember these soldiers for their bravery, but he knows that life will go on after the war. "The Soldier" by Rupert Burke is another powerful poem that would demonstrate the importance of the WWI poetry era. The poem is all about being patriotic and all about sacrifice. The speaker declares, "If I should die, think only this of me:/ That there's some corner of a foreign filed/That is forever England." (1-3) The speaker wants to be remembered for his bravery; however, his sacrifice (the loss of his life) foever demonstrates the negativity of WWI. To further explain WWI poetry, "The General" also by Burke proves of great importance. The poem illustrates the general's lack of knowledge of the situation, and he is the one that sends this young men to die. In short, WWI poetry captures something extra that the other era's do not. This time frame captures real life as it is happening through the eyes of soldiers. They are the ones that write thier poems, illustrating their horrifying experiences. Anyone who reads just several of these poems and understands the importance of their meaning would succeed in learning what the WWI soldiers faced.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI agree. These poems that you have picked definitely display the horror that the soldiers had to face. They are tough poems to read because they are so heart wrenching, and so awful to think that something like that was actually happening. These men had to endure so much pain and were expected to be able to handle the psychological effects of killing someone. They had to have been extremely brave to be in those situations and do what they did for their country. By reading those poems, you definitely get a sense of what the war was all about.
ReplyDeleteI would choose Rupert Brooke's "The Soldier" and Owen's "Dulce Et Decorum Est" to explore different views. They are both easy to understand and have a direct message. One would easily distinguish between the tones of the poems and would most likely form a decision about which poem is most agreeable. The poems are clear and concise, strict in form and intention. They simply provide a general scope when compared to each other and it is possible that one could side with both--one can definitely appreciate both. Each poem provides a view about WWI as it was happening, interestingly enough and on one hand, from a citizen (Brooke), and a soldier (Owen) on the other. How easy it would be to teach an entire class period with just these two poems (and the backgrounds of the authors with a little knowledge of WWI)! I can see it!
ReplyDelete