War Poetry

Hello viewers!👋

I am Maya Batiya, 

A student of M.A. sem-2 department of English, M.K.B.U.

This Blog is a part of Thinking Activity about War poetry... 

_Assigned by vaidehi ma'am.. 

∆∆ Compare any two poems concerning the subject, style of writing, and patriotism.

The Soldier - RUPERT BROOKE

If I should die, think only this of me :

         That there’s some corner of a foreign field.

That is for ever 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 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 English heaven.

The Soldier, sonnet by Rupert Brooke, published in 1915 in the collection 1914. Perhaps his most famous poem, it reflects British sorrow over and pride in the young men who died in World War I.

Narrated in the first person by an English soldier, the poem is sentimental, patriotic, and epitaphic. In the closing sestet, the poem’s speaker suggests that his soul is eternally linked with England. The poem’s familiar opening lines acquired even greater poignancy as a result of Brooke’s own wartime death:

∆∆ "Dulce et Decorum Est - 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: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori.

 Dulce et Decorum Est" is a war poem written by Wilfred Owen and is one of thee most significant and celebrated war poems of all time. Owen was British and served in World War I on the Western Front. He died in action on November 4th, 1918, just one week before the Armistice and the end of the war. The poem highlighted the experience of soldiers in the trenches of World War I and stood in contrast to the early excitement for war that occurred at the outbreak of war. The final line of the poem (Dulce et decorum est / Pro patria mori) is Latin and translates to: "It is sweet and honorable to die for one's country". Owen is referencing Roman poet Horace in his use of the line and is calling into question the notion of nationalism that drove so many young men to fight in the First World War. 

Now let's compare "The Soldier" by Rupert Brooke and "Dulce et Decorum Est" by Wilfred Owen in terms of subject, style of writing, and patriotism:

https://youtu.be/b1cKSfJ1Atg?si=pIKlwvBLEZNXE96w

Subject: 

The Soldier, by Rupert Brooke, and Dulce et Decorum Est, written by Wilfred Owen three years later, are both war poems, written by officers that fought on the trenches. However, the poems have very different attitudes to war: 

The Soldier supports the war and glorifies it, while Dulce et Decorum Est is anti-war. In this essay I intend to explore the differences between the poems – I will commence by talking about the religious ideas, which leads me on to the representation of death. After that I will talk about the naivety of the poet, and the poem’s views on enlisting. Finally, I will talk about the structure of the poem, which gives a message about the author’s views on the war.

Style of writing : 

"The Soldier" by Rupert Brooke and "Dulce et Decorum Est" by Wilfred Owen differ significantly in their styles of writing. Brooke's "The Soldier" is characterized by romanticism and idealism, expressing a patriotic and glorified view of war. The language is elevated, and the tone is more celebratory, emphasizing the honor and nobility of sacrificing one's life for the nation.

On the other hand, Owen's "Dulce et Decorum Est" takes a starkly contrasting approach. Owen employs a more realistic and gritty style, depicting the harsh realities of war. The language is vivid and raw, portraying the physical and emotional toll on soldiers. Owen's tone is critical, challenging the notion that it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country, as suggested by the Latin phrase in the title.

In summary, while Brooke's poem embraces a romanticized vision of war, Owen's work offers a stark critique, exposing the brutality and disillusionment associated with armed conflict.

patriotism :

"The Soldier" by Rupert Brooke expresses a strong sense of patriotism, portraying the speaker's willingness to give their life for their country with a profound love and devotion. Brooke's poem embodies a more traditional and idealized view of patriotism, emphasizing the honor and glory associated with serving one's nation.

On the contrary, "Dulce et Decorum Est" by Wilfred Owen challenges the traditional notion of patriotism. Owen's poem portrays the harsh realities of war, exposing the physical and mental toll on soldiers. It criticizes the glorification of war and questions the idea that it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country. Owen's perspective on patriotism is more nuanced, highlighting the suffering and disillusionment that can accompany the experience of war.

In essence, while both poems address the theme of patriotism, "The Soldier" reflects a more idealized and romanticized view, whereas "Dulce et Decorum Est" presents a more critical and realistic perspective on the costs of war.

∆∆ Do you find any such regional poem/movies/web series/songs that can be compared to any one of the poems Also, give a proper explanation of the similarity.

In terms of a regional comparison with "The Soldier" by Rupert Brooke, one might consider patriotic songs or literature that celebrate national pride and sacrifice. For example, in India, the poem "Where the Mind is Without Fear" by Rabindranath Tagore echoes sentiments of national awakening and a vision for a free and proud country. It conveys a similar spirit of patriotism, albeit in a different cultural context.

Similarly, for a regional comparison with "Dulce et Decorum Est" by Wilfred Owen, one could look at works that critique the glorification of war and explore the harsh realities of conflict. In Russian literature, "Quiet Flows the Don" by Mikhail Sholokhov offers a gritty portrayal of World War I and the Russian Revolution, exposing the brutality and disillusionment of war. The similarity lies in the shared theme of exposing the harsh truths behind the romanticized facade of war.

These comparisons showcase how different regions and cultures express similar themes of patriotism and war, each with its unique cultural and historical perspectives.

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