Ivor Gurney suffered mental health problems before World War One, which would have prevented him joining the war. However he was initially rejected for having poor eyesight.
The first line of the poem continues on from the title. I think 'silence' represents the quietness that comes after death. The barbed wire described in the poem is used to separate the enemy so each side can defend their territory. The barbed wire in No Man's Land is normally cut to prepare for battle. "A noble fool, faithful to his stripes", represents the stripes of a ranking officer. Higher ranking officers are usually detached from the reality of war even though they are in the same brutal environment. In the poem, the commanding officer points to way through the wire which would lead to one certain death yet the soldier refuses to take it. "A finicking accent" describes the a higher ranking officer with an fussy/posh accent. "Hearing bullets whizzing - and thought of music ", the soldier listens in the darkness for signs from the opposition. However Gurney was a composer before the war so this may be referencing his past and the enjoyment he finds in music. The irregular structure is used to convey the chaotic nature of war and Gurney's experience.
Wednesday, 15 April 2015
Tuesday, 3 March 2015
Sebastian Faulks Birdsong
Page 86
"You see, Monsieur Stephen, I know everything about you and my step mother".
A key flaw in Stephen Wraysfords characteristics is that he underestimates Lisette and is naïve to think that his relationship with Isabelle would go unnoticed. Lisette confronts Stephen because she is jealous that he loves her step mother instead of her; "You see, Monsieur Stephen, I know everything about you and my step mother". Despite being annoyed with Stephen, she still speaks to him in a dignified manner and formally addresses the issues by calling him 'Monsieur'. Stephen presumed that because of Lisette's young age and innocence, he could begin a romantic relationship whilst surrounded by a old fashioned French family. The risks Stephen takes by speaking to Isabelle openly in public show how he has no idea the consequences of his actions for Isabelle. The openness has lead Lisette to realise what is happening and his uncontrollable feelings show he is unexperienced and doesn't fully understand the danger that comes with having an affair. This showing that he is also naïve similarly to Lisette as they are of similar age.
"You see, Monsieur Stephen, I know everything about you and my step mother".
A key flaw in Stephen Wraysfords characteristics is that he underestimates Lisette and is naïve to think that his relationship with Isabelle would go unnoticed. Lisette confronts Stephen because she is jealous that he loves her step mother instead of her; "You see, Monsieur Stephen, I know everything about you and my step mother". Despite being annoyed with Stephen, she still speaks to him in a dignified manner and formally addresses the issues by calling him 'Monsieur'. Stephen presumed that because of Lisette's young age and innocence, he could begin a romantic relationship whilst surrounded by a old fashioned French family. The risks Stephen takes by speaking to Isabelle openly in public show how he has no idea the consequences of his actions for Isabelle. The openness has lead Lisette to realise what is happening and his uncontrollable feelings show he is unexperienced and doesn't fully understand the danger that comes with having an affair. This showing that he is also naïve similarly to Lisette as they are of similar age.
Monday, 2 March 2015
MacDonald Not About Hereos
"I have been very proud, you know. Proud of your friendship. Boasting about it to everyone I've met"
MacDonald presents Sassoon and Owen's friendship as family like. Owen openly shows how much he values his new friendship with Sassoon; his former hero. He confesses to how much he relies on it, "I have been proud, you know. Proud of your friendship. Boasting about it to everyone I've met". The uses of the adjective 'proud' shows the emotion he feels towards Sassoon and the joy he experiences from forming a bond his former idol. Alternatively, their friendship could be interpreted as providing hope. They are both experienced soldiers that know how brutal war really is. They both need something to cling on to after what they have witnessed and represent a constant figure like a family member. The audience is aware that friendship is important coping mechanism to survive the war because otherwise they remain lonely men that have little chance of returning to life after war.
MacDonald presents Sassoon and Owen's friendship as family like. Owen openly shows how much he values his new friendship with Sassoon; his former hero. He confesses to how much he relies on it, "I have been proud, you know. Proud of your friendship. Boasting about it to everyone I've met". The uses of the adjective 'proud' shows the emotion he feels towards Sassoon and the joy he experiences from forming a bond his former idol. Alternatively, their friendship could be interpreted as providing hope. They are both experienced soldiers that know how brutal war really is. They both need something to cling on to after what they have witnessed and represent a constant figure like a family member. The audience is aware that friendship is important coping mechanism to survive the war because otherwise they remain lonely men that have little chance of returning to life after war.
Saturday, 28 February 2015
Laurence Binyon For The Fallen Analysis
Laurence Binyon was too old to join the war in 1915 but volunteered in a British Hospital for French soldiers. Despite never actually fighting he uses 'For The Fallen' to show his pride for England.
Stanza One:
I think stanza one is trying to show how soldiers form a unity like a family so when someone dies, the feeling of sorrow is a community reaction. Binyon uses the word 'proud' which shows he has pride for the young men going off to fight whilst it may also represent to pride people at home have for their soldiers. The young men are now seen as heroes at home so are proud to welcome them home. Binyon describes England as 'her', this personification shows how England is damaged just like a mother is hurt when she loses her son to war.
Stanza Two:
"And a glory that shines upon our tears" - shows that despite the sorrow they are proud of their men for going to fight. "There is music in the midst of desolation" - music is usually used to follow something happy, yet death is not a happy occasion. The music used in a funeral is used to signify how we will be forever devastated by loss, but music is used to find a comfort between the sorrow.
Stanza Three:
"They went with songs to the battle, they were young," - shows how they sung war songs to keep up morale even when times got tough. These soldiers were young, unexperienced men who gave death no thought when they joined up. They were willing to fight for there country because they were brave and courageous despite their young age.
Stanza Four:
Most famous stanza in the poem because it is now used on Remembrance Day.
"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them."
Shows they will be forever young in our hearts and minds. They won't be damaged by age and they will be eternally young in our memories.
Stanza Five:
"They mingle not with their laughing comrades" - they can no longer laugh or experience life because there youth has been taken." They sleep beyond England's foam" - the use of the word sleep takes the harsh nature of death away from their loss. It suggests they can return and be awaken yet they cannot.
Stanza Six:
"But where our desires are and our hopes profound" - We can still achieve our desires because we are still here yet their whole generation have been killed meaning they can not achieve what they have always wanted. It may also be interpreted as us having a desire to have them alive with us. "As the stars are known to the Night;" - we remember them when we look up at the stars yet their night is forever unlike ours.
Stanza Seven:
"As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust," - we all return to dust but life continues. "Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain," - in heaven they are at peace
Stanza One:
I think stanza one is trying to show how soldiers form a unity like a family so when someone dies, the feeling of sorrow is a community reaction. Binyon uses the word 'proud' which shows he has pride for the young men going off to fight whilst it may also represent to pride people at home have for their soldiers. The young men are now seen as heroes at home so are proud to welcome them home. Binyon describes England as 'her', this personification shows how England is damaged just like a mother is hurt when she loses her son to war.
Stanza Two:
"And a glory that shines upon our tears" - shows that despite the sorrow they are proud of their men for going to fight. "There is music in the midst of desolation" - music is usually used to follow something happy, yet death is not a happy occasion. The music used in a funeral is used to signify how we will be forever devastated by loss, but music is used to find a comfort between the sorrow.
Stanza Three:
"They went with songs to the battle, they were young," - shows how they sung war songs to keep up morale even when times got tough. These soldiers were young, unexperienced men who gave death no thought when they joined up. They were willing to fight for there country because they were brave and courageous despite their young age.
Stanza Four:
Most famous stanza in the poem because it is now used on Remembrance Day.
"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them."
Shows they will be forever young in our hearts and minds. They won't be damaged by age and they will be eternally young in our memories.
Stanza Five:
"They mingle not with their laughing comrades" - they can no longer laugh or experience life because there youth has been taken." They sleep beyond England's foam" - the use of the word sleep takes the harsh nature of death away from their loss. It suggests they can return and be awaken yet they cannot.
Stanza Six:
"But where our desires are and our hopes profound" - We can still achieve our desires because we are still here yet their whole generation have been killed meaning they can not achieve what they have always wanted. It may also be interpreted as us having a desire to have them alive with us. "As the stars are known to the Night;" - we remember them when we look up at the stars yet their night is forever unlike ours.
Stanza Seven:
"As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust," - we all return to dust but life continues. "Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain," - in heaven they are at peace
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