English Modernism

Discuss the background of A Soldier's Declaration

After Siegfried Sassoon's first tour of duty, he befriended the philosopher and pacifist Bertrand Russell and became vehemently opposed to the war. He wrote "A Soldier's Declaration" on June 15, 1917, and it was read before the House of Commons and published in a London newspaper in July. Sassoon refused to return to battle, hoping his protest would further publicize his cause and help end the war. A friend, worried that Sassoon would be court-martialed and jailed, convinced Sassoon's commanding officers that the poet was suffering from trauma induced by the war. Sassoon was hospitalized and later volunteered to rejoin his fellow soldiers in battle.

Identity and Diversity - discuss history of the times

After World War II, most of Britain's remaining colonies declared independence. Many nations in Europe and Latin America were politically redefined. Formerly marginalized groups, such as women and ethnic minorities, began demanding self-determination. None of these changes were achieved without conflict. State of Israel created. Berlin Wall torn down. Terrorism presents itself, especially thru 9/11 attack.

What is Mabel alienated from? Are people trying to actually talk to her? What is Rose trying to say? What does Mabel crossing herself refer to?

Alienated from self-knowledge. People talk to her but it's not actual convo. Rose is trying to say something satirical (Mabel could be looking into the lip pucker too much, Can assume its being exaggerated) Crosses herself = sign of the cross type deal

Second stanza of The Soldier - What's he going to give back? How will he influence things, being dead? World will become more what?

Any evil within him will be purged away, giving back, world will become more virtuous. He's giving back virtue that England gave him - giving to the "eternal mind"

Identity and Diversity - discuss literature of the times

Globalization is the word in literature and in economics. World writers as well as writers from Britain's former colonies explore the political, racial, and gender issues of the time in a bitingly honest fashion.

What do you think Yeats foresees for the future? (Second Coming)

He foresees the end of the world. Evil dominating, chaos, Society/civilization breaking down

What does A Soldier's Declaration show? When was it written? Is there a persona? What is the speaker challenging? How does he say that war has changed and how is he able to see this?

He opposes the war and it's a formal declaration. This is written during WWI. Nonfiction, no persona, he's the speaker. He's challenging authority of gov by saying they're keeping it going longer than they need to. He's like a spokesperson here, not just on his behalf but others. Purpose of war has shifted and become too political, and he doesn't like it. When we entered war, the goal was to protect country but now it's changed and its very political - He sees this by being involved on the inside

What does Mabel from the New Dress use as a wrap? What does it show? What does her dress do?

Her Chinese cloak that she'd had for 28 years. Wraps it round and around, shows insecurity, that she's trying to go into a comfort zone. The dress express/expose her insecurity, but no one else knows

Discuss the fly in the saucer line from the New Dress

If fly is in saucer and there's stuff in it, the fly will drown. The fly is literally drowning - She is drowning in her thoughts. Drowning the gossip (TEA)

In The Soldier, why would the corner of the field be for England?

If he dies when he's young, England will live on, Bc England influenced him so much, he wants to give back - It shaped him

Discuss the background of The Second Coming

In Christianity, the Second Coming refers to the belief that Jesus will one day return to Earth and usher in an era of peace and justice. The "first coming" was the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem in Judea, just over two thousand years ago. This poem addresses not only the Christian conception of the universe but also Yeats's cyclical view of history. Each cycle, known as a gyre (jyr), begins in a rational state and then gradually dissolves into chaos and irrationality.

World War I: The Great War - discuss history of the times

In early twentieth-century Europe, rising nationalism, competition for colonies, and growing military capabilities helped create an environment ripe for conflict. By its terrible end in 1918, World War I had cost Britain not only 750,000 lives but also its confidence and optimism. Initially many British men rushed to enlist, the same men being dead in trenches months later. Pessimism about the state and the individual's relation to society emerged. A new realism began to pervade literary thought.

What generalization about people in England does Sassoon make in his final paragraph? (A Soldier's Declaration)

People have no idea what's going on, they just believe whatever slogan is being presented to them. They can't understand war when they're not in it. Deception is being practiced on them, so we can't blame them, but they are unaware

World War II and Its Aftermath - discuss history of the times

Poverty caused by an economic slump in the 1930s spawned dictatorships in Germany, Italy, and Russia. The German dictator Hitler invaded Poland in 1939, igniting World War II. The horrors of this war, particularly nuclear devastation and the Nazi concentration camps, changed the world forever.

What is the rear guard? What is the setting in The Rear Guard? What is the solider doing, what does he find? What is being shown to us?

The rear-guard is the soldiers at the back of the troops. The setting is in these underground tunnels, like trenches people dug underground (Underground to hide from enemy, Could be preparing for surprise attack). He's groping bc it's dark, He finds a body that's been dead for 10 days. It's a fortune of hell shown to us

this type of sonnet is divided into 2 parts: an 8 line octave with rhyme scheme abbaabba and six line sestet with the rhyme scheme cdecde or cdcdcd

the Petrarchan sonnet

central insight

theme

What does the title Dulce et Decorum Est act as? What does the poem refer to? Does the content reflect what it refers to?

title acts an an allusion, poem refers to the title. Content doesn't reflect the title, it's more against the sufferings of war than arguing that dying in battle is noble

What is the tone of The Second Coming? What are we left with at the end? Describe the speaker's way of looking at theology. What during this time could cause this to be brought up, besides Irish revolution?

tone - past desperate. Ending - left with uncertainty, the slouch suggests relaxed to the point of not caring. Has this idea that our history builds up an energy. New beast being born is result of spiritus mundi - That's the energy that got built up. Causes - WW1 (blood rimmed tide could reference that)

In The Rear Guard, what is a torch? What does livid mean in context? What makes this poem more realistic? What does verisimilitude mean, and why is it used in the poem?

torch = flashlight. Livid = dark bluish gray in color. He sees the guy's color so he knows he's dead. A lot of local color here, makes it more realistic. Means "the same truth" - Speaker wants person to experience the reality so they understand the situation.

Where does Eveline work? Is she treated well? Does she have possibility for self-actualization in Ireland? How does the first paragraph contribute to the meaning? How old is she?

works in a shop, like department store. Not treated well. No. First paragraph shows the dramatic situation that she's stuck, no action. She's 19

To what might the "blood-dimmed tide" in line 5 refer? What could the "ceremony of innocence" in line 6 mean? Explain your interpretation. (Second Coming)

Blood dimmed tide - war; part of anarchy of the time

Who wrote The Soldier?

Brooke

Discuss the background of the Rear Guard?

During World War I, soldiers sometimes lived for years in interconnected underground caverns infested by rats and only occasionally illuminated by dim shafts of natural light

What does the image of dust in Eveline serve as? What is a modernist literary device seen in this work? What does it serve as? Where is the action of the story taking place?

Dust = time passing, inactivity, staying the same, corrupted, preventing something. Epiphany is a modernist thing, Typically a realization where people realize they were disillusioned. Serves as typically the climax or turning point of the story. Climax we are able to witness - Action is going on inside the mind. More psychological in modern times - Part of interior dialogue

Discuss the background of the Lake Isle

Innisfree is a real island in Sligo, a beautiful county in the west of Ireland where Yeats spent many summers as a child, visiting his grandparents. Yeats's father had once read Thoreau's Walden to him, and you may notice that the bean rows and cabin in this poem are straight from Thoreau's account of his life in the Walden Woods of Massachusetts

The Second Coming - "The ceremony of innocence is drowned//the best lack conviction" what is seen here? What are the good people doing? What's up with the bad people?

Innocence is gone, Could be saying people lost hope, Pessimistic or cynical. Good people are not caring, the bad are filled with passion (people trying to cause negative things to happen), anarchy has happened.

Discuss similarities between Mabel from the New Dress and Eveline

Insecurities, we see this bc of inner thoughts (Stream of consciousness benefit). They feel unable to pull off the brave new thing (Eveline - leaving Dublin, Mabel - she's got a new dress, A bright yellow dress, very fussy and old fashioned)

How is The Soldier difference from Dulce?

It's very patriotic and proud, optimistic; It's quiet, peaceful; Idealistic; Nothing about war, not an ounce of blood. Dulce has a more cynical tone

Who wrote Eveline?

Joyce

Discuss the effect of the line "I will arise and go now" being repeated in Isle of Innisfree. What does it affect in the poem? What is the tone?

Kind of snapping him out of his dream like state. Affects the tone, which is dreamy, nostalgic, hopeful

What sound is alliterated in line 4 of Isle? What effect does this have?

L alliterated. Very lulled, relaxing sound being repeated

What are some oxymoron's seen in Dulce et Decorum Est?

Line 9(?) - "an ecstasy of fumbling" - contradictory, delightful anguish in fumbling to put on a mask that saves your life. Last stanza - at the end, speaker discusses how if people saw the horrors of a fellow soldier dying, they wouldn't tell the "lie" Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori, which means "it is sweet and honorable to die for one's country." What the speaker is discussing in the poem completely contradicts this phrase, as he is making a point that the suffering isn't sweet and honorable

Who wrote Dulce et Decorum Est?

Owen

World War II and Its Aftermath - discuss literature of the times

Much of the literature written after World War II has been a blistering response to war and the limits set on freedom. Direct and bitter response to war and limits on human freedom. British dramatists responded to the fragmentation of the times by experimenting with form and subject matter. Much of the work from this time is categorized as postmodern

How would you describe the structure? What kind of writing is this? (A Soldier's Declaration)

Prose piece (Not poetry); Persuasive letter or declaration, Political statement, Speech

Why is the speaker in The Soldier so idealistic? What kind of view of war is seen?

Reason he's so idealistic is bc he hasn't been in battle. Romantic view of war

Discuss the reference to dust seen in The Soldier

Repeated; Dust is insignificant, trying to make himself insignificant - Suggesting there's not much to us. Also the idea of "Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust" - Dust who gave him bore - gave birth to him, Wants to give life back to England. When he dies, he's so english, that england will be colonizing whatever country he dies in (This is sentimental)

"There shall be// In that rich earth a richer dust concealed..." (The Soldier) What is rich earth referring to?

Rich earth = foreign field that he'll die in, NOT england. If he dies he'll just be giving back to england what he was given

Who is the author of A Soldier's Declaration?

Sassoon

Who is the author of Does It Matter?

Sassoon

Who wrote the Rear Guard?

Sassoon

What is the speaker doing in Does It Matter?? What literary device is he using? What is the effect of using this device?

Satirizing people's views on veterans when they return from war. Using UNDERSTATEMENT !!!! He's almost belittling them, dismissing problems veterans have to face for the rest of their life. What is the effect - Makes you think more and take it more seriously, It has an ironic effect on us, We react in a severe way whereas he downplays it

this type of sonnet has 3 four line units, or quatrains, followed by a concluding 2 line unit, or couplet

Shakespearean sonnet

What is Mabel worrying about from the beginning? What does her mentioning inferiority show? What do her quick thoughts show?

She's worrying about people's opinions from the beginning. Mentions inferiority, shows her insecurity. One thought doesn't finish before another starts - Shows hysterical rambling, Interesting bc we're seeing what's happening on the inside

How is there a connection through sense imagery seen in The Rear Guard?

Sight - the clutter, things thrown around, mislaid, a mess Sound - the boom mentioned acts as onomatopoeia, the sounds heard in war

What is the dramatic situation in Isle of Innisfree?

Speaker is not in Innisfree. He's longing to go there. He's standing on the roadway, he's in the city. He has no peace now, he's got stress. He wants a simple life

Fist stanza of The Solider - What is situation laid out by soldier? What perspective of himself does he have in the first part of the poem? What is England seen as?

situation - talking about what will happen if he dies. perspective - He is not as important as the bigger picture, He's belittling himself - england is the most important, Patriotic viewpoint england - England is like his parent, has shaped him, birthed him

What do you think the poet means by the word center in line 3? What condition does the phrase "the center cannot hold" describe? (Second Coming)

The core of the Earth - can't hold in negative energy. He's describing anarchy with these images

The Second Coming - "Turning and turning in the widening gyre" to what is this referring to? "Things fall apart; the center cannot hold..." - is this line effective? What literary device is seen in this line? What does it suggest?

The earth - If the earth started spinning like this then it's spinning out of control. ; broad statement, can apply to anything, it's an understatement - suggest he almost expects it to happen, that it's become normal

Sassoon suggests that there could have been an alternative to continuing the war. What is this alternative, and what has prevented it, according to Sassoon? (A Soldier's Declaration)

They could have negotiated earlier, but it's too late

Discuss the background of Dulce et Decorum Est

This poem's title comes from the Latin statement Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori, which means "It is sweet and honorable to die for one's country." The statement has been used for centuries as a morale builder—and as a gravestone inscription—for soldiers. After poison gas became a battlefield weapon during World War I, every soldier in the trenches had a gas mask. This poem describes the horrible consequences of failing to put on the mask in time.

What does the title The Second Coming act as? Is Yeats' version of the second coming the same as the Christian one? What does the line "The falcon cannot hear the falconer" do for the reader?

Title is an allusion - Religious allusion to second coming of Christ. No, in his everything is falling apart, foul beast coming. If falcon can't hear, it'll get lost. Gives us specific image of idea of getting lost, not following regular way of doing things

What is the title Dulce et Decorum Est mean to give us? What kind of ___? What is the tone of the poem? What makes the speaker use this kind of tone? What kind of language is seen in here and why?

Title is meant to give us contradiction or irony; verbal irony. Tone of the poem is very dark and bitter - speaker is angry that war is being glorified. Experience makes him bitter - he's seeing things other people didn't see. Jargon language bc it's from the field

To make this persona in Does it Matter?, the speaker is doing what? What is the tone? What are the 3 types of veterans seen here? What other literary device is used, and why?

To make this persona, the speaker is brushing off issues veterans face. He's reflecting what society does, hoping to hold a mirror up to them, show them their flaws, and cause change. Tone - sarcastic, We're not intended to take this as it is. Three types of veterans seen here, expected to just fit in again - Losing limbs, Losing sight (senses), Mental challenges. Rhetorical questions also used - The answer is obvious and implied, Answer to question meant to make us angry

Discuss the background of The Soldier

When war broke out, Brooke enlisted in the navy and served briefly in Belgium. His war sonnets express idealistic patriotism. Had Brooke lived to witness the horrors of trench warfare, he might have developed a more cynical and disillusioned attitude about war; however, he died of blood poisoning en route to the Dardanelles with the British Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. He was buried on the island of Skyros in the Aegean Sea, a "corner of a foreign field that is forever England."

World War I: The Great War - discuss literature

Writers experimented with form and content. Literature reflected the disillusionment and cynicism people felt after the war. The carnage of war transformed poetry, as poets questioned or even mocked the values that sent young men to their deaths. Novelists focused on introspection

Who is the author of The Second Coming?

Yeats

Who wrote the Lake Isle of Innisfree?

Yeats

a reference to something that is widely known from religion, literature, or politics

allusion

a word or phrase that describes one thing in terms of another. Exs: similes, metaphors, and symbols

figure of speech

a unit of measure consisting of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable

iamb

a line of verse with five iambs

iambic pentamenter

language that appeals to the senses

imagery

What type of poem is The Solider? How does the structure help us understand the meaning of it?

it's a Petrarchan sonnet - Octave creates problem or situation and sestet addresses it

drawing on myth and symbol, Freudian explorations of sexuality, and new conceptions of time and the workings of human consciousness. An experimentation with form and content

modernism

a figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory ideas

oxymoron

What is the tone of The Soldier?

patriotic, positive, proud, idealistic. Lacks anything having to do with war. Compared to Dulce, which is bitter and cynical, this is more idealistic, even romantic

the way a poem is constructed

poetic structure