Poetry - The Soldier

When was it written?

1914.

"Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given; and laughter, learnt of friends"

Alliteration of "sights" and "sounds", "dreams" and "day", and "laughter" and "learnt" - creates an echo effect which could reflect how these happy memories won't disappear, they will be passed on. The progression from "gives" to "back" to "given" - makes this line cyclical and reflects the idea that in death, the soldier will give back the things England gave him in the first place.

What is the context?

Brooke was an English poet who wrote the poem in the year that world war one started. He became ill and died in 1915 whilst serving in the Royal Navy. He was buried on the Greek island of Skyros. When war was declared in August 1914, many men were eager to enlist to serve their country. This poem captures the early idealism. However, as the war progressed and the true nature of war was realised, their optimism began to fade. Some poets who experienced the war wrote realistically about it's horrors.

"Think, this heart, all evil shed away, a pulse in the eternal mind"

Commas - slow the pace of the poem and creates a reflective mood. Phrases "all evil shed away" and "the eternal mind" - death is purifying and brings the soldier closer to the "eternal mind" of God. Phrase "eternal mind" - the speaker seems to be religious. The narrator's view of dying can be seen as idealistic. It doesn't reflect on the dirty and painful experiences of many soldiers during the war. The poem might be a way for the narrator to reassure himself with the idea that a part of him will live on when he dies.

What is the full poem?

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 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.

What is the structure of the poem?

In traditional sonnets, the octave (made of eight lines) presents one idea and the sestet (made of six lines) another. Brooke has followed convention in his poem as in the octave, the speaker shows how England was enriched his life and in the sestet, he considers how he will return the gifts given to him by his country after his death. The first stanza contains a long list of all the things that England has given him, while the second stanza lists the things that he hopes to give back to England. This makes him proud to be English. The narrator's passion for his country shows his patriotism.

What is the form of the poem?

It's a sonnet, a form traditionally used for love poetry Sonnets are usually written about another person, but in this one the object of the narrator's love is England. This elevates his emotions and shows how strong they are. The narrator appeals directly to the reader - his voice is confident, but becomes more reflective in the second stanza.

"In hearts at peace, under an English heaven"

Noun phrase "English heaven" - the heaven will be English because the soldier thinks of England as a heaven. The speaker seems to be religious, and the thought of heaven gives him comfort when he reflects on his death.

What period was it written in?

The Modern period (world war one).

"A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware"

Verbs "bore" and "shaped" - England is personified as a nurturing mother. The repetition of words connected to England - makes the narrator's love for his country seem overwhelming. The poem uses an extended metaphor to personify England as a mother, which reflects how the speaker feels that his country has shaped him as a person. Mothers are often associated with comfort, which might explain why speaking about his country during the war seems to be reassuring.

Who wrote it?

Rupert Brooke.

What are the 8 quotes?

"If I should die, think only this of me" "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" "Think, this heart, all evil shed away, a pulse in the eternal mind" "Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given; and laughter, learnt of friends" "In hearts at peace, under an English heaven"

What is the poem about?

A soldier is talking about the possibility of dying in a foreign country during war. He says that the area where he dies will be "for ever England". He describes England as a mother who gave birth to him and raised him. He believes that death will be comforting because he will be able to giveback the things that England gave him - his thoughts and memories won't be lost.

"There shall be in that rich earth a richer dust concealed"

Comparative adjective "richer" - it will be richer because of the body that lies there. Noun "dust" - the soldier's body will remain in the field. Echoes the phrase "ashes to ashes, dust to dust" from the Book of Common Prayer, which is commonly spoken at English burials.

"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"

Nouns "flowers", "air", "rivers" and "suns" - nature is a positive force. It gives the soldier a sense of wellbeing. The narrator talks about England's idyllic nature and landscape. His love of the English countryside is a part of his devotion to his country. The repetition of words connected to England - makes the narrator's love for his country seem overwhelming. Verb "blest" - the speaker seems to be religious as he feels blessed by England.

"There's some corner of a foreign field that is for ever England"

Phrase "for ever England" - could mean that the land is literally English because of their victory in war OR it could be meant figuratively. A part of England will remain there because his body will be buried there.

"If I should die, think only this of me"

Pronoun "I" - the first person narrative voice is only apparent in the first line. Suggests that the poem could be about any soldier. The narrator addresses the reader directly using the imperative "think only this of me" - makes the reader feel responsible for carrying out the soldier's request.