Concetti Chiave
- The poem consists of two stanzas, each with six lines, following a regular rhyme scheme (ABABCC – DEDEFF).
- Language shifts from high-flown and religious in the first stanza to common language in the second, highlighting contrasting perspectives.
- Personification is employed with the phrase "challenged Death and dared him face to face," adding a dramatic element.
- Run-on lines are used throughout, creating a flow that connects thoughts across line breaks.
- The poem starkly contrasts the Bishop's idealistic view of war with the harsh realities faced by returning soldiers.
They will not be the same; for they'll have fought B
In a just cause: they lead the last attack A
On Anti-Christ; their comrades' blood has bought B
New right to breed an honorable race, C
They have challenged Death and dared him face to face.” C
“We're none of us the same!” the boys reply. D
“For George lost both his legs; and Bill's stone blind; E
Poor Jim's shot through the lungs and like to die; D
And Bert's gone syphilitic: you'll not find E
A chap who's served that hasn't found some change.” F
And the Bishop said: “The ways of God are strange!” F
Analysis of Poetry
The poem is split into two stanzas; each stanza is made up of six lines of regular length; each line begins with a capital letter. There is regular punctuation and a regular rhyme scheme (ABABCC – DEDEFF) and many run-on-lines, (lines 2-3, “When the boys come back They will not be the same”; lines 3-4, “for they'll have fought In a just cause”; lines 4-5, “their comrades' blood has bought New right to breed an honorable race”; lines 10-11, “you'll not find A chap who's served that hasn't found some change”).
Use of Language
There is a personification (line 6, “They have challenged Death and dared him face to face”). The writer uses two different types of language in the poem. In the first stanza he uses a high-flown language and the semantic area is connected with religion, in the second stanza he uses a common language. I really love this poem because the poet makes me understand the cruelty of war.
Domande da interrogazione
- What is the main theme of the poem?
- How does the poem's structure contribute to its message?
- What language techniques does the poet use to convey the poem's message?
The poem explores the theme of the transformative and devastating impact of war on soldiers, highlighting how they return changed, both physically and mentally, after facing the horrors of battle.
The poem's structure, with its regular rhyme scheme and use of run-on lines, emphasizes the continuity and inevitability of change experienced by soldiers, contrasting the idealistic view of war with its harsh realities.
The poet employs personification and contrasting language styles, using high-flown, religious language in the first stanza and common language in the second, to underscore the disparity between the glorified perception of war and its brutal truth.
Accedi a tutti gli appunti
Tutor AI: studia meglio e in meno tempo
