Ivor Gurney - Trapped in Memory

Therefore, when analyzing his work, Gurneys biographical dimension becomes very clear in his poems, portraying his unhinged mind that ultimately transformed his poetic identity.
             To begin with, Ivor Gurney was born in Gloucester, England in 1890. He was the second of four children of David Gurney who was a tailor and Florence, a seamstress (Thornton & Walter 10). From an early age Gurney acquired a taste in music and showed great ability for it. He began composing music at the age of 14, which eventually led him to earn a scholarship to Royal College of Music, where English composer, Ralph Vaughan Williams, taught him (13). However his studies were quickly halted by the outbreak of World War I. In 1917, Gurney enlisted in the 2nd/5th Gloucester's and served in France (20). After being wounded by gas, Gurney returned to Royal College of Music but his erratic behavior led to his departure once again (22). From a young age, Gurney possessed a lively personality that was troubled by mood swings, which became very apparent after the war (20). However, even before the war, Gurney suffered a mental breakdown in 1913, and had several difficulties focusing on his work while in college (10). Though he created many brilliant poems in the late 1910's his mind is said to have perish to the point where his family institutionalized him in 1922 (Thornton & Walter 120). Gurney continued to write from his asylum up until his death in 1937 (140). Here, is where his work profoundly depicted his fragmented mind as he questioned and described the struggles of WWI. .
             From the very beginning, Gurney was eager to enlist in the war as he viewed such act as truly heroic and wanted to serve along side with his old school friend and poet, Will Harvey (Harvey 15). With the war proceeding to its fourth day, Gurney enlisted but was rejected due to poor eyesight (Thornton & Walter 20). However, this did not stop Gurney as he tried again in 1915, when requirements to enlist were more lax, and was accepted by the 2/5th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment (20).