Patriotism and sacrifice are two central themes that are explored in many poems centered around World War 1. Poets explore these themes to varying effects in their poems using a myriad of techniques and poetic devices. These themes are explored in many of the poems that I have studied including; Men Who March Away by Thomas Hardy, The Volunteer by Herbert Asquith, and Peace, The Dead, and The Soldier by Rupert Brooke. As the war progressed beyond Christmas of 1914, the public opinion of the war began to change quickly. The war was more horrific then originally thought and the sacrifices made soon began to outweigh the patriotic feelings of the public. The poems I will be exploring in this essay were all written in 1914 before both the poets and the public's opinion of the war changed. This is why such large amount of patriotism and pro war messages can be seen in each of the poems. .
There is a certain level of parallelism between Thomas Hardy's Men Who March Away, and several of Rupert Brooke's poems. The poets both use religion as a base for the patriotic views that they convey. Hardy Poses the question "what of the faith and fire within us", In this rhetorical question he questions the "faith" of the citizens of England and their ability to follow the way of their Christianity and use their "fire within" to fight in the Great War. Religion is also used to greater effect in Brooke's poem peace. He mentions god from the very onset thanking him "who has matched us with his hour". Here Brooke paints the youthful soldiers as being matched with god, therefore being the perfect candidates to fight valiantly in the war. Moreover, he mentions that the soldiers have been strengthened by their faith as god has "wakened us from sleeping" illuminating them as to the righteous path (to fight in the war). Furthermore, he paints the vivid image of the young men as "swimmers into cleanness leaping" this simile alludes to a baptism of the soldiers, who have been reborn into brave and valiant soldiers akin to those who fought in crusades.
Joseph Stalin was the soviet communist leader who's passing molded an era, and whose iron rule determined the lives of millions of people. Considering that he shaped the direction of post-World War II Europe, we may regard him as the most powerful person to live during the 20th century. Joseph Sta...
Joseph Stalin was the soviet communist leader who's passing molded an era, and whose iron rule determined the lives of millions of people. Considering that he shaped the direction of post-World War II Europe, we may regard him as the most powerful person to live during the 20th century. Joseph Sta...
