War poetry

Hello everyone, i am Dhruvita Dhameliya. Today i write Blog upon war poetry as part of bridge course assigned by our ma'am.

war poets

1) what is your understanding of war poetry?

War poetry is a literary genre that developed during the period of the world wars. The term was coined by Randall Jarrell in his essay “The Literature of War” (1961). Jarrell defines war poetry as “a poem that has as its theme war and that is written during or about a war”. For example, Wilfred Owen’s “Dulce et Decorum est” is a war poem.

Poets have written about the experience of war since the Greeks, but the young soldier poets of the First World War established war poetry as a literary genre. Their combined voice has become one of the defining texts of Twentieth Century Europe.

 In general, the authors are all people who have seen what really happens on the battlefield with their own eyes. Although people have been writing verses about war for thousands of years, war poetry differs considerably from previous eras’ poems about conflicts. The poems written by soldiers from World War I and later conflicts were not epict , these verses did not praise heroes or epic battles. Rather, they often questioned the purpose of war, why people fight, and overall an unflinchingly realistic portrayal of the nature of battle. 

1)War poetry :

The term war poetry chiefly denotes the poetry written under the direct impact of the world war - 1 from 1914 to 1919.

War poets known as Tranch poets - who participated in war and then they share their experiences of war into form of poetry.

2)Purpose of war poetry :

Sometimes in the most tragic circumstances people are inspired to express their emotions – they make music, they paint, they write…

1)As I say before that war poet is soldiers who participated in war so they want some kind of medium to express their emotions of war and thoughts so poetry is good medium to express their emotions so they start writing poetry.

2) They want to show and spread awareness about horror and dark side of war. No-one can show it before participating in war so they want to spread awareness of war and so they start writing.

3) To spent their time , because they don't have any- other better work to do so for passing the time they start writing poetry.

Characteristics of war poetry :

1) It used gruesome and shocking imagery :

During the first world war which run for Four years that time  more than nine million people died. Mainly from Europe and British so during that time people became too upset towards life Chaos spread everywhere. Ideals and intention of war became meaningless. People and poets come to know that war is for ministry and political power and  middle class have to suffer for it. 

2 ) It signified a break off from the contemporary poetic tradition : 

War poets broke concept of old war poetry, before the world war they show the glory and romantic features of war but after the world war they broke it and try to show reality of war.

3) It uses the actual language of the men engaged in war : 

War poets use actual language of the people who engaged in war and connected to war. They write about the experience of soldiers or we can say that soldiers are the poet who can share there experience through their poetry , best example of this we found in T.S. Eliot and Ezra pound's poetry.

4) Realistic documentation of war with all its brutality : 

 This kind of poetry  described the brutal condition of soldiers and talked about evil and brutal did of authority and political party.

So basically war poetry is also Anti-war poetry because it just not about to show good part - side of war but also try to show bad side of war.

2) Note down the difference of all the War Poets.

List of War Poets in English Literature- It’s important to study War poetry because it gives us insight into the actual scenario of war during World War I and II. Most of the poets of that time considered themselves as soldiers as well as poets. They used to write poetry in their leisure time and express their emotions through writings.

During the time of first world war there was many writer who started writing about war but they all are differ from each other one or other way so let's see difference between those writers, 

List of war poets : 

1) Siegfried Sassoon

2) Wilfred Edward Salter Owen

3) Rupert Brooke

4) Wilfried Wilson Gibson

5) Ivor Bertie Gurney 

1) Siegfried Sassoon : 

 His poetry described the Horrors of the trenches and satirised the patriotic pretensions of those who Sassoon's view.

He is best known for his angry and compassionate poems about world war-1.

 

For example, 

1) The Poet As Hero

2)  The Death Bed

3) Banishment

4) Counter Attack

5) The old Huntsma

Sassoon had grown increasingly angry about the tactics being employed by the British Army and after a meeting with Bertrand Russell, John Murry Middleton and H. W. Massingham, he wrote Finished With War: A Soldier's Declaration, which announced that,

 "I am making this statement as an act of wilful defiance of military authority because I believe that the war is being deliberately prolonged by those who have the power to end it. I am a soldier, convinced that I am acting on behalf of soldiers. I believe that the war upon which I entered as a war of defence and liberation has now become a war of aggression and conquest. I believe that the purposes for which I and my fellow soldiers entered upon this war should have been so clearly stated as to have made it impossible to change them and that had this been done the objects which actuated us would now be attainable by negotiation."

He satirised general, politicians and churchman for their blind support to war.

So Siegfried Sassoon wrote about  :

Death, Horror, sympathy for soldiers, Religious Authority.

2) Wilfred Edward Salter Owen 

His war poetry on the horrors of trenches and gas warfare was much influenced by his mentor Siegfried Sassoon and stood in contrast to the public perception of war at the time and to the confidently patriotic verse written by earlier war poets such as Rupert Brooke. 

His legendary literature outlived him and became symbolic of the horrors of the Great War.

"My subject is War, and the pity of War. The Poetry is in the pity."

Owen had an optimistic view of the war and like many others at the time was influenced by the patriotism of the war effort. 

Wilfred Owen wrote about : Horror of trench, gas warfare, loss of faith, fear of death. 

3) Rupert Brooke : 

Rupert Chawner Brooke was an English poet known for his idealistic war sonnets written during the First World War, especially "The Soldier". He was also known for his boyish good looks, which were said to have prompted the Irish poet W. B. Yeats to describe him as,

"the handsomest young man in England".

Rupert Brooke wrote his poems in neo-Romantic style, inspired by the style of Georgian poets.

Brooke’s popularity is credited to both his creative writing skills and his handsome face. Brooke's war sonnets seem "sentimental and unrealistic," notes Lehmann.

As Eder states, 

"Brooke's war sonnets perfectly captured the mood of the moment."

Rupert Brooke wrote about   : Patriotism, Unbroken Glory.

4) Wilfrid Wilson Gibson :

Gibson is often recognized as a leader of the Georgian movement.

Gibson’s poetry was characterized by an acute examination of the commonplace. His poems often focus on the lives of the working class. This, again, was based on the idea of making poetry more honest and accessible to everyone’s experience.

Gibson’s poetry was greatly influenced by his experiences during World War I. Having been denied entry into the army for several years due to his poor eyesight, Gibson was finally allowed to become a soldier in 1917. 

Wilfrid Wilson Gibson wrote about : Guilt, Madness, death, Injury, sense of identity.

5) Ivor Bertie Gurney : 

Best known for his musical compositions, Gurney wrote a prodigious number of songs—around 300—as well as numerous chamber and instrumental works.

Gurney was a musician and a poet, who combined his skills at song writing and wordplay. Yet throughout his life he was a troubled man, and he even attempted suicide in 1918.

So this all writers are somewhere differs from each other in writing a poem. Some was anti - war poet and some writer write in favour of war.

Ivor Gurney wrote about  :- Grueling Monotony of day - to - day military life., Religious authority.

3) Compare any two poems with reference to the subject, style of writing and patriotism. 

 1)The Soldier - RUPERT BROOKE

Rupert Chawner Brooke was an English poet known for his idealistic war sonnets written during the First World War, especially "The Soldier". He was also known for his boyish good looks, which were said to have prompted the Irish poet W. B. Yeats to describe him as 

"The handsomest young man in England"

The Soldier, sonnet by Rupert Brooke, published in 1915 in the collection 1914. Perhaps his most famous poem, it reflects British sorrow over and pride in the young men who died in World War I.

The title ‘The Soldier’ suggests an anonymous person, reflecting how many soldiers died during WWI. It is a sonnet, a love poem to England.

Narrated in the first person by an English soldier, the poem is sentimental, patriotic, and epitaphic. In the closing sestet, the poem’s speaker suggests that his soul is eternally linked with England. The poem’s familiar opening lines acquired even greater poignancy as a result of Brooke’s own wartime death.

1) Subject :

It is a deeply patriotic and idealistic poem that expresses a soldier's love for his homeland in this case England which is portrayed as a kind of nurturing paradise.

The soldier : 

If I should die, think only this of me:

  That there’s some corner of a foreign field

That is for ever England. There shall be

     In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;

 'The Soldier' who is the narrator in this poem he told to people about his wish regarding funeral and grave. He claims that when he died , where he died this corner become the England, which is his motherland - homeland. And that particular place became England forever and the dust in which he will be buried it became pure.

In these lines, the poet says that if he dies in the battle, his body would be buried in a foreign land. That piece of land, where he is buried, would be considered part of England because under it lies the body of an English soldier. Foreign dust is rich but the dust of his body will be richer than the dust where he is 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.

Then he talked about how he greatfull to be English, And how he live life in England. England made him , he breathed the English air, he is blessed by England's sun and he became pure by the river of England so he want to made another small England where he will be buried.

England shaped the body of the poet and gave him good thoughts. England gave him beautiful flowers and ways to roam. He breathed in the air of England, bathed in her rivers and grew up under its stars’ light. His personality developed in the beautiful environment of England. He is highly indebted to his country. These lines show the poet’s deep love for his country.

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.

The Poet says that after his death his soul will be purified of all evils. His soul will mingle with the divine soul. He will become a part of him. Then he would be able to repay the debt he owes to his country. After his death, his soul would spread the noble ideas that he learnt from his country. He will tell others about the sights and sounds of England. His homeland blessed him with remarkable qualities like lofty aspirations and cheerfulness. He would spread all the qualities which he learnt from England. These lines show the poets deep love for his country. He does not want to depart from his country even after his death.

2) style of writing : 

This poem Written with fourteen lines in a Petrarchan/Italian sonnet form, the poem is divided into an opening octet, and then followed by a concluding sestet.

 Rhyme scheme : ABAB CDCD form, while the sestet follows the Petrarchan/Italian EFG EFG form.

3) patriotism : 

The soldier who is near to death and after his death he wanted to made small England where he will be buried that thing show that how he is love his homeland- England. He praise his country and for him England is like heaven- paradise.

He also talking about greatness of England and natural elements of it. Like air, tree and river and also about the People of England.

The Soldier” explores the bond between a patriotic British soldier and his homeland. Through this soldier’s passionate discussion of his relationship to England, the poem implies that people are formed by their home environment and culture, and that their country is something worth defending with their life.  

2) The Hero 

Introduction of poet : 

Siegfried Loraine Sassoon  was an English war poet, writer, and soldier. Decorated for bravery on the Western Front. He became one of the leading poets of the First World War. His poetry both described the horrors of the trenches and satirised the patriotic pretensions of those who, in Sassoon's view, were responsible for a jingoism-fuelled war. 

Siegfried Sassoon is best remembered for his angry and compassionate poems about World War I, Sassoon wrote of the horror and brutality of trench warfare and contemptuously satirized generals, politicians, and churchmen for their incompetence and blind support of the war. He was also well known as a novelist and political commentator. In 1957 he was awarded the Queen’s Medal for Poetry.

Subject of poem : 

"Jack fell as he'd have wished," the Mother said,

And folded up the letter that she'd read.

"The Colonel writes so nicely." Something broke

In the tired voice that quavered to a choke.

She half looked up. "We mothers are so proud

Of our dead soldiers." Then her face was bowed.

In this poem Sassoon want to show reality of war and specially about the situation of died soldier's family. In the very first stanza start with ''Jack fell as he'd have wished" mother got a letter of her son's death. As mother of soldier she feel proud.  Here Sassoon used the word 'Mother' not only the soldier's mother but every mother as she have too concerned about her child and proud but no one can aspects the death of her child. When she come to know about her son is dead, she bowed her face in respect of soldier not for her son only but all Soldiers who died in war.

Quietly the Brother Officer went out.

He'd told the poor old dear some gallant lies

That she would nourish all her days, no doubt.

For while he coughed and mumbled, her weak eyes

Had shone with gentle triumph, brimmed with joy,

Because he'd been so brave, her glorious boy.

In second stanza the brother officer doesn't want to upset the mother by telling her the painful truth about how her son died. But Sassoon himself want to make sure that world war-1 isn't glorious affair. He and Owen were two famous world war-1 poet that wanted to make people back in Britain aware that they were often being lied to by military authorities and government officials.

Here we can see that Sassoon tried to convey the how war is became pointless. And he is not able tell truth to the mother of soldier , who thought that her son is died during fight but it is not truth.

So in short Sassoon clearly portrays the death, and pain associated to war. He also show fear related with fighting through Jack's attitude in the poem.

2) Style of writing : 

This poem Written in iambic pentameter,  ‘The Hero’ comprises three stanzas of six lines length largely made up of rhyming couplets.

Rhyming scheme: It follows simple alternative Rhyming pattern ABAB

3) Patriotism : 

This poem is Anti- War poem in which we can saw that how mother is feel proud for her soldier son's death because he was part of war and died as fighter. Here we found more patriotic nature of poet who want to tell everybody that reality of war and death in the war. So one can see that 'Jack' The hero of the poem is also referred to Sassoon as he was known as 'mad Jack'. 

4.) Do you find any such regional poem/movies/web series/songs which can be compared to any one of the poems given here. Also, give a proper explanation of the similarity.) 

There is many songs, movies and poems related to war and soldiers. Here i want to compare the song 'Teri Mitti' with the poem 'The Soldier'

Both the song and poem talked about patriotism. 'Teri Mitti' and 'The Soldier'

Both hero want to die for nation.

"Aye Meri Zameen Afsoss Nahi

Jo Tere Liye Sau Dard Sahe

Mehfooz Rahe Teri Aan Sada

Chaahe Jaan Meri Yeh Rahe Na Rahe"

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

      That there’s some corner of a foreign field"

Both the hero of poem and song talked about live and died for nation. And after death also want to make safe their nation from graveyard. And if they died during fight they don't care about death but want to save nation.

Teri Mitti Mein Mill Jawaan

Gul Banke Main Khill Jawaan

Itni Si Hai Dil Ki Aarzoo

Teri Nadiyon Mein Beh Jawaan

Teri Kheton Mein Lehrawaan

Itni Si Hai Dil Ki Aarzoo

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.

Both talked about dust of their land as part of it want to buried in this. And praise the nation's air, farm , dust and river as part of it.

O Heer Meri Tu Hansti Rahe

Teri Aankh Ghadi Bhar Nam Na Ho

Main Marta Tha Jiss Mukhde Pe

Kabhi Uska Ujaala Kam Na Ho

O Maayi Meri Kya Fikar Tujhe

Kyun Aankh Se Dariya Behta Hai

Tu Kehti Thi Tera Chaand Hoon Main

Aur Chaand Hamesha Rehta Hai

Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;

      And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,

            In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.

Both want that after their death noone should cry and said that how the friends, beloved and mother are important for then but still they ready to die for nation without any guilt.

So i found many similarities between this song and poem , there is patriotism , love for family and nation became first priority for both.

Conclusion: 

So ,This is my understanding of the 'war poetry'  and i hope you also able to understand that what is war poetry and what kind of message war poet want to give and their patriotism.

Thank you:)

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