1. Look up the Latin quotation from the Roman poet Horace. What does the title mean? How does the poem comment on this statement?
It means "It is sweet and right."
The poet later in the poem applies the saying to the man who had succumb to death as a result of fighting for his country in the war that is made apparent. It is stated at the end after it is expressed that the man who was hit died, but he dies serving his country.
2. List the elements of the poem that seem not beautiful and are therefore "unpoetic." Are there any elements of beauty in the poem?
Things such as "Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge, Till on haunting flares (2) we turned our backs And towards our distant rest (3) began to trudge," and "As under a green sea, I saw him drowning. In all my dreams, before my helpless sight, He plunges at me, guttering, (11) choking, drowning." They accurately depict the gore of war but are less than poetic in the purest sense.
The beauty that can be seen in this poem is only beautiful to an eye that looks for the small things that make these men different, their courage, bravery, and willingness to fight for their country.
War as a whole is not beautiful, but it takes a beautiful person to sacrifice their life for the sake of others and hope that they will benefit from their willingness.
3. How do the comparisons in lines 1, 14, 20, 23-24 contribute to the effectiveness of the poem?
They express the overall theme of the gore and gruesome nature of war and how ugly it is up close, when one would otherwise just think war is killing, these lines go into great depth in expressing the unrelenting nature of war.
4. What does the poem gain by moving from plural pronouns and the past tense to singular pronouns and the present tense? How does this shift impact meaning?
It goes from a viewpoint that would be a commonality between all the men that are there, but when the shift occurs it not only shows that the scene can change very fast, but it also becomes a personal experience since everyone processes stressful and sudden events differently.
The shift impacts the meaning by personalizing the experience to one man, which allows the reader to infer that all of the other men have their own viewpoint, further communicating the hardships of war but from a personal standpoint.
5. Identify the similes and how their purpose in the poem.
"Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge, Till on the haunting flares(2) we turned our backs And towards our distant rest(3) began to trudge."
"...And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime..."
"...His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin..."
"...Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud..."
It further describes the relentless nature of war and its effects on the soldiers. It is a cancer, cruel and deadly, it is as bitter as the smell of regurgitated cud from a cow's stomach.
TPCASTT-
Title: Without the translation, I would have no idea what the poem would entail, but if I had to take a stab at it I would probably guess that it contained something wise and official, hence the other language for a title of an English poem.
Paraphrase: Crippled, yet they are still in their youth, relentlessly trudging onward. A troubling situation arises, an urgent one, requiring a spontaneous course of action that will attempt to preserve their lives. They scramble to escape their accuser, but one man finds it inescapable. The gruesome reality of his life light's soon diminishing is visible by everyone around. The bitter and relentless nature of war snuffs out all the lives that it can. All is not lost though, because "It is sweet and right to die for your country."
Connotation: The words in this poem employ grotesque imagery and similes to paint a truthful and gruesome depiction of the true nature of war. It helps one to see the reality of war while showing the positive attitude held tightly by the soldiers even in their times of despair and pain to fight for what they believe in.
Attitude: There are two main attitudes in this poem, the more positive one only being expressed in the last three or four lines of the third stanza. The first one, present throughout most of the poem is one of solemn detestation, mainly focused on the war and its effects on strong men. The briefly depicted attitude is one of pride and prestige in reference to how the men are recognized or treated for their sacrifice that can often ask of them their lives.
Shifts: There is a shift at the end of the poem from talking about the worse effects of war to a more respectable aspect of how men who offer their service are memorialized for their willingness to fight for that which they love most, their country.
Title: The title of this poem gives personality to military men, who are often looked at as uniform and emotionless, it opens a rift and allows the true feelings and intentions of military men, showing their selflessness and defensiveness they have for their country and everyone in it.
Theme: Selflessness can be seen in the gloomiest and most destructive situations, and willingness to serve in dangerous situations is not always the result of mindless ignorance to the cost of what such people are buying into.
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