paper 110 A: History of English Literature - From 1900 to 2000,

  Paper 110 A: History of English Literature - From 1900 to 2000,

Topic:- Unraveling the Layers of Patriotism and Sacrifice: Analyzing Rupert Brooke's "The Soldier" 

Personal Information:-

Name:-Chavada Nanda

Batch:- M.A. Sem 2 (2023-2024)

Enrollment Number:-5108230012

E-mailAddress:-nandachavada@gmail.com

Roll Number:- 19

Assignment Details:-

Topic:- Unraveling the Layers of Patriotism and Sacrifice: Analyzing Rupert Brooke's "The Soldier"

Paper & subject code:- 110 A: History of English Literature - From 1900 to 2000 & 22403

Submitted to:- Smt. Sujata Binoy Gardi, Department of English, MKBU, Bhavnagar

Date of Submission:- 25/04/2024

 

Table of Contents:

Introduction 

Abstract 

Keywords

Historical Context

About the Poet

About the Poem

Analysis

Conclusion

Abstract:

This analysis delves into the poetry of Rupert Brooke, focusing on five of his poems: "Retrospect," "Safety," "The Soldier," "Peace," and "Fragment." Each poem is examined for its thematic elements and symbolic imagery. Through these poems, Brooke explores themes of love, insecurity, mortality, and the fleeting nature of existence. The abstract discusses how Brooke uses vivid imagery and metaphorical language to convey complex emotions and ideas. Ultimately, this study offers insight into the enduring relevance of Brooke's poetry and its ability to resonate with readers across generations.

Keywords:

Rupert Brooke, The Soldier, World War I, Patriotism, Sacrifice, Idealism, Nationalism, Poetry, English Literature

Title:        

Unraveling the Layers of Patriotism and Sacrifice: Analyzing Rupert Brooke's "The Soldier"

Introduction:

Rupert Brooke's "The Soldier" stands as a timeless ode to patriotism and sacrifice, reflecting the sentiments of a generation caught in the tumult of World War I. In this blog, we embark on a journey to explore the historical context surrounding the poem, delve into the life of the poet, dissect the themes and imagery present in the poem, and conclude with reflections on its enduring significance.

                               

Historical Context:

         World War I, often referred to as the Great War, erupted in 1914, shattering the tranquility of Europe and plunging nations into chaos. The war was marked by unprecedented levels of destruction and loss of life, with soldiers enduring the horrors of trench warfare on a scale never before seen. In the early stages of the conflict, there was a surge of patriotism and nationalism as young men eagerly answered the call to defend their countries. Governments and propagandists alike seized upon this fervor, glorifying notions of sacrifice and duty. It was against this backdrop of upheaval and idealism that Rupert Brooke penned his iconic poem, "The Soldier."

                          

Today Rupert Brooke is probably best known as one of the famous War Poets of the First World War (Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, Isaac Rosenberg etc). He was the first of the poets to die so he never experienced the horror of trench warfare as Owen and Sassoon did and therefore his famous Five War Sonnets, which include 'The Soldier', reflect the romantic, patriotic mood that was shared by most of the country and, indeed, Owen and Sassoon at the beginning of the First World War. This sentiment made him the voice of the nation at the time of his death but in more recent years has led to Brooke's work sometimes being unfairly dismissed.

Poem : Click here :

About Rupert Brooke: Poems Background

Rupert Brook : Born in the town of Rugby in 1887, the fun-loving, spirited, and handsome young poet Rupert Brooke would tragically be cut down in the very prime of life, and would become the patriotic hero for a generation of dead Britons. Brooke was sailing for what may have been ill-fated appointment with destiny at Gallipoli after enlisting during the First World War when he contracted blood poisoning, which lead to his death on April 23

In the wake of his death his sonnet titled “The Soldier” proclaimed publicly in a ceremony at St. Paul’s Cathedral. When his obituary was printed with the initials of Winston Churchill as a watermark lying beneath, Brooke unofficially was canonized as the poetic speaker for all the dead that drown in the bloodbath of English involvement in the Great War.

Also in the wake of his tragically young death under tragically patriotic circumstances came sales. The two collections titled 1914 and Other Poems and Collected Poems would nearly break records for such a young writer. Their combined sales in excess of 300,000 volumes also served to guarantee that Brooke’s popularity would extend beyond the faddishness spike accrued as a result of his status as the patriotic poet of death.

Characters :

Soldier :

The character of a proud and patriotic soldier plays a central role in Brooke’s poems. His poems celebrate war because he considers war as something which gives inner peace to the combatants. The soldiers get the purpose of their life through war and they think that nothing can glorify them except fighting for their country which provides them freedom. the combatants in his poems believes that it is a blessing to die in the battlefield. In the poem “Peace”, which is a prayer of thanks to God, the soldier feels gratuitous for getting the opportunity of absolution through death for a good purpose and for being able to enter heaven.

The Narrator

Another prominent character in Rupert Brooke’s poems is the narrator of the poems, who tells about the experiences of soldiers at the battlefield that how they embrace death. In the poem “The Dead”, the character of the narrator informs the reader about the lives of the dead ones that how they lived lives that were full of both joys and cares and the death provided them the real purpose of their lives.

Theme :

Love  :

Worth remembering that Rupert Brooke died at a young age. An age when love is a theme in just about any work. Scholars have detected a dualistic approach to Brooke’s treatment of women, however; one might even suggest that he was a borderline Borderline: the women in his verse are either up on a pedestal or down in the gutter. The seeming inability of Brooke to reconcile his two views have led to a thematic sensibility easily distinguished. Like many writers of great wit, he uses humor to deflect his conflicted feelings.

Death

Just as Brooke’s young age infused his poetic themes with expressions of tormented conflict over how to approach women, so did the times into which he was thrust lend his poetry an obsession with death. The dawning of the Great War was not the subject at work here; his 1914 and Other Poems are sonnet that reflect the recognition of a changing world still trying to come to term with the turn of the century. Brooke’s true thematic obsession is not death per se, but the longing for death as a response to an existential crisis brought on a changing society.

Immortality :

Brooke’s poems about this longing for death would merely be cryptic and morose if they were not constructed upon a foundation that with death comes something greater. The collapse of the continental Old World fashioned for the Europeans a sense that what was to come in the 20th century would unquestionably be different, but different is not always better even when the promise lures with that expectation. Beyond death is a sense of leaving everything behind and genuinely having the power to become immortal. Immortality is an epic Modernist concern and in this state, Brooke delineates a lyrical promise grander than what the turn of the century could ever mandate.

“ There shall be

             In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;

     A dust whom

                 England bore, shaped, made aware "

                                                                                                          

                                                         - Narrator, The Soldier

Analysis :

In "Fragment," Rupert Brooke reflects on the transient nature of life and the inevitability of death. He compares his acquaintances to fragile fragments, suggesting that they are like fleeting shadows or bubbles that will soon perish and become ghosts. Brooke emphasizes the fleeting nature of human existence and the eventual transformation into ghostly remnants.

Similarly, in "The Dead," Brooke contemplates the reality of mortality and the profound impact of death. He describes the hearts of the deceased as woven with human experiences and emotions, yet ultimately washed with sorrow and swift to mirth. Despite having known joy and friendship, the dead are unable to experience the beauty of dawn and sunset or the colors of the earth, as death is an irreversible truth.

Rupert Brooke: Poems Symbols, Allegory and Motifs : 

In "Retrospect," Brooke uses the imagery of a bird to symbolize love, describing it as penetrative, remote, and rare, akin to a bird soaring through the air leaving no trace behind. This love is depicted as instinctive and powerful, transcending superficiality.

In "Safety," the concept of "dark tides" represents inherent insecurity. Brooke suggests that finding hidden security amidst uncertainty brings the greatest happiness, emphasizing the contrast between feeling safe and being exposed to the potential dangers symbolized by the dark clouds.

"Dust" in "The Soldier" serves as a metaphor for transience and mortality. The speaker muses that if he were to die in battle, he would become part of the earth, forever intertwined with the land of England, reinforcing the idea of returning to dust from whence humans were formed.

In "Peace," death is portrayed as both a friend and an enemy. Brooke explores the complexity of mortality, suggesting that death can either be welcomed as a relief from life's suffering or feared as a thief that robs us of cherished individuals.

"Fragment" encapsulates the theme of impermanence, with Brooke reflecting on the transient nature of all things. He portrays life as fleeting and fragile, with everything eventually perishing and transforming into ghosts, emphasizing the ephemeral quality of existence.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, Rupert Brooke's "The Soldier" remains a poignant and enduring testament to the power of poetry to capture the complexities of human experience. Through its evocative imagery and stirring language, the poem celebrates the ideals of patriotism and sacrifice while also acknowledging the profound cost of war. As we continue to grapple with the legacy of past conflicts and navigate the challenges of our own time, "The Soldier" serves as a timeless reminder of the enduring spirit of those who have given their lives in service to their countries.

Word Count : 1634

Images : 3

Works Cited

9 November 2017, https://www.gradesaver.com/rupert-brooke-poems/study-guide/character-list. Accessed 25 April 2024.

Brooke, Rupert. “Rupert Brooke: Poems Literary Elements.” GradeSaver, https://www.gradesaver.com/rupert-brooke-poems/study-guide/literary-elements. Accessed 25 April 2024.

Brooke, Rupert. “Rupert Brooke: Poems Themes.” GradeSaver, 10 August 2017, https://www.gradesaver.com/rupert-brooke-poems/study-guide/themes. Accessed 25 April 2024.

Brooke, Rupert. “The Soldier by Rupert Brooke | Poetry Magazine.” Poetry Foundation, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/13076/the-soldier. Accessed 25 April 2024.

“War Sonnet V: The Soldier.” The Rupert Brooke Society, https://rupertbrooke.com/poems/1914/v_the_soldier/. Accessed 30 April 2024.