The Soldier, not only a patriotic poem but a foreshadow of Rupert Brooke's death. This poem deals with the death and accomplishments of a soldier. Rupert Brooke, known as a "war poet" completed this last poem prior to his death. While being enlisted to join World War I, he began writing poems while commissioned upon a ship. Brooke died before ever seeing combat duty.
I question if soldiers ever think their combative nature is held in vain. I guess Mr.Brooke wanted to establish from then on what he was to be remembered by "...think only this of me: That there's some corner of a foreign field That is forever England"(1098). This poem expresses how deeply he felt for the country of England. Brooke says, "In that rich earth a richer dust concealed"(line 4, 1098). This means that if he died in a land other than England, the soil would be made better because there would now be a piece of England within it.
Ultimately, this poem deals with death and love, two powerful things that go hand-in-hand. Together they create an image in the poem of a man who is very brave and would do anything for his country.
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Tisha,
ReplyDeleteYour post observes perceptively some important themes and issues in "The Soldier," and you provide some good context of how the poem fits into Brooke's life and times. I think this is one of your stronger discussions in your blog.
I really like your simplified summary of the poem that "the soil would be made better because there would now be a piece of England within it"; I think that is a very apt rendering of it.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, your poem makes me wonder how Brooke would feel about the actual circumstances of his death. Clearly, he looked forward to bringing England to a foreign land with his death--but then he died before he could ever prove his bravery and commitment. I wonder what he would say about the glory (or lack of glory) in his actual death.
Soldiers are brave and committed. Soldiers of war could be defined as many things...They are our true heroes!
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