War Poetry (Brooke, Sassoon, Owen)

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• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5

War Poetry 

(Brooke, Sassoon, Owen)

1. Rupert Brooke

When was this poem written?

1. 1914
2. 1915
3. 1916
4. 1917

Ok, this is a sonnet. But exactly what kind?

1. English, with the break of thought lines 8/9
2. English, break of thought lines 12/13
3. Italian, with the break of thought lines 8/9
4. Italian, with the break of thought lines 12/13

Patriotic poetry

Brooke died before he saw the horrors of the trenches. 

His poem was read aloud in St Paul's Cathedral in the early days of the war.

2. Siegfried Sassoon

"Mad Jack"

Does it matter – Siegfried Sassoon​

​

Does it matter?-losing your legs?​

For people will always be kind,​

And you need not show that you mind​

When others come in after hunting​

To gobble their muffins and eggs.​

​

Does it matter?-losing you sight?​

There’s such splendid work for the blind;​

And people will always be kind,​

As you sit on the terrace remembering​

And turning your face to the light.

Do they matter-those dreams in the pit?​

You can drink and forget and be glad,​

And people won't say that you’re mad;​

For they know that you've fought for your country,​

And no one will worry a bit.

Describe the tone of this poem in ONE word.

Sassoon's criticism

Started the war in a spirit of patriotism

Upon seeing the senselessness of the war, this changed.

Wrote in the papers (Reader pp5 & 6)

His poetry became bitter, sarcastic, even cynical.

3. Wilfred Owen

Met Sassoon in Craiglockhart Hospital.

Died a week before the end of the war

Like Sassoon, fiercely anti-war. 

Owen's  poems were less cynical, more spiritual.

Anthem* for Doomed Youth

What passing-bells for those who die as cattle?

Only the monstrous anger of the guns.

Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle

Can patter out their hasty orisons*.     =prayers           

No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells;

Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,

The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;

And bugles calling for them from sad shires

                                                                                                    

What candles may be held to speed them all?

Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes

Shall shine the holy glimmers of good-byes. ​

The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;

​

Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds, ​

And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds. 

*Anthem = a song of praise ​ 

 (Think of "National Anthem")

Again, a sonnet. But what kind?

1. English, with the break of thought lines 8/9
2. English, break of thought lines 12/13
3. Italian, with the break of thought lines 8/9
4. Italian, with the break of thought lines 12/13

Quotation

“This book is not about heroes. English poetry is not ​​

yet fit to speak of them. Nor is it about deeds, or lands, ​​

nor anything about glory, honour, might, majesty, ​​

dominion, or power, except War. ​​

Above all I am not concerned with Poetry. My subject is War, and ​​the pity of War. The Poetry is in the pity.”

~Wilfred Owen