5V Literature - The Modern Period / The War Poets

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5

A Survey of English Literature

THE MODERN PERIOD

&

THE WAR POETS

This lesson

Introduction to the Modern Period

Introduction to the War Poets

The Soldier by Rupert Brooke

What are the main themes
of War Poetry?

Historical context - 1

The First World War  aka The Great War (1914-1918)

• Trenches
  
• Large-scale slaughter in Flanders and Northern France
  
• Entire generation of young men wiped out
  
• Britain lost place as one of dominant political + economic powers in the world
  
• Great Depression (1930s)

The War Poets - 1

The horrors of modern warfare

An attempt to find words for their emotions

Four "Trench Poets"

The War Poets - 2

Rupert Brooke (1887-1915)

• Already famous young poet 
  
• Joined Royal Navy in 1914
  
• Fell ill and died from infected mosquito bite
  

The Soldier: Characteristic for the mood in very early part of war

The War Poets - 3

Charles Sorley (1895-1915)

Arrived at wesrn front in May 1915

Killed in action during the Battle of Loos (October 1915)

Unsentimental style

Sonnet: When you see millions of mouthless dead

The War Poets - 4.1

Siegried Sassoon (1886-1967)

Established poet at beginning of war

Joined army in August 1914

Wounded twice

Published many poems on war experiences and feelings

The War Poets - 4.2

Characterized by harsh realism; biting sarcasm

Main themes:  

• incompetence of officers
  
• ignorance of people
  
• false picture of war
  
• frustrations of soldiers
  

The War Poets - 5

Wilfred Owen (1893-1918)

• Most talented of "Trench Poets"
  
• Wounded in 1917; wrote most of his poems back in England
  
• Went back to France in 1918; killed November 4
  
• Poems published in 1920 - edited by Siegfried Sassoon
  
• Created tragic vison of world at war, dominated by pain and suffering
  

What are the main themes
of War Poetry?

End of lesson

Last introduction to literature!

Next lesson: more war poetry