The Soldier

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

The Soldier

Literature

What do the following words mean?

foreign

to bear

concealed

shed away

gentleness

gorgelend

zachtheid

buitenlands

verdwenen

bevallen

verstopt

What is the setting
of this poem?

What is the setting of this poem?

Time: WWI

Place: England!

• England in a foreign field
• England gave life to the person
• English air
• English heaven

2. Write down the rhyme scheme for this poem.

Rhyme scheme

ABABCDCD EFGEFG

• given and heaven rhyme, if you focus on the final syllable. 
• This is called masculine rhyme.

How many stanzas does this poem have?

1. 1
2. 2
3. 8 & 6
4. 14

4. In which perspective is this poem written?

1. first-person perspective
2. third-person perspective
3. omniscient perspective

First person perspective

• The narrator can only tell what he or she knows, sees, hears and thinks. 
• The first-person narrator has no knowledge of what the other characters think and speaks as “I”. 
• This narrator is also a participant in the story and the he or she is the one who reveals the plot. 

Class discussion

• What does the author mean with richer dust in line 4?
• What type of imagery is this?

Correct answer:

It’s a metaphor for his body which returns to a richer dust, because he believes the body represents the glorious England.     

6. Compare this poem to Dulce Et Decorum Est. What is the biggest difference between the two poems in terms of theme?

Discuss this in pairs or groups of three

After that: class discussion

Possible answer:

• Dulce et Decorum Est stated it is not honourable to die for your country. 
• This poem says it is.

Explanation:

• The Soldier was written at beginning of the war (1914)
• Beginning of war: patriotic, idealistic, naïve.
  
• Dying in battle and claiming land was noble/heroic.
  
• Nobody knew that war could be so devastating.
• Dulce et Decorum Est was written during the war (1917)
• Therefore more realistic view of war

I think I understand this text well enough for the test.

Yes

No

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If you have answered no, please let me know what you do not understand (yet).