Hello everyone!! Welcome to my Blog! I'm Priyanshi, and I'm thrilled to be part of this bridge course on war poetry, and it was given by Vaidehi mam. I've always been captivated by the emotive power of poetry, especially when it comes to expressing the complex realities of war. I'm here to deepen my understanding of the genre, explore diverse perspectives, and engage in meaningful discussions with all of you. Looking forward to this enriching experience!
❐ About War Poetry:
War poetry is a type of poetry that explores the impact of war and conflict on individuals, communities, and society as a whole. These poems can be written from a variety of perspectives, including soldiers on the front lines, civilians caught in the crossfire, and those left behind to mourn the loss of loved ones. War poetry can also reflect on the complexities of war, questioning its necessity and highlighting its lasting scars on societies and individuals. These poems often convey a plea for peace, emphasizing the futility of violence and the longing for a world free from the ravages of war. They are powerful reminders of the importance of empathy, compassion, and understanding in times of conflict, urging readers to work towards a more harmonious and peaceful coexistence.
War poetry is not necessarily ‘anti-war’. It is, however, about the very large questions of life: identity, innocence, guilt, loyalty, courage, compassion, humanity, duty, desire, death. Its response to these questions, and its relation of immediate personal experience to moments of national and international crisis, gives war poetry an extra-literary importance.
War poetry has been written throughout history, from ancient times to the present day. Some of the most famous war poets include Homer, Virgil, Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, Rupert Brooke, Isaac Rosenberg, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, Pablo Neruda, Cesar Vallejo, WH Auden, and Maya Angelou.
❃ Difference of all the war poets:
- Wilfred Owen is one of the most famous and influential war poets. He wrote about the horrors and futility of war, exposing the lies and propaganda that glorified it. He used realistic and graphic imagery, as well as irony and sarcasm, to convey his message. His poem “Dulce et Decorum Est” is a powerful example of his anti-war stance, as he criticizes the Latin phrase that means “it is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country.”
- Rupert Brooke is often contrasted with Owen, as he wrote more idealistic and patriotic poems about war. He died early in the war, before he experienced the full extent of its horrors. He expressed a romantic and sentimental view of war, as well as a sense of duty and sacrifice for his country. His poem “The Soldier” is a famous example of his pro-war attitude, as he celebrates the idea of dying for England.
- Ivor Gurney was another war poet who suffered from mental illness and shell shock. He wrote about the war from a personal and emotional perspective, expressing his love for his homeland and his nostalgia for peace. He also wrote about the beauty and horror of nature, and how it was affected by war. He used lyrical and musical language, as well as imagery and symbolism, to create his poems. His poem “To His Love” is an example of his mournful mood, as he laments the death of his friend in war.
The Soldier by Rupert Brooke and The Fear by Wilfrid Wilson Gibson are both poems written during the First World War, but they have very different perspectives on the war and the role of the soldier.
The Soldier is a sonnet that expresses a patriotic and idealistic view of dying for one’s country. The speaker imagines that if he dies in a foreign land, he will leave behind a part of England in the soil, and his soul will return to England’s heaven. He praises England as the source of his life, his love, his dreams, and his gentleness. He does not mention any of the horrors or realities of war, but rather focuses on the glory and honor of sacrifice.
The Fear is a free verse poem that depicts a realistic and grim view of the war and the fear that haunts the soldier. The speaker describes how he is constantly tormented by the fear of death, and how he sees the faces of his dead comrades in his dreams. He also reveals how he has lost his faith in God, and how he feels guilty for killing other men. He does not glorify the war or his country, but rather exposes the suffering and futility of it.
The two poems have very different styles of writing and use of language. The Soldier uses a formal and elevated tone, with poetic devices such as rhyme, alliteration, assonance, and metaphor. The language is rich and lyrical, creating a sense of beauty and nobility. The Fear uses a colloquial and conversational tone, with poetic devices such as repetition, imagery, and contrast. The language is simple and direct, creating a sense of urgency and realism.
The two poems also have very different attitudes towards patriotism and nationalism. The Soldier portrays patriotism as a positive and noble sentiment, that gives meaning and value to the soldier’s life and death. The speaker feels a strong connection and loyalty to his country and believes that his sacrifice will benefit his country. The Fear portrays patriotism as a negative and irrational sentiment, that leads to violence and destruction. The speaker feels a detachment and resentment towards his country and questions the purpose and outcome of the war.
"Border"(Movie) Similar to the poem "The Soldier" by RUPERT BROOKE:
movie that can be compared to the poem “The Soldier” by Rupert Brooke is Border, a 1997 Hindi war film that depicts the Battle of Longewala in 1971. The movie and the poem share some common themes, such as patriotism, sacrifice, and love for one’s homeland. Both the movie and the poem portray the soldiers as brave and loyal, who are willing to die for their country in a foreign land. Both the movie and the poem also idealize the country as a nurturing and beautiful place, that gives the soldiers a sense of identity and belonging. For example, in the poem, the speaker says:
That there’s some corner of a foreign field
That is for ever England. There shall be
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam;
A body of England’s, breathing English air,
Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.
Similarly, in the movie, the soldiers sing a song called “Sandese Aate Hai”, which expresses their longing for their families and their homeland. The song says:
Sandese aate hain
Humein tadpaate hain
To chitthi aati hai
To pooch jaati hai
Ke ghar kab aaoge
Ke ghar kab aaoge
Likho kab aaoge
Ki tum bin yeh ghar soona soona hai
(Translation: Messages come
They torment us
Then a letter comes
It asks
When will you come home
When will you come home
Write when you will come
Because this home is empty without you)
Both the poem and the movie also suggest that the soldiers’ deaths are not in vain, but rather a contribution to a greater cause. The poem says:
And think, this heart, all evil shed away,
A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.
The movie also shows the soldiers’ courage and determination in the face of overwhelming odds, and how they manage to hold off the enemy’s attack until reinforcements arrive. The movie ends with a tribute to the real-life heroes of the battle, and a message that says:
This film is dedicated to those brave soldiers who laid down their lives for the honour of their motherland. Their supreme sacrifice will always inspire the future generations of India.
Therefore, the movie Border and the poem The Soldier can be compared in terms of their similar portrayal of war, patriotism, and sacrifice. However, they can also be contrasted in terms of their different perspectives, contexts, and styles. The movie is based on a historical event, while the poem is a personal expression. The movie is set in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, while the poem is written during the First World War. The movie is a Hindi-language film, while the poem is an English-language sonnet. The movie uses realistic and dramatic elements, while the poem uses poetic and romantic devices. These differences also reflect the different cultural and historical backgrounds of the movie and the poem.
Thank you!