Tuesday, 16 October 2012

Week 2/3 Homework


The author claims of “Suicide in the Trenches” that Siegfried Sassoon “makes his point clear with tremendous force and effectiveness”. What is the poet’s message and how effectively (in your opinion) is the message conveyed?

From my perspective on war, I agree with the author in saying that he delivers his point clear "with tremendous force and effectiveness" because of the use of language used in the the poem. Words such as "empty joy", "cowed and glum" and how he describes his audience as "smug-faced crowds with kindling eye", it shows that he is very direct and straight to the point. Also with Sasson plainly stating "He put a bullet through his brain" with no trick language that one would of had to think hard about to understand it emphasizes the point and brings the "tremendous effectiveness" to the poem. 

The way Sasson is very direct and straight to the point allows me to agree with the author, because this makes the poem's point very clear and delivered with tremendous force and effectiveness.

Suicide in the Trenches
I knew a simple soldier boy
who grinned at life in empty joy
Slept soundly through the lonesome dark
And whistled early with the lark.

In winter trenches, cowed and glum,
With crumps and lice and lack of rum,
He put a bullet through his brain,
No one spoke of him again.

You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye,
Who cheer when soldier lads walk by,
Sneak home and pray you’ll never know,
The hell where youth and laughter go.
                           by Siegfried Sassoon

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