This term paper, on one hand, will analyse the war sonnet „The Soldier“ by Rupert Brooke (1914) in detail, on the other hand, it will compare the results to the analysis of „Glory of Women“ by Siegfried Sassoon (1918). The focus will be laid on the close-up study of „The Soldier“, while „Glory of Women“ will be mainly used to show differences between the authors and their poems.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Analysis of „The Soldier“
2.1. Form
2.2. Syntactic analysis
2.3. Semantic analysis
2.4. Content analysis / Interpretation
3. Comparison of „The Soldier“ and „Glory of Women“
4. Conclusion
5. Bibliography
Objectives & Themes
This term paper aims to conduct a comparative analysis of the war sonnets "The Soldier" by Rupert Brooke and "Glory of Women" by Siegfried Sassoon, exploring their differing perspectives on patriotism and the realities of World War I.
- Detailed structural, syntactic, and semantic analysis of Rupert Brooke's "The Soldier".
- Comparison of the communicative situations in both sonnets.
- Investigation of patriotism and the representation of the "fatherland" in war literature.
- Contrast between romanticized depictions of death and anti-war perspectives.
- Evaluation of how the passage of time during World War I influenced the authors' thematic approaches.
Excerpt from the Book
2.4. Content analysis / Interpretation
The two theses mentioned in Chapter 2.2 are separated by the structure of the poem, but are linked with the motive of patriotism, under which the whole sonnet stands.
The idea that „some corner of a foreign field“ (l.2) is more precious than another („In that richer earth a richer dust concealed;“, l.4) because the body of an englishman lays there, shows clearly, that the author thinks growing up in England is a privilege. This can be seen in the amount of the praises of the english islands, for example line eight („…, breathing English air, Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.“, l.8) or from line eleven to the end. The love to its fatherland England is one determinant motive of the sonnet.
The second thought is brought up in the sestet. Although the body is not more than „dust“ (l.4), the mind and heart (l.9-10) of the dead englishman are still capable to send the happy thoughts of home back to England, which brings up the vision of an afterlife. The afterlife that is shown here is not connected with a certain religion like e.g. the belief of the christian heaven, but it’s necessarily connected to England, to which the memories of a happy childhood etc. wander back. Additional, the heart of the dead man achieves a status of purity („…, this heart, all evil shed away,…“, l.9) which can be compared to the christian beliefs of sinlessness after death through Jesus Christ. But in this sonnet, afterlife and absolute satisfaction in death is achieved through the love of and to the fatherland.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the scope of the paper, focusing on the comparative analysis of Brooke's and Sassoon's war sonnets.
2. Analysis of „The Soldier“: Provides a comprehensive examination of Brooke's sonnet through its form, syntax, semantics, and content.
3. Comparison of „The Soldier“ and „Glory of Women“: Contrasts the formal similarities and profound thematic differences between the two poems, specifically regarding patriotism and the portrayal of war.
4. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, highlighting how the two poems represent distinct responses to the First World War.
5. Bibliography: Lists the primary literary sources analyzed in the term paper.
Keywords
Rupert Brooke, Siegfried Sassoon, The Soldier, Glory of Women, War sonnet, Patriotism, World War I, English literature, Literary comparison, Afterlife, Anti-war, Fatherland, Death, Poetry analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this term paper?
The paper provides a comparative study of two specific war sonnets written during World War I: Rupert Brooke’s "The Soldier" and Siegfried Sassoon’s "Glory of Women".
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The work centers on themes of patriotism, the perception of the "fatherland," the nature of death in warfare, and the shifting attitudes toward the conflict over the course of the war.
What is the research goal of this paper?
The goal is to analyze how the authors use sonnet forms to express opposing views—one romanticizing the sacrifice for one's country, the other criticizing the hypocrisy and horrors of war.
Which methodology is applied in this analysis?
The author employs a structuralist approach, conducting formal, syntactic, and semantic analyses to deconstruct the poems and compare their communicative situations.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body breaks down the formal construction of "The Soldier," explores the patriotic motives within it, and then contrasts these findings with Sassoon’s critical perspective in "Glory of Women."
Which keywords best characterize this research?
Key terms include war sonnet, patriotism, World War I, literary comparison, afterlife, and the cultural response to military conflict.
How does the year of publication influence the comparison?
The paper suggests that Brooke’s 1914 poem reflects the early idealistic fervor of the war, whereas Sassoon’s 1918 poem reflects the disillusionment and critical awareness gained after years of combat experience.
What specifically does the author say about the concept of the afterlife in "The Soldier"?
The author notes that the afterlife in Brooke's poem is not religious in the traditional sense, but is instead entirely focused on a spiritual connection back to England and the memories of one's home.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Michael Büttner (Autor:in), 2013, Comparison of „The Soldier“ by Rupert Brooke and „Glory of Women“ by Siegfried Sassoon, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/282999
