This term paper deals with the poem “1914: The Soldier“ from Rupert Brooke, focusing on the transmitted emotions with their functions and the achieved effect.
The particular language and usage of several stylistic, as well as structural devices in a poem are not chosen by coincidence and in order to understand the included message, a detailed analysis of the poem will be provided in the following chapter (cf. 2.) as foundation for the following studies. The third chapter (cf. 3.) contains an extensive consideration of the emotions used in the poem and how they are transmitted to the reader. Furthermore, the effects of those emotions and the intended functions will be examined.
Due to the fact, that people are influenceable through rhetoric devices, the following thesis will be validated: The strong usage of positive and patriotic emotions is able to manipulate the reader, in order to present the terrible act of dying during a war as something desirable.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Structural and Semantic Analysis of “1904: The Soldier” by Rupert Brooke
3 Emotions in “1914: The Solider“ by Rupert Brooke
3.1 Effects of transmitted Emotions in the Sonnet
3.2 Functions of those transmitted Emotions
4 Conclusion
Aim and Topics
This paper examines how Rupert Brooke’s sonnet “1914: The Soldier” conveys emotion and considers whether its positive and patriotic language can influence readers to view death in war as desirable.
- The sonnet’s structure, rhyme and rhythm
- Its speaker, audience and rhetorical appeals
- Imagery and personification of England
- Patriotic emotions and their effects on readers
- The relationship between wartime death and spiritual afterlife
Excerpt from the Book
2 Structural and Semantic Analysis of “1904: The Soldier” by Rupert Brooke
In order to understand to intended meaning and the transmitted message of a poem, it is necessary to examine the structural features as well as the stylistic devices. Form and meaning build a strong entity and a detailed analysis will give a deep look into the world of those written words.
The poem “1914: The Soldier“ is a special form kind of poem, because it is a sonnet. It consists of one octave made up of two quatrains and one sestet made up of two tercets. It is axiomatic, that this choice is probably well-considered, because almost all sonnets follow a logical structure, which contributes to the intended meaning, as well as in this one. In the octave, the lyrical subject philosophizes about his possible death and his grave in a positive way, whereas the sestet depicts this spiritual afterlife.
The title suggests that this sonnet is about a soldier in the year 1914, which was the beginning year of World War I. When thinking about soldiers during the first world war, the main idea are basically about brutality, physical and mental torture and rugged countries with destroyed landscape, houses and the whole environment. The sonnet however does not pay attention to those terrible characteristics of World War I, instead it is a positive presentation of the hypothetical death of a soldier.
The rhyme scheme in the octet is abab cdcd. This rhyme scheme creates a pleasant rhythm, that pulls the reader along. It sounds very dynamic and even happy, which contributes to the positive presentation of the topic death. The sestet has the rhyme scheme efgefg, which sounds pleasant and dynamic as well. The sonnet has an iambic pentameter, where are unstressed syllables followed by stressed syllables. This also intensifies the rhythmic effect of the sonnet, it sounds like a song which is remarkable for the reader.
To examine the communicative situation, it is necessary to examine the persona. The poem uses the first-person narrative, as it starts with: “If I should die“ (Brooke 1) and therefore the persona does not tell any story of somebody or something external, but its personal feelings and thoughts. This way of the first-person lyrical subject creates therefore the effect, that the reader is able to familiarize with the persona and feel with it.
Chapter Summaries
1 Introduction: The author introduces the poem and the paper’s focus on emotions, their functions and their potential effects on readers.
2 Structural and Semantic Analysis of “1904: The Soldier” by Rupert Brooke: This chapter examines the sonnet’s form, voice, imagery and rhetorical devices, relating them to its presentation of death and England.
3 Emotions in “1914: The Solider“ by Rupert Brooke: The author considers how the poem conveys emotions and discusses their possible effects and functions, including patriotic appeal and consolation.
4 Conclusion: The conclusion brings together the paper’s interpretation of the sonnet’s emotional language and its presentation of dying for one’s country.
Keywords
Rupert Brooke, The Soldier, sonnet, World War I, poetry analysis, patriotic emotion, rhetorical devices, personification, England, wartime death, reader response, spiritual afterlife
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this paper about?
It examines emotion and its functions in Rupert Brooke’s sonnet “1914: The Soldier.”
What are the main topics?
The paper addresses poetic form, rhetorical language, patriotism, death in war and the effects of emotion on readers.
What is the paper’s main question?
It considers whether positive and patriotic emotions in the sonnet can influence readers to see death in war as desirable.
What method does the author use?
The author offers a structural and semantic close reading of the sonnet, followed by an interpretation of its emotional effects and functions.
What does the main body discuss?
It analyzes the sonnet’s structure and language before examining the emotions it conveys and their possible effects on readers.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include Rupert Brooke, sonnet, patriotism, personification, wartime death and reader response.
How does the paper approach the image of England?
It examines the personification of England as a caring mother and considers how that image may encourage readers to sympathize with the country.
What role does the sonnet’s form play in the analysis?
The author discusses its octave and sestet, rhyme schemes and iambic pentameter in relation to its meaning and emotional tone.
Which possible functions of emotion does the author consider?
The paper considers patriotic appeal, encouragement to fight and the possibility of comforting soldiers and their families.
- Quote paper
- Elisabeth Golisch (Author), 2018, Emotions and their Functions in Rupert Brooke’s "1914: The Soldier", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/452484
