The Soldier – Rupert Broke
“The Soldier” is a sonnet-type poem composed by a First World War veteran and also a war poet named Rupert Brooke. This sonnet finds a soldier speculating about his possible death as we goes away to war, which he feels should not be mourned, but understood as part of a selfless tribute to his much-loved England. This poem was written as the First World War broke out in 1914, as part of a series of many sonnets written by Rupert Brooke. Patriotism is a true form of love.
It is a form of love which is pure, yet which has the ability to rage fire for the sake of itself. It is the form of love which is unconditional, immense, true and real for one’s land, one’s true mother. Rupert Brooke has presented his patriotism in a spectacular way in this poem. The poem encompasses the memories of a fallen soldier who declares his patriotism to his homeland by stating that his sacrifice shall be the eternal ownership of England. It also deals with the death and accomplishments of a soldier.
In the opening lines Rupert Brooke has presented his patriotism in such a forceful expression that he considers the sand in which he would be buried, be it a foreign land, will become an English sand, the richness of which will further be increased by the fertility of an English body of a passionately patriotic soul. The idea of an unnamed “corner of a foreign field” where the soldier will be buried speaks of the unsung and anonymous nature of death in war. Yet the notion that this small space will “forever” be part of England elevates the sacrifice the soldier makes— as if he has in a small way conquered this land.
The soft alliteration here lends these opening lines a subdued tone. He goes on to say that England was his birth place and it shaped what kind of person he became. It influenced his thoughts and beliefs. England taught him about love, loyalty, and honor. His soul will be immortal, because he fought for England. The association and inclination of his mind and body towards his country is vigorously explained when he claims to create an English land, of an English body, bore by England, brought up by England and educated and fed by England, in the land he will be buried.
The poet also emphasizes on England’s abundance and pastoral beauty as a kind gift. He refers to himself as a child who grew up under the English sunshine; bathe in the English rivers, breathing the fresh air of the English countryside and whose destiny is shaped by the nation itself. His death is justified, because he died for England. His evil deeds don’t matter anymore, because he did what was right; he fought for his country. Whatever evil things he had done will be forgiven as he died while defending his motherland.
His preceding desire is for all present and future generations to think that his heart is reconciled to the good of his country with no evil intentions hidden, but a lively mind in the afterlife which will project the fondest thoughts given by England. His death allows him to only remember the good things about England. It also allows for someone else to come and take his place. He is passing on all the dreams and thoughts that England taught him onto the next generation of soldier; so that he can fight with as much heart and honor as he did. The soldier lists all the wonderful experiences that the soldier has gained from England.
These pleasant thoughts and memories will be given back to God as the soldier becomes one with Him. The sights and sounds that are experienced by the poet in his younger days and the boyhood dreams that are as clear as the day, the laughter of youth from the circle of friends and that gentleness of heart, whose soul will rest in peace under an English heaven. The poem ends with a startling proposition— the soldier finds rest and peace at last in heaven, but heaven has been transformed by the thoughts and memories that the soldier has given to God.
This heaven is now “an English heaven”: the connection with England will remain forever unbroken. The sonnet’s turn from an idyllic or idealized vision of England to the idea of a transcendent and literally heavenly England is complete. These final lines are showing the happiness that England has given him. And because he fought for England he will forever be at peace in an English heaven with only good thoughts and laughter in his heart. The plot of this poem reinforces its meaning because it deals with death and love.
These are two powerful things that evoke feeling in people. It helps to create an image in the poem of a man who is very brave and would do anything for his country. The meaning in the poem is straightforward. The author dedicates the poem to death and love. QESTION Q. Describe the way Rupert Brooke feels about England. What does he mean by “a richer dust”? Answer: “The Soldier” is a sonnet-type poem composed by a First World War veteran and also a war poet named Rupert Brooke.
This sonnet finds a soldier speculating about his possible death as we goes away to war, which he feels should not be mourned, but understood as part of a selfless tribute to his much-loved England. This poem was written as the First World War broke out in 1914, as part of a series of many sonnets written by Rupert Brooke. Patriotism is a true form of love. It is a form of love which is pure, yet which has the ability to rage fire for the sake of itself. It is the form of love which is unconditional, immense, true and real for one’s land, one’s true mother.
Rupert Brooke has presented his patriotism in a spectacular way in this poem. The poem encompasses the memories of a fallen soldier who declares his patriotism to his homeland by stating that his sacrifice shall be the eternal ownership of England. Rupert Brooke has presented his patriotism in such a forceful expression that he considers the sand in which he would be buried, be it a foreign land, will become an English sand, the richness of which will further be increased by the fertility of an English body of a passionately patriotic soul.
The idea of an unnamed “corner of a foreign field” where the soldier will be buried speaks of the unsung and anonymous nature of death in war. Yet the notion that this small space will “forever” be part of England elevates the sacrifice the soldier makes— as if he has in a small way conquered this land. He goes on to say that England was his birth place and it shaped what kind of person he became. It influenced his thoughts and beliefs. England taught him about love, loyalty, and honor. His soul will be immortal, because he fought for England.
The association and inclination of his mind and body towards his country is vigorously explained when he claims to create an English land, of an English body, bore by England, brought up by England and educated and fed by England, in the land he will be buried. The poet also emphasizes on England’s abundance and pastoral beauty as a kind gift. He refers to himself as a child who grew up under the English sunshine; bathe in the English rivers, breathing the fresh air of the English countryside and whose destiny is shaped by the nation itself. His death is justified, because he died for England.
His evil deeds don’t matter anymore, because he did what was right; he fought for his country. Whatever evil things he had done will be forgiven as he died while defending his motherland. His preceding desire is for all present and future generations to think that his heart is reconciled to the good of his country with no evil intentions hidden, but a lively mind in the afterlife which will project the fondest thoughts given by England. He is passing on all the dreams and thoughts that England taught him onto the next generation of soldier; so that he can fight with as much heart and honor as he did.
The sights and sounds that are experienced by the poet in his younger days and the boyhood dreams that are as clear as the day, the laughter of youth from the circle of friends and that gentleness of heart, whose soul will rest in peace under an English heaven. The soldier finds rest and peace at last in heaven, but heaven has been transformed by the thoughts and memories that the soldier has given to God. This heaven is now “an English heaven”: the connection with England will remain forever unbroken. The sonnet’s turn from an idyllic or idealized vision of England to the idea of a transcendent and literally heavenly England is complete.
These final lines are showing the happiness that England has given him. As he fought for England he will forever be at peace in an English heaven with only good thoughts and laughter in his heart. The poet indicates himself by the word “a richer dust”. He says that the richness of the foreign land where he will die will be enriched by the fertility of an English body of a passionately patriotic soul. This poem deals with the death and accomplishments of a soldier. The author dedicates the poem to death and love.
