- Published: September 14, 2022
- Updated: September 14, 2022
- University / College: Lancaster University
- Language: English
- Downloads: 16
If I should die, think only this of me: That there is some corner of a foreign fieldthat is forever England. There shall beIn 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. And think, this heart, all evil shed away, A pulse in the eternal mind, no lessGives 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.
This paper will analyze the poem “ The Soldiers” written by Rupert Brooke in 1914. The poem draws attention on a certain man who had much love for his country, England, thus claiming that incase he dies far away from his country, people should refer to him as an English man. For example, in the fourth line, the poet stated that “ in that rich earth a richer dust concealed”. This meant that incase he died outside England, he will make the soil of that place better because it will have a piece of England within it. In line 5-8, the poet explains significant role that his homeland England played in modeling him, and changing his thoughts and beliefs. In line 9-10, he claims that in case he dies, his death will be justifiable because he could have died while fighting for England. Line 11-12 indicates that death will give him time to think about good thinks surrounding England. In the final lines 13-14, the poet reflects on the happiness that England has equipped him.
Furthermore, the poem’s plot shows its meaning, since it surrounds on love and death, which are the most powerful things that affects the feelings of people throughout the globe. The plot plays a role of displaying a brave man willing to do anything for his country. Moreover, the character used in the poem, brings meaning in the poem because he has much love for his country seen in the ways he praised England. The poem contains strong images for example, “ Gave, once, her flower to love, her ways to roam”, which indicates an image of a beautiful woman. The poet used symbolism to play dissimilar roles in the poem. For example, “ And laughter, learnt friends and gentleness”. This is symbolic because land does not laugh and lacks gentleness. Additionally, the poet claims, “ there shall be in that rich earth a richer dust concealed”. This implies that the poet believed that when he dies in foreign land, his dust would enrich the soil because it will have a piece of England. This is an indication that the poet had much love for his country enabling him to use symbols in bringing out the points.