Throughout the poem, Kaspar comes across as a very ignorant man, more so during the course of the poem. As he is the grandfather who is asked to recall the details
The generation gap is shown through lack of knowledge. This is significant and a very effective tactic because it shows how children live in their own little world, away from danger and naive to the murderous past.
The poem continues to be comical and ironic because when actually questioned about the ‘famous victory’, which Kaspar knows so little about, he appears foolish, brainwashed, and indoctrinated. The audience is led to believe that any glamour in this war faded and was easily forgotten. The ‘great victory’ that Kaspar speaks off, soon turns to the ‘famous victory’. The reader of the poem has the chance to decide whether it really was a famous victory as the refrain is repeated sarcastically and bitterly. The pure casualness with which Kaspar expresses this refrain shows his inability to understand the real impact of war.
The account that Kaspar is presenting is not livings up to the children’s expectations. This is shown by their frequent questioning. Kaspar is seen as being even more foolish as his own ‘dwellings are burnt to the ground’ showing that even civilians not on the battlefield where also suffering. The horror continues, ‘new born babies dead’ ‘rotting in the sun’ express the undignified deaths. Because of the flippant attitude, it seems as though it’s a case of ‘no pain no gain’ but the fact that nothing was gained laves the outlook on the battlefield negative.
The poem is interesting because of the attitude contrasts that conveyed and how this in turn, has an effect on the poem.
Throughout the poem there is much contrast, we see the innocence of childhood versus the death and destruction ‘with fire and sword’. We also are given the message that the innocence of childhood highlights the ignorance of adults.
The horror and futility of war especially come ot the surface during the poem, as they far outweigh the glamour. The deplorable state of the poem expresses a feel for the setting and the reality of indoctrination by propaganda.
