Compare and contrast the attitude and feelings towards war with reference to 'The Soldier' by Rupert Brooke and 'Anthem for Doomed Youth' by Wilfred Owen.

Authors Avatar

Poetry Coursework

Name : Leong Kok Chuen

Class : 11 SS

Question : Compare and contrast the attitude and feelings towards war with reference to ‘The Soldier’ by Rupert Brooke and ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’ by Wilfred Owen.

The sonnets ‘The Soldier’ and ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’ are writings by the famous poets Rupert Brooke and Wilfred Owen respectively. Both poets depict the same topic of war, but through different views and opinions. Despite them pertaining to the similarly themed subject, their language and tone invoke contrasting feelings in readers and affects their impression of war in opposite ways.

In ‘The Soldier’, Rupert Brooke expresses his strong sense and feelings of patriotism for his country. This is hinted in the title ‘The Soldier’, which conveys a sense of pride and loyalty to the reader. Although fully aware of the possibility of death, indicated by the line ‘If I should die’, the poet does not dwell on such gloomy thoughts, instead focusing on his allegiance to his motherland. This element of patriotism is frequently brought to attention with the repeated use of the word ‘England’ and ‘English’ throughout the poem.

Wilfred Owen’s ‘Anthem for DoomedYouth’ achieves the totally different effect on the reader, as it is completely devoid of any sense of national pride, and instead questions the very purpose of war. His use of ironies throughout produces a mocking tone, which serves to emphasize his view of the uselessness and hopelessness of war. This is revealed in the title, where the effect of the word ‘Doomed’ suggests that the soldiers are destined to die and are without any hope. However, it is ironic that it is used with the word ‘Anthem’, a word reserved for praise. Perhaps the poet is praising the soldiers because of their valiant but potentially suicidal efforts to save their country. If so, then the message carried is alike to Brooke’s ‘The Soldier’ yet is achieved with a totally opposite attitude.

Join now!

Rupert Brooke goes to great lengths to convey the meaning of serving and protecting his motherland, even until death, which is justified because of his love and gratitude for his country. Even if his ashes, his ‘richer earth’, were to lie in a land distant from his beloved England, his love would still be ‘for ever’.  This is further stressed when he compares his relationship as if it were a bond between mother and child. The words ‘bore, shaped, made aware’ gives us the image of a mother, lovingly caring and nurturing her child. His purpose of fighting for ...

This is a preview of the whole essay