Critical assesement of Oberfeldwebel Beckstadt by Craig Raine

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Oberfeldwebel Beckstadt by Craig Raine

Set in the 1940’s after the war ‘Oberfeldwebel Beckstadt’ is a poem about a Soldier returning home as the war has ended. I know this as Craig Raine states ‘It is the end of the war’  He reflects on the appearance of the war scene and the horrible events he has taken part in. Craig Raine has used a third person view to narrate the scenes which is an advantage as all events around him are identified and clearly described . This poem explores aspects of war . The poem reflects the negative issues throughout the poem.

Craig Raine uses various techniques to express different ideas. There are a number of different scenes described in the poem. The change of scenes such as ‘slop petrol from two jerry cans’ to ‘ how the Jews were like sheep’ gives us an idea of the wide range of incidents which have been caused by the war and how one event leads to the other. There is a link between the dead bodies and the treatment of the Jews as the Dead bodies are assumed as the Jews - the victims of this war.

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The first paragraphs are the first scene, they represent the images of destruction. ‘like an injured battleship’ this simile creates an image of a destroyed ship at sea, smoke and scattered debris. This is the final outcome of war, nothing good has come of it, people have suffered. ‘camp is a crown of thorns’ gives an image of the camp surrounded by barb wire. This is where victims have suffered. This is a good comparison made by Craig Raine as the ‘crown of thorns’ can refer to the one Jesus wore when being crucified which also refers to suffering.  The ...

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