To what extent do the writers show that the British public knew little of the true extent of war?

Authors Avatar
To what extent do the writers show that the British public knew little of the true extent of war?

The extract from a 'Strange Meeting' clearly shows the very limited knowledge that the British public where exposed to about the true horrors of the First World War. When compared to the letter Vera to Roland from 'Letters from a Lost Generation' her writing suggests that the British public were more aware of the reality of war, however there was still not a great understanding about what the soldiers' where experiencing emotionally.

'Strange Meeting' is a modern novel written in past tense, which adds the value of hindsight to its content and can convey that looking back, the majority of the British public where in fact almost oblivious to what was happening to those fighting in the war. The letter, however, is from a women, at home, writing to a soldier who is at war. It is therefore personal and a genuine example of the British public. The novel is also written in third person and the soldier's name is not mentioned, which sets a detached and distant tone, representative of the isolated feeling that dominates the extract. This is strengthened by the abrupt sentence structure throughout it and the frequent use of commas. When it says, "But after that, he stayed silent." The short and list-like structure and the image which is created by, "he could not join in, only sit there, staring at them" suggests little emotion and indicates that the man who has returned from war is an empty shell.

However, Vera's letter is extremely emotional using emotive language such as "heart-rendering". War is romanticised through her it, "one day I shall wake and find you again", it is almost poetic. Even though she knows of the "present dangers", which is repeated throughout her letter, the emotion takes away from the reality and horror of war as she thinks about Roland "kissing" her photograph. Not only is the letter emotional but it is quite philosophical as well, exploring the complex idea that she worries for Roland's life so that he values it and does not "fling" it away.
Join now!


The feeling of isolation shows that the man who has returned to be "unhappy at home" is alone in his experience as the people that surround him, the British public have not been exposed to the true extent of war. Vera's letter suggests that she has had an insight and was able to "realise war" through Roland's letters but, even so, she still finds it hard to imagine as she says, "I feel that what I am reading is all a thrilling and terrible dream". The man in 'Strange Meeting' finds himself in a position where "he can ...

This is a preview of the whole essay