‘Menelaus and Helen’
by Rupert Brooke
‘Menelaus and Helen’, a poem composed of two contrasting sections about the difference between fact and fable, was written by Rupert Brooke in 1909. The first section of the poem is somewhat mythical in the way that it describes the honored fairytale scene in which a valiant knight rescues a lovely queen. On the other hand, the poem’s more credible second section depicts a crude reality of the knight and queen’s life together after old age has caught up with them. The poem in its entirety therefore presents the reader with two opposing viewpoints, thus emphasizing the distinction between an idealistic dream and a much less pleasant truth. Differing words and diction allow the author of ‘Menelaus and Helen’ to further accentuate this contradictory aspect of the poem.
The first half of ‘Menelaus and Helen’ begins quickly, thus immediately engaging the reader and creating a picture of the scene the poem describes at this point. The pace of the first four lines successfully gives a picture of Menelaus’ urgency and the near lack of punctuation further quickens the beginning of this section’s speed. The only punctuation may appear to the reader to have been added as an after-thought, as though the author, in his hurry, very nearly forgot a certain aspect of the scene: “To Priam’s palace, sword in hand, to sate…” Then, the naming of Helen as an “adulterous whore” emerges as a somewhat surprising title, given Menelaus’ apparent resolve to fulfill his task promptly. However, the beginning of the fourth line, “And a king’s honour.” provides the reader with clarification as it is made understandable that Menelaus determines to rescue Helen as the performance of an epic rule – love is not what drives him on.