The most considerable different between the poem and the extract is the differing ways that war is depicted. ‘The Drum’ clearly reveals to the reader, that war is an act of patriotism and pride, where the ‘thoughtless youth’ are made to march, fight, and die. Scott believes that these young men are being led to their early deaths. This is indicated in the harsh imagery used in the second stanza, such as ‘burning towns’, ‘ruined swains’, ‘mangled limbs’, ‘dying groans’, ‘widows’ tears’ and ‘orphans’ moans’. If we also look at the personification of ‘Misery’, we get a great sense of devastation and death. ‘Ambition’ is also personified in the first stanza of the poem, which contrasts with ‘Misery’. The poem uses exceedingly strong and vivid language to create a strong impact upon the reader, and express how lives and purity were destroyed.
‘Henry V’ differs greatly, and has an extremely venerating outlook on war. It is a highly theatrical piece of blank verse, and reflects King Henry’s enthusiasm for honour and loyalty. If we look at the second stanza, this is clearly shown. He says, “To do our country loss: and if to live, the fewer men, the greater share of honour”, which is used as a rhetorical device, and to persuade Westmorland that there will be a greater share of honour if more people die for their country. He also used Christianity to persuade the men to fight, by trying to build up their courage. He refers many a time to St. Crispian’s Day, telling the soldiers that they will be remembers as heroes forever if they die in battle. He tells them things such as them not being able to tell war stories to their sons, and not being able to show off their scars from the war. Any men who ‘hath no stomach to fight’ are excluded from the ‘band of brothers’ which Henry refers to. It is rather moving how the King says that any soldiers who share their blood with him will be his brother, a rather persuasive attempt at getting men to fight.
This contrasts to a great extent with Scott’s ‘The Drum’, which is made up of two, concise, 8 line stanzas, which are very much to the point, and non ambiguous. The rhyming pattern, AABBCCDD, is very monotonous, and reflects the discordant sound of the recruiting drum. This differs a lot to the high spirits expressed by King Henry in the extract. Nothing positive about war is highlighted in the poem, making the poem seem a lot more realistic than ‘Henry V’ and a lot more provocative. The first stanza of the poem emphasises the naivety and simplicity of the young men recently recruited to fight, and the loss of their liberty, at the expense of ‘glittering arms’ and ‘tawdry lace’. The second stanza challenges this to the highest degree, by using a lot harsher language and imagery and by saying that the war can easily ‘fill the catalogue of human woes’.
The poem and the extract differ hugely on their attitudes towards war, Scott having nothing positive to say about the devastation which is caused by war, and King Henry showing his admiration for war and its traits such as bravery, loyalty and honour, having very different impacts on the reader. Both convey extremely differential views on war, and show us the most extreme, contrary opinions.
