1. Original Text
Do not weep, maiden, for war is kind,
Because your lover threw wild hands toward the sky
And the affrighted steed ran on alone,
Do not weep.
War is kind.
Hoarse, booming drums of the regiment,
Little souls who thirst for fight,
These men were born to drill and die.
The unexplained glory flies above them.
Great is the battle-god, great, and his kingdom--
A field where a thousand corpses lie.
Do not weep, babe, for war is kind.
Because your father tumbles in the yellow trenches,
Raged at his breast, gulped and died,
Do not weep.
War is kind.
Swift blazing flag of the regiment,
Eagle with crest of red and gold,
These men were born to drill and die.
Point for them the virtue of slaughter,
Make plain to them the excellence of killing
And a field where a thousand corpses lie.
Mother whose heart hung humble as a button
On the bright splendid shroud of your son,
Do not weep.
War is kind!
Because your lover threw wild hands toward the sky
And the affrighted steed ran on alone,
Do not weep.
War is kind.
Hoarse, booming drums of the regiment,
Little souls who thirst for fight,
These men were born to drill and die.
The unexplained glory flies above them.
Great is the battle-god, great, and his kingdom--
A field where a thousand corpses lie.
Do not weep, babe, for war is kind.
Because your father tumbles in the yellow trenches,
Raged at his breast, gulped and died,
Do not weep.
War is kind.
Swift blazing flag of the regiment,
Eagle with crest of red and gold,
These men were born to drill and die.
Point for them the virtue of slaughter,
Make plain to them the excellence of killing
And a field where a thousand corpses lie.
Mother whose heart hung humble as a button
On the bright splendid shroud of your son,
Do not weep.
War is kind!
2. Initial Reaction
My first reaction to this poem is surprise at the speaker because he only consoles the mother, lover, and daughter of the dead soldier by saying that war is kind and that he died gloriously. Stephen Crane seems to be writing about the stupidity of death in war and the anger of losing a young man who leaves so many behind. I was amazed that the speaker describes the death of the soldier to his loved ones by repeatedly saying that war is a kind time and that it doesn’t hurt those around it because they died with honor.
3. Paraphrase the Poem
Don’t cry, young woman, because war is gentle,
Because you man threw his crazy hands into the air
And the scared horse ran with no one on him,
Don’t cry.
War is gentle.
Gruff, loud drums of the legion,
Little spirits who can’t wait to fight,
These soldiers were born to dig and die.
The mysterious glory lies above them.
Great is the god of war, great, is his land—
A field where many dead bodies lie down.
Don’t cry, little girl, because war is gentle.
Because your dad falls in the sickly trenches,
Hit in his chest, swallows and dies,
Don’t cry.
War is gentle.
Fast flaming flag of the legion,
Eagle made of red and gold,
These soldiers were born to dig and die.
Show them the merits of destruction,
Make them seem the goodness of killing
And a field where many dead bodies lie down.
Mother whose heart hung meekly as a button
On the shiny beautiful shroud of your child,
Don’t cry
War is gentle!
4. SWIFTT
SW = Syntax/Word Choice
The poem is a free verse with the repetition of the two phrases “Do not weep” and “War is Kind”. Crane uses these two phrases to emphasis, first, telling someone not to cry over the dead, and, second, that war is kind and caring. These are both great examples of word choice because the show the irony that Crane wants to allow readers to see. Crane uses a great many words to express the emotion that should go along with reading the poem. He also uses some words to show a great contrast between what the speaker is saying and what it actually means.
I = Imagery
Crane uses a multitude of words to allow readers to get a good sense of what the speaker is describing. The first of many such examples would be how the “lover threw wild hands towards the sky”. Crane is trying to describe a soldier’s last breath and how the man reaches for the stars. Another example is Crane’s description of the kingdom of the battle-god. By using the words “a field where a thousand corpses lie”, Crane is able to allow readers to better understand the dominion of someone very evil.
F = Figurative Language
There are no similes and metaphors in the poem. There is, however, the allusion to Lucifer or a god of war of some sort when Crane writes “battle-god”. Crane is trying to show how fighting and war is just a game of the higher beings and that man should not take pride in killing and senseless deaths.
T = Tone
The tone of the poem is sarcastic, bitter, and stupefied at the love for fighting and the sense of glory and pride it gives. The speaker shows sarcasm and bitterness when he tells the family of the lost not to cry and that war is kind and giving, not evil and greedy.
T = Theme
The theme of the poem is anger at the glorification of death and fighting. The poem centers around the stupidity of war and leaving those that you love and who love you behind. The poem try to show that there is no pride and honor in war by being ironic and sarcastic.
5. Conclusion
My first reaction towards the poem was correct in many ways. The poem does revolve around the idea that there is no honor to be found in war, just death and devastation for those left behind. I was correct in that the poem shows the faultiness of a soldiers love for war and gaining pride and honor in fighting. The poem also has no reference to God and his hand in the problems of man.
No comments:
Post a Comment