WAR POETRY | FIRST WORLD WAR

 War Poetry- Thinking Activity 

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This blog is part of Thinking activity task of War Poetry.  

Compare any two poems concerning the subject, style of writing, and patriotism.

The Soldier - RUPERT BROOKE

"The Soldier" is a poem by Rupert Brooke written during the first year of the First World War (1914). It is a deeply patriotic and idealistic poem that expresses a soldier's love for his homeland—in this case England, which is portrayed as a kind of nurturing paradise. Indeed, such is the soldier's bond with England that he feels his country to be both the origin of his existence and the place to which his consciousness will return when he dies. The poem was a hit with the public at the time, capturing the early enthusiasm for the war (before the grim realities of longterm conflict made themselves known). Nowadays, the poem is seen as somewhat naïve, offering little of the actual experience of war. That said, it undoubtedly captures and distills a particular type of patriotism.

Dulce et Decorum Est - Wilfred Owen

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,

Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,

Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs,

And towards our distant rest began to trudge.

Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots,

But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;

Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots

Of gas-shells dropping softly behind.

 

Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!—An ecstasy of fumbling

Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time,

But someone still was yelling out and stumbling

And flound’ring like a man in fire or lime.—

Dim through the misty panes and thick green light,

As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.

 

In all my dreams before my helpless sight,

He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.

 

If in some smothering dreams, you too could pace

Behind the wagon that we flung him in,

And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,

His hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin;

If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood

Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,

Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud

Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,—

My friend, you would not tell with such high zest

To children ardent for some desperate glory,

The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est

Pro patria mori.

"Dulce et Decorum Est" is a poem by the English poet Wilfred Owen. Like most of Owen's work, it was written between August 1917 and September 1918, while he was fighting in World War 1. Owen is known for his wrenching descriptions of suffering in war. In "Dulce et Decorum Est," he illustrates the brutal everyday struggle of a company of soldiers, focuses on the story of one soldier's agonizing death, and discusses the trauma that this event left behind. He uses a quotation from the Roman poet Horace to highlight the difference between the glorious image of war (spread by those not actually fighting in it) and war's horrifying reality.

 

Now let's compare "The Soldier" by Rupert Brooke and "Dulce et Decorum Est" by Wilfred Owen in terms of subject, style of writing, and patriotism:

Subject :

The Soldier poem idealizes war, portraying a soldier's death in a foreign land as a noble sacrifice for England. It emphasizes the lasting legacy of the soldier in a place that becomes a permanent part of England. Whereas, Dulce et Decorum Est presents a stark and brutal portrayal of the harsh realities of war, particularly the horrors experienced by soldiers in the trenches. It challenges the notion that it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country, exposing the traumatic and dehumanizing aspects of warfare.

Style of Writing :

• Brooke's style is traditional and reflects the romantic poetry of the early 20th century. The language is lyrical, and the tone is idealistic. The poem is written in a sonnet form, utilizing a more classical structure. On the other hand, Owen's style is modern and reflects the disillusionment and bitterness of the war poets. The language is vivid, and the tone is harsh and realistic. The poem is written in free verse, allowing for a more direct and raw expression of the horrors of war.

Patriotism :

1. • The poem expresses a strong sense of patriotism and idealism. It suggests that dying for one's country is an honorable and noble act, contributing to the glorification of war and sacrifice. While, Owen's poem challenges the conventional notions of patriotism. It rejects the idea that war is glorious and patriotic, exposing the grim and dehumanizing nature of conflict. The poem is anti-war in its message and questions the sincerity of those who promote the romanticized view of war.
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 Do you find any such regional poem/movies/web series/songs that can be compared to any one of the poems Also, give a proper explanation of the similarity.

Teri Mitti Me Mil Java Song  : 

तलवारों पे सर वार दिये

अंगारों में जिस्म जलाया है

तब जा के कहीं हमने सर पे

ये केसरी रंग सजाया है

ऐ मेरी ज़मीं, अफ़सोस नही जो तेरे लिये १०० दर्द सहे

महफ़ूज़ रहे तेरी आन सदा, चाहे जान मेरी ये रहे ना रहे

ऐ मेरी ज़मीं, महबूब मेरी

मेरी नस-नस में तेरा इश्क़ बहे

"फीका ना पड़े कभी रंग तेरा, " जिस्मों से निकल के खून कहे

तेरी मिट्टी में मिल जावां

गुल बनके मैं खिल जावां

इतनी सी है दिल की आरज़ू

तेरी नदियों में बह ਜਾਵਾਂ

तेरे खेतों में लहरावां

इतनी सी है दिल की आरज़ू

सरसों से भरे खलिहान मेरे

जहाँ झूम के भांगड़ा पा ना सका

आबाद रहे वो गाँव मेरा

जहाँ लौट के वापस जा ना सका

ओ वतना वे, मेरे वतना वे

तेरा-मेरा प्यार निराला था

कुरबान हुआ तेरी अस्मत पे

मैं कितना नसीबों वाला था

तेरी मिट्टी में मिल  जावां

गुल बनके मैं खिल  जावां

इतनी सी है दिल की आरज़ू

तेरी नदियों में बह  जावां

तेरे खेतों में लहरावां

इतनी सी है दिल की आरज़ू

केसरी

The Hindi song "Kesari" expresses deep emotions about sacrifice and love for the homeland. It vividly describes shedding blood on swords and burning bodies in embers, symbolizing profound devotion. The poet yearns to adorn the saffron color on the head as a mark of sacrifice. There's a lament for the pain endured for the land and a desire to become one with the soil.

The verses celebrate a unique and profound love for the homeland, wishing for eternal safety and a constant connection to the sacred soil. The poet passionately expresses a desire to flow in rivers and sway in the fields of the beloved homeland. This poem echoes a strong and emotional sense of patriotism.

In contrast, "The Soldier" by Rupert Brooke takes a more traditional and romanticized view of war. It envisions a soldier's death in a foreign land as a noble sacrifice for England. The focus is on the enduring legacy of the soldier, contributing to the glorification of war and sacrifice in a structured sonnet form.

While both works share themes of sacrifice and love for the homeland, the Hindi poem emphasizes personal and emotional connections to the land. In contrast, "The Soldier" presents a more idealized portrayal of war, contrasting the two perspectives on patriotism and sacrifice.

Mere Dushman Mere Bhai

  :  

जंग जो चंद रोज़ होती है ज़िंदगी बरसों तलक रोती है
सन्नाटे की गहरी छांव खामोशी से जलते पांव
ये नदियों पर टूटे हुए पुल धरती घायल है व्याकुल
ये खेत बमों से झूलते हुए ये खाली रस्ते सहमें हुए
ये मातम करता सारा समां ये जलते घर ये काला धुआं
हो हो हो

मेरे दुश्मन मेरे भाई मेरे हमसाए
मुझसे तुझसे हम दोनों से ये जलते घर कुछ कहते हैं
बरबादी के सारे मंज़र कुछ कहते हैं हाय
मेरे दुश्मन मेरे भाई ...बारूद से बोझल सारी फ़िज़ां है मौत की बू फैलती हवा

ज़ख्मों पे है छाई लाचारी गलियों में है फिरती बीमारी
ये मरते बच्चे हाथों में ये माँओं का रोना रातों में
मुरदा बस्ती मुरदा है नगर चेहरे पत्थर हैं दिल पत्थर
मेरे दुश्मन मेरे भाई ...जलते घर बरबादी के सारे मंज़र सब मेरे नगर सब तेरे नगर

ये कहते हैं
इस सरहद पर फुंफकारेगा कब तक नफ़रत का ये अजगर
हम अपने अपने खेतों में
गेनूं की जगह चावल की जगह बंदूकें क्यों बोते हैं
जब दोनों ही की गलियों में कुछ भूखे बच्चे रोते है 

The Hindi song Mere Dushman Mere Bhai vividly portrays the hardships and devastation caused by war, describing the sorrowful scenes of destroyed homes, broken bridges over rivers, and empty roads trembling in fear. It conveys the impact of conflict on the land, the people, and the poignant cries of children and mothers. The verses carry a message of shared pain between enemies and brothers, as the poet questions the senselessness of war and the ruins it leaves behind. The imagery includes the stench of death, wounded children, and the haunting cries echoing in the silence of war-torn streets.

In contrast, Wilfred Owen's "Dulce et Decorum Est" starkly depicts the harsh realities of war with direct and simple sentences. Owen's poem describes soldiers in the trenches, gas attacks, and the gruesome aftermath of a gas attack. It challenges the notion that it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country, exposing the traumatic and dehumanizing aspects of warfare. The language is raw, presenting the brutality of war in a straightforward manner. The poem rejects the glorification of war, emphasizing the bitter and painful experiences faced by soldiers.

Both poems share a theme of the devastating impact of war, but the Hindi poem uses vivid imagery and a questioning tone, while Owen's poem employs direct and raw language to convey the brutality and disillusionment of war.

Thank You. 

References : 

Brooke, Rupert. “The Soldier by Rupert Brooke | Poetry Magazine.” Poetry Foundation, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/13076/the-soldier. Accessed 1 April 2024.

“Mere Dushman Mere Bhai.” YouTube: Home, 9 November 2017, https://youtu.be/Z8WsQl8kp2M?si=PXVTGmaLpreMiFqd. Accessed 1 April 2024.

“The Soldier by Rupert Brooke : First World War Poetry.” YouTube: Home, 9 November 2017, https://youtu.be/CZVFS-UuzCI?si=j8FQenfjJDVlS7Qa. Accessed 1 April 2024.

“Teri Mitti Me Mil Java.” YouTube: Home, 9 November 2017, https://youtu.be/we0Wk-Jd9Iw?si=pYjWtXfeX0si0TfO. Accessed 1 April 2024.