Monday 10 October 2011

Commentary Outline on Route March

Step 1 - Annotations

Step 2 - Context

This is a World War One poem, written by the poet during his time in the army, and based on his observations and experiences during the war. The author talks to a group of men, without them being there, which shows use of apostraphe.

Step 3 - Questions

Who?

The narrator is an unnamed person, probably a squad leader or the equivalent, who seems to have knowledge about death and war. The use of the second person in the poem shows us that the character is actually present in the setting, and that he is talking to a group of specific people, soldiers in this case. A group of soldiers, who are probably going to die are addressed in this poem, adding to the sombre mood of the poem, and also helping to propogate the message of the poem.


What?

The soldiers are being sent to the frontlines, a location that has negative conotations, and that is known for the massive amounts of deaths associated with it.

Where?

This poem takes place on a World War One battlefield, which both has a negative connotation, and adds to the dark diction of the poem.

How?

There is a perverse diction in this poem, as words such as 'rejoice' are used to deal with death. Death is shown in a very positive light, which is a perverse juxtaposition with the setting and actions of the poem.

Patterns?

There are many patterns in this poem, mainly to do with the mechanical elements of the poem. It uses an AA, BB, CC rhyming scheme, which gives it the idea of being like a nursery rhyme, once again adding the perversity of the poem. The word earth is used quite often, as are words like sleeping, which make death seem pleasant.

Tensions? This poem is clearly being used as propoganda. It makes death seem like nothing to be worried about, and praises men for marching off into the fight and dying. It makes death seem trite and easy, which removes some of the honour from the dead men. The poem is possibly used as satire against governments that willingly send their men off to die without worrying about them.

Step 4: So What?

Introduction:

Who? What? Where? and author and poem name

Body: How? Patterns?

Conclusion: Tenisions?

Step 5:

I will focus on structure, rhythm, imagery and diction.

Step 6:

Introduction: Author, poem title: Charles Sorley, Route March. Written in 1914.

Body:

Structure:

Rhythm is used to sound like marching soliders and drums.

Repetition isn't very prevalent. Indentation is used to give some semblance of repitition.

Rhyme is used to make the lines flow together, to add the idea of a solider's unit marching, and to make the poem flow of the tongue better.

Tonally, the poem starts off in a positive mood, but holds some sarcasm from the speaker. There is a juxtaposition between happiness and death, and what seems to be repetition of the 'so be' phrase. There is also a lot of reference to earth, which makes it seem a little more natural.









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