The Soldier
by Rupert Brooke
If I should die, think only this of me:
That there's some corner of a foreign field
That is for ever England. There shall be
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam;
A body of England's, breathing English air,
Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.
And think, this heart, all evil shed away,
A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.
Introduction
The poet, Rupert Brook was a British Army officer who served in the First world War. He died in 1915 just after four months of joining in the war at the young age of 28.
The themes of "The Soldier" by Rupert Brooke include patriotism, sacrifice, and the enduring connection between individuals and their homeland. The poem reflects on the idea of dying for one's country and portrays death as a natural part of life. It evokes a sense of national pride and the willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice for England.
The poem is a sonnet (a kind of poem consisting of fourteen lines).
The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABABCDCD ABCABC. This follows the traditional Petrarchan (Italian) sonnet form, with an octave (eight lines) rhyming ABABCDCD, followed by a sestet (six lines) rhyming ABCABC.
Summary
In this Rupert Brooke's poem, he passionately expresses his love for England and his idealistic patriotism. He sees war as an honorable pursuit and envisions dying as a soldier on foreign soil, believing that even in death, that land will forever be England. His burial there would symbolize his deep patriotism, as his English body reflects the rich culture and traditions of his homeland. Brooke believes that in death, his soul will merge with the Creator, allowing him to continue spreading England's beautiful patriotic sentiments.
Explanation
Lines 1-8
If I should die, think only this of me:
That there's some corner of a foreign field
That is for ever England. There shall be
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam;
A body of England's, breathing English air,
Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.
GLOSSARY
concealed - buried
blest - (archaic) blessed
In these lines, the speaker reflects on the possibility of dying in a foreign land while serving his country. He asks that if he does die, he wants people to remember that even in a distant corner of a foreign field, there will always be a part that remains England.
He suggests that the earth there will hold a special richness, as it contains the remains of someone born and shaped by England. This dust, which was once a living person born in England, has been shaped and influenced by England's culture and experiences.
Having always breathed English air, England's rivers purified him, and he was blessed by England's sun.
Lines 9-14
And think, this heart, all evil shed away,
A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.
GLOSSARY
shed- seperate
The poet suggests that his heart, free from all negativity, will persist as a pulse in the eternal consciousness. Despite physical death, his essence remains connected to a higher consciousness, returning the thoughts and memories he had while in England.
Rupert Brooke recalls the experiences and sensations he enjoyed in England: the sights, sounds, and dreams that brought happiness, the laughter shared with friends, and the kindness he encountered. These memories represent the essence of England for the speaker.
Finally, the speaker envisions these memories and qualities living on in the hearts of those who find peace beneath the English sky.
Questions and Answers
Why does the poet say that 'some corner of a foreign field' will be forever England?
The poet believes that even if he dies in a foreign land, that spot will forever be associated with England. His burial there symbolizes his deep connection to his homeland, as his English body reflects its rich culture and traditions.
What does the poet mean by a 'richer dust'?
It symbolizes the burial of an English body in a foreign land, signifying the enrichment of that soil by the presence of an Englishman whose culture and traditions were deeply rooted in England. It reflects the enduring connection and influence of England even in distant places.
Share :
Next Post:
A Day
The poem reflects on the passage of time and the fleeting nature of life and how life is both unpredictable and short.Read more ...