Poem Analysis cx1b

Poem Analysis Tuesday, January 07 2014 By Hanneke Kassies

Siegfried Sassoon, The Survivors

NO doubt they'll soon get well; the shock and strain Have caused their stammering, disconnected talk. Of course they're 'longing to go out again,'-These boys with old, scared faces, learning to walk. They'll soon forget their haunted nights; their cowed Subjection to the ghosts of friends who died,-Their dreams that drip with murder; and they'll be proud Of glorious war that shatter'd all their pride... Men who went out to battle, grim and glad; Children, with eyes that hate you, broken and mad.

October 1917

Literary Devices used in Siegfried Sassoon's poem 'The Survivors'

ToneDefinition: The tone of a literary work is the perspective or attitude that the author adopts with regards to a specific character, place or development. Tone can portray a variety of emotions ranging from solemn, grave, and critical to witty, wry and humorous. The tone used in this poem is sort of sarcastic and misleading. The poem tells you ‘NO doubt they'll soon get well’ which is very sarcastic because it is known that that is an untrue statement.

IronyDefinition: The use of irony in literature refers to playing around with words such that the meaning implied by a sentence/word is actually different from the literal meaning derived. Often, irony is used to suggest the stark contrast of the literal meaning being put forth. The deeper, real layer of significance is revealed not by the words themselves but the situation and the context in which they are placed. Siegfried Sassoon uses imagery to symbolize the psychological trauma of the soldiers. The reassuring statement that they will soon forget their haunted nights is contradicted by stating what haunts them in their sleep. Their sleep is filled with nightmares of the ghosts of friends who died in battle and the horrific scenes in the battlefield.

SarcasmDefinition: Verbal irony/sarcasm occurs when speakers say the opposite of what they mean. Verbal ironies are mainly the intentional products of speakers. The speakers say what is intentionally contradictory to their actions and emotions. There are many ironic similes that convey the opposite of what speakers intend to express. Sarcasm is shown in the first few lines of this poem where it states ‘NO doubt they'll soon get well; the shock and strain have caused their stammering, disconnected talk. Of course they're 'longing to go out again.’

AlliterationDefinition: Alliteration is a literary device where words are used in quick succession and begin with letters belonging to the same sound group. Whether it is the consonant sound or a specific vowel group, the alliteration involves creating a repetition of similar sounds in the sentence. Alliterations are also created when the words all begin with the same letter. Alliterations are used to add character to the writing and often add an element of ‘fun’ to the piece. Alliteration is shown in this poem at the end of every line when they state things like Strain and Again, Talk and Walk, Cowed and Proud, Died and Pride, Glad and Mad.

ImageryDefinition: In literature, one of the strongest devices is imagery wherein the author uses words and phrases to create “mental images” for the reader. Imagery helps the reader to visualize and therein more realistically experience the author’s writings. The usage of metaphors, allusions, descriptive words and similes amongst other literary forms in order to “tickle” and awaken the readers’ sensory perceptions is referred to as imagery. Imagery is not limited to only visual sensations, but also refers to igniting kinesthetic, olfactory, tactile, gustatory, thermal and auditory sensations as well. Imagery in this poem is shown in the lines that state: These boys with old, scared faces, learning to walk. Their dreams that drip with murder; and they'll be proud. Men who went out to battle, grim and glad. Children, with eyes that hate you, broken and mad.