Flag

A cloth is a common everyday household item; perhaps by comparing the flag to a cloth the poet is suggesting that the flag’s reach is in every household and is commonplace, therefore its effects on a nation are far reaching.

Just as a cloth is commonplace and linked to the flag – the flag incites conflict. By linking the flag and the cloth, the author is suggesting that ultimately conflict (incited by the flag) is futile as a cloth is.

Each stanza starts with a question and followed quickly by a rebuttal – is this showing that national pride represses freedom of speech.

“Fluttering” – suggestions of aimless, graceful, innocent movement associated with butterflies, by end of the poem the verb is now “flying” which has suggestions of a clear aim. This climax  highlights the overpowering strength of national pride. (graduation of verbs) In the third line of each stanza the verbs also become more powerful (brings – makes – dares – outlive – blind) becoming intense and also disempowering showing again the power of the cloth and its disabling effect on people.

Each stanza is three lines – three is an uneven number saying war is disproportionate.

Also line 1 and 3 is large, line 2 is shorter – is this a symbol of the human?

Mametz Wood

The soldiers are described as being a part of a ‘broken mosaic’. A mosaic is a piece of art that is made of many pieces – Art is also a part of how we portray history, therefore the poet is suggesting that although the soldiers may only be a little part, they will always be a part of a country’s history.

 

Futility

14 lines, 2 stanzas, 7 lines each stanza, each stanza roughly shaped like a bomb/mortar. Stanza 1 uses the pronoun “him” this is personal and in some ways emotive. It also uses words such as “awoke” and “touch” showing some level of care and affection. In contrast to this, in the second stanza the pronoun used is “it” this is third person non-personal and is used to describe ‘the earth’ (perhaps showing people’s respect/attitude to the earth) and words used are “woke” and “break” these words are rougher and with considerably less care than in the first stanza. This happened as a result of the coming on war and conflict. By calling the poem Futility instead of ‘war’ (which the poem is about) Owen may be referring to war as futile and there is no point to it (and possibly there is no point in harming the earth “break earth’s sleep”).

 

next to of course god America i

There is enjambment (when the lines of poetry run without punctuation). This could highlight the none-stop pride and love the speaker has for America. The lack of punctuation throughout poem could convey the lack of boundaries there are in patriotism.     

Out of the Blue

The speaker is being noticed due to his 'white cotton shirt'. The fact that the shirt is white suggests that he is giving up and surrendering to the flames and the chaos. In addition the colour white has connotations purity and innocence, by contrasting this with the 'burning building' the poet is also suggesting that the speaker is an innocent victim of this terrorist attack.

Out of the blue

The speaker in line 9 says: “so when will you come?” the word “will” tells the audience that the speaker still has hope in humanity to save him, which is ironic because it was the humans action that has caused him, his death.

The Charge of the Light Brigade

Throughout the poem the first three stanzas end with “rode the six hundred”