“Peace”when the subject matter is about war? The poem talks about how war has brought inner peace to the combatants, who now know their duty and purpose in life. Why is the speaker thanking God? What is he thankful for? Refer to text. The speaker is thanking God for creating the land and creating war for the soldiers to fight in. He thanks God for giving the soldiers youth, power and clear eyes. (“… Caught our youth, and wakened us from sleeping, With hand made sure, clear eye, and sharpened power.. “) What does the speaker think of those who do not fight for the war?
Refer to text. He called them “sick-hearted” and “half-men” because they did not fight for honor for their country. The speaker called them “half-men” because he was saying that those who did not fight were not men and were weak. (“Leave the sick hearts that honor could not move, And half-men, and their dirty songs and dreary, and all the little emptiness of love! “) What does the image “as swimmers into cleanness leaping… ” Mean? The speaker brings an image of purity and innocence in war. The metaphor of swimmers “leaping”suggests playfulness and representing pleasure. What is the tone for this poem? Are their light changes to the tone?
Refer to text. At the beginning of the poem, the speaker’s tone was happy and patriotic as he was thankful for being in war. It then changes into a harsh tone where he discriminates the men who did not participate in the war. At the end of the poem, he speaks in a peaceful tone and brings an image of harmony. Language techniques Irony – The use of words to express something other than the literal meaning. (Egg. The title of the poem “Peace”). Religious imagery- religious imagery is something that is represents a religious purpose, subject or connection. (Egg. “God be thanked Who has watched us with His hour”).
Simile- A figure of speech that compares one thing with another thing of a different kind. A simile gives the readers an image in their mind of the comparison. (Egg. “As swimmers into cleanness leaping”). Assonance- The repetition of the sound of a vowel. An assonance gives a sense of continuity in the verse. (Egg. “old and cold”). Repetition- The action of repeating something. Repetition also gives a sense of continuity in the verse. (Egg. “no ill, no grief”). Personification- Giving a non-living thing human characteristics. Personification creates an imaginative effect. (Egg. “And the worst friend and enemy is but Death”).
