Poetic Truth and First World War English Poetry by Soldier Poets. - Niladri Ghosh

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CHAPTER – 1. GENERAL SURVEY Poetry written at times of peace is different from poetry written at times of war because during peace a poet is concerned with the values and beliefs, which are more or less stable, and his poetry is a means of communicating these values. But war, which destabilizes these established values, also changes man’s attitudes to such values, which are invariably reflected in wartime poetry. Quiet contemplation of eternity and immortality becomes a sort of mockery to a man who is called upon to fight in the front, where to escape from death is often a miracle. Under such circumstances it is not surprising that poetry written by a young, educated soldier should essentially be realistic for he would be trying to convey his experiences which are radically different from what he thought it world be before coming to the front. The English poetry of the First World War1 is roughly divided into two periods: the early period, from the outbreak of War to about 1916, the time of the battle of Somme; and the later period, from 1916 to 1918 and the Armistice. These two periods are very different in mood. In the earlier period the poets like the non-combatants, on both sides of the fighting line believed in a simple, heroic vision of a struggle for the right, or noble sacrifice for an ideal, of patriotism and love for the country. As the War dragged on, and dreams of an early conclusion faded and the mood changed and darkened. On the Western front2, which became the chief theatre of War, the lines of opposing armies changed by only a few miles on either side year after year. It became a war of survival, in which huge offensives were planned, again and again, and failed, at a shattering cost in material and lives. The carnage and suffering were endless and to those taking part, the War grew increasingly pointless and full of
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