Compare How Futility and One Other Poem from the Conflict Cluster Deal with the Theme of Death.

813 Words4 Pages
I will be comparing the two poems; futility and Mametz wood from 'conflict' in regards to the theme of death. The poems futility and Mametz wood both deal with the grim subject of death on the battlefield, and how those who fell to this fate were often left where they fell. Neither of the two poems deals directly with the moment of death, but rather reflects on the loss of young lives. As death in battle is usually seen as a rather honourable fate, the language is respectful towards the soldiers and concentrates on the great sacrifice made by the soldiers, rather than the details of the battle itself. A deceased soldier is moved out into the sun in a desperate vain hope that the warmth of the sun will revive him. The futility of this act depicts the desperation of his companions turning from grief to despairing rage. Death is final. Nothing can bring back the dead, not even the life giving sun. The structure of the poem also takes us through the poet's responses to death. The two-stanza structure reflects the poem's change in tone, from hope and confidence to despair. The two stanzas represent the different stages of grief: the first is denial of the death (the soldier is hopeful that the sun will stir life in his dead comrade) “Move him into the sun”. The sun is used to suggest something that gives life in stanza one (it is "the kind old sun"); and the second stanza shows realisation, despair and anger, the soldier then questions the point of life and existence. “Was it for this the clay grew tall?” Mametz wood is set years after the war where several decaying bodies have just been discovered, empty of life and soul, with terror etched onto the remains of their faces. Futility is also set in the aftershock but a soldier is dying in the arms of a helpless person who begins to question the significance of life itself. The use of language in Mametz wood such as
Open Document