English - Poetry Chapter 6: The Soldier Long Answer Questions
Long Answer Questions
Question 1.Do you think that the title of the poem is appropriate? Give reasons.
Answer:The title of the poem is quite appropriate and meaningful. It revolves around the central theme of the poem which moves about a patriotic soldier who is airing (expressing) his keen desire of martyrdom.
Question 2.Discuss the main ideas contained in the first eight lines, i.e., octave.
Answer:Poet is watching (observing) the death of a soldier which happens so often in a Warfield. Poet wants himself to be laid to rest in that foreign land where he attains martyrdom. This place is as much part of England as he himself is. Poet expresses his indebtedness to his motherland.
Question 3.What do you understand by patriotism? Is this a patriotic poem? Discuss.
Answer:Patriotism means love and emotions for the country. It is the spirit to do anything for the welfare and security of the country. It is, of course, an
important factor indicating deep feelings for the motherland. It is also a great human character and a topmost point of all virtues. This is really a patriotic poem. Poet expresses his immense love and firm devotion towards England.
Question 4.Give in short the summary of the poem, “The Soldier” in your own words
Answer:“The Soldier” is a beautiful sonnet composed by Rupert Brooke, a war poet, In this sonnet the poet describes the bubbling sense of patriotism of a soldier who goes abroad to fight for his country. An English Soldier is fighting in a foreign country. Life is uncertain in the battlefield. The Soldier says that if he dies in a foreign country, he will be buried there. He feels that the piece of land where he will be buried will always be England i.e. his country. It will always be England because he was bom and brought up in this country. The soldier expresses his gratefulness to his country for everything he got there – the road’, the flowers, the English air, the English river and sun rays. He also expresses his obligation to his country for giving him noble thought, happy dreams and laughter learned from his friends.
The soldier, therefore, wishes to be remembered after his death as a patriotic over of his motherland, which is England where he was bom and brought up. Even in his death, he would feel peace in his heart and proud of his noble act, because he died for his country. Since the poet himself was a soldier he successfully expresses in vivid language the feeling of a soldier. Patriotism is a common feeling but it certainly intensified in times of war and foreign aggression, when a person strongly feels his link with the soil of his nation which has marvelously been expressed by Rupert Brooke.
Question 5 What is a sonnet? Comment on the Language of the prescribed poem, Also mentions its rhyme scheme.
Answer:A poem consisting of 14 lines is a “sonnet”. The first eight lilies are called octave and the last six lines are known as sestet. The octave establishes some issues and sestet resolves it. It is a concentrated expression of a single thought, feeling or situation, subjectivity, sincerity, melody, music, reflection, and spontaneity. These are some prominent characteristics and features of a sonnet. This poem, “The Soldier” is rhythmic. Its rhyme scheme is suitably and simultaneously arranged in a way pleasant to hear.
