Heroes in Poetry - the Hero Siegfred Sassoon
HEROES IN POETRY
The Hero
'Jack fell as he'd have wished,' the mother said,
And folded up the letter that she'd read.
'The Colonel writes so nicely.' Something broke
In the tired voice that quivered to a choke.
She half looked up. 'We mothers are so proud
Of our dead soldiers.' Then her face was bowed.
Quietly the Brother Officer went out.
He'd told the poor old dear some gallant lies
That she would nourish all her days, no doubt
For while he coughed and mumbled, her weak eyes
Had shone with gentle triumph, brimmed with joy,
Because he'd been so brave, her glorious boy.
He thought how 'Jack', cold-footed, useless swine,
Had panicked down the trench that night the mine
Went up at Wicked Corner; how he'd tried
To get sent home, and how, at last, he died,
Blown to small bits. And no one seemed to care
Except that lonely woman with white hair.
Siegfried Sassoon, 1917
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WRITTEN COMMENTARY
The harsh contrast of the soldier’s death to the title of the poem ‘The Hero’ highlights the difference between reality and illusion as faced during the period of War.
Sassoon conveys in ‘The Hero’ the ideology that War was not all fun and games as it were portrayed to be. For many, war was advertised through posters as being a once in a lifetime opportunity and adventure for men to fight for their country. In reality, the destruction and horror that consumed all enlisted men when out at battle was not known to many around the world. The title ‘The Hero’ is ironically termed. Upon reading the first line of the poem it is assumed that Sassoon would be writing about a war hero – someone who may have sacrificed his life for others or who may have simply served honourably and strong willingly fought for his country. In the first stanza the mother is introduced by saying ‘Jack fell as he’d have wished’. This creates the impression that Jack died an honourable soldier’s death, falling in
The Hero
'Jack fell as he'd have wished,' the mother said,
And folded up the letter that she'd read.
'The Colonel writes so nicely.' Something broke
In the tired voice that quivered to a choke.
She half looked up. 'We mothers are so proud
Of our dead soldiers.' Then her face was bowed.
Quietly the Brother Officer went out.
He'd told the poor old dear some gallant lies
That she would nourish all her days, no doubt
For while he coughed and mumbled, her weak eyes
Had shone with gentle triumph, brimmed with joy,
Because he'd been so brave, her glorious boy.
He thought how 'Jack', cold-footed, useless swine,
Had panicked down the trench that night the mine
Went up at Wicked Corner; how he'd tried
To get sent home, and how, at last, he died,
Blown to small bits. And no one seemed to care
Except that lonely woman with white hair.
Siegfried Sassoon, 1917
___________________________________________________________________________
WRITTEN COMMENTARY
The harsh contrast of the soldier’s death to the title of the poem ‘The Hero’ highlights the difference between reality and illusion as faced during the period of War.
Sassoon conveys in ‘The Hero’ the ideology that War was not all fun and games as it were portrayed to be. For many, war was advertised through posters as being a once in a lifetime opportunity and adventure for men to fight for their country. In reality, the destruction and horror that consumed all enlisted men when out at battle was not known to many around the world. The title ‘The Hero’ is ironically termed. Upon reading the first line of the poem it is assumed that Sassoon would be writing about a war hero – someone who may have sacrificed his life for others or who may have simply served honourably and strong willingly fought for his country. In the first stanza the mother is introduced by saying ‘Jack fell as he’d have wished’. This creates the impression that Jack died an honourable soldier’s death, falling in