The Glory; Into Battle
The Glory
Julian Grenfell was a British Captain during World War I. He also wrote poems about his experience as a soldier and his beliefs about the Great War. His most famous poem about the war was, “Into Battle.” However, it was not until after his death on the battlefield, that this poem was published . This poem was extremely controversial and was used as propaganda to the young men enlisting. Julian Grenfell, author of “Into Battle”, argues in his poem that battle is the purpose of life because it is glorious and natural.
Nature is continuously brought up in this poem to reinforce the idea that man has an instinctive urge to fight. Through fighting, the soldier is bound to nature and his comrades. In the second stanza, Grenfell establishes a clear connection between nature and the soldier. He says the soldier should take “warmth and life from the glowing earth”, meaning the earth is a source of replenishment that he should seek (1.10). Thus, nature should be used as an inspiration; the soldier must listen and absorb all the qualities that the natural world has to offer and as a result the “fighting man” will turn into a warrior (1.9).
This warrior, according to Grenfell, must become one with nature. He must draw his strength from the environment. For example, in stanzas five through seven, various animals are used to make this point. The kestrel and owls will “Bid him be swift and keen…” (5.25). If the soldier learns from the birds how to be gracefully quick and sharp, in battle he will be successful. However, birds are not the only animals whose qualities the soldier must gain. The horses will “show him (soldier) nobler powers” (8.33). The use of horses during battle has been dated back to the beginning of warfare. The “noble powers” the horse’s posses will be shown to the soldier to enlighten him for what will come. At the same time, the horse and the soldier are riding into battle as one. The fear of vulnerability the soldier may have is
Julian Grenfell was a British Captain during World War I. He also wrote poems about his experience as a soldier and his beliefs about the Great War. His most famous poem about the war was, “Into Battle.” However, it was not until after his death on the battlefield, that this poem was published . This poem was extremely controversial and was used as propaganda to the young men enlisting. Julian Grenfell, author of “Into Battle”, argues in his poem that battle is the purpose of life because it is glorious and natural.
Nature is continuously brought up in this poem to reinforce the idea that man has an instinctive urge to fight. Through fighting, the soldier is bound to nature and his comrades. In the second stanza, Grenfell establishes a clear connection between nature and the soldier. He says the soldier should take “warmth and life from the glowing earth”, meaning the earth is a source of replenishment that he should seek (1.10). Thus, nature should be used as an inspiration; the soldier must listen and absorb all the qualities that the natural world has to offer and as a result the “fighting man” will turn into a warrior (1.9).
This warrior, according to Grenfell, must become one with nature. He must draw his strength from the environment. For example, in stanzas five through seven, various animals are used to make this point. The kestrel and owls will “Bid him be swift and keen…” (5.25). If the soldier learns from the birds how to be gracefully quick and sharp, in battle he will be successful. However, birds are not the only animals whose qualities the soldier must gain. The horses will “show him (soldier) nobler powers” (8.33). The use of horses during battle has been dated back to the beginning of warfare. The “noble powers” the horse’s posses will be shown to the soldier to enlighten him for what will come. At the same time, the horse and the soldier are riding into battle as one. The fear of vulnerability the soldier may have is