The Death of a soldier Wallace Stevens

The poem focuses on the idea that the death of a solider is an uncelebrated event, this could be due to the large numbers of deaths that occurred during the time of the war.
A main area of focus is the simile 'As in a season of summer' this reiterates how they believe death is as inevitable as the falling of leaves and the change in seasons throughout the years as there is no doubt they will  occur.
Time is important throughout this poem.
'Life contracts' could be used to imply how life shortens  throughout the war in the lead up to their inevitable deaths as the verb 'expected' shows the soldiers were fully aware of their position and that death was never far away from them.
'As in a season of Autumn' is repeated in stanzas 1 and 3 and can be used to represent the similarity between repetitive lives of soldiers as they were predictable just like the seasons of the year. As well as this It could be used to show the slow decrease in their life as it shortens day by day and is slow just like the changes between the seasons in the year.
'does not become a three day personnage'  the solider only had 3 days to express himself and make himself known on the front line, this reiterates the idea of only a short amount time between events.
'Death is absolute and without memorial' personification of death as if it is tangible
Presents how death is inevitable for the soldiers and is a forgettable and uncelebrated event. Also looks at philosophy and how as humans we cannot talk about what is beyond life as we have no real knowledge of it due to us not having experienced it.
'when the wind stops' this imagery could be used to represent when a solider dies due to it being inevitable and a regular occurrence. '...and over the heavens' this could represent how death is a quick and forgettable event as it is only a quick passing over a short period of time. 'The clouds go nevertheless' Death is similar to clouds moving overhead as it moves on quickly and is forgotten about.

The poems structure is 4 short, 3 line stanzas, each ending with a short line cut off as if a solider had died as it was quick but then the start of the next stanza represents how the war would still continue.

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Birdsong 'Jack firebrace stood with Arthur Shaw... There was no movement from the bodies' 229-239

Faulks presents the idea of religion in Birdsong when Jack and Arthur Shaw were on one tree hill observing the battle beneath them and they watched as ‘Horrocks pulled the silver cross from his chest and hurled it from him.' Faulks uses this to present the effect witnessing the mass violence has had on Horrocks as he appears to be desperate to remove his faith from him. The verbs 'pulled' and 'hurled' are used by Faulks to present how he exerted force and appeared to be desperate to remove this cross from him and to rid himself of all faith. This also shows more of an angry side to Horrocks as he cannot believe that the fighting he is witnessing is being allowed to take place, this also presents the loss of humanity conveyed through the soldiers behaviour. Faulks uses the noun phrase 'silver cross' as a method of symbolism for religion however Horrocks now appears to have lost all faith as he believes if there was a God he would not allow these atrocities to take place. Also in this extract Faulks uses the simple sentence 'Jack knew what had died in him.' This is used to show Jack's immediate understanding of Horrocks' loss of faith as he didn't even need it to be confirmed to him. An alternative interpretation of this could be that during the war many soldiers lose their faith due to the extreme conditions they have endured and the horrific events they have witnessed. In addition Faulks uses personification in 'what had died in him.' This is used to imply that Horrocks religion was previously alive inside of him due to it being a huge aspect of his life prior to the war.

Faulks also references religion in the extract through Jacks' desperation as shown in 'Please God, let it stop.' The adverb 'please' is used to implying a begging tone in Jack's voice as he is desperate for this fighting to stop and is asking God to help as he believes he is the only one that can end this mass destruction. Jack is desperate to escape his situation and can't bare to watch this fighting take place which emphasises soldiers reliance on God throughout the war. As well as this 'let' is used by Faulks to present how God is an authoritive figure and has the power to end the war. In this extract Jack appears as if he is pleading with God to help these soldiers escape these events. Also Faulks uses personification in 'let it stop.' This is used to present the war as if it were alive and needs to be stopped due to the on-going suffering and deaths it is causing.

Journeys End extract 'now look here Hibbert...i can't' pages (55-57)

Sheriff presents the mental effects of war in the extracts by emphasising Hibbert's desperation. Hibbert is pretending to be suffering from neuralgia in the hope he will be sent away from the fighting however Stanhope presents the hardship of their environment through the conditional clause, 'if you went I'd have you shot for deserting.' This is used by Sheriff to convey the consequences Hibbert would face if he attempted to leave the front line and it also illustrates how Stanhope has a lack of compassion for Hibbert's wellbeing as he ignores the suffering Hibbert is enduring. However Hibbert's poor mental state is also presented through Sherriff's usage of an exclamative in ''Go on then, shoot.' This demonstrates how Hibbert can no longer control his feelings against the war and he cannot cope with his current mental state. His drastic decision presents to the reader how Hibbert would rather be killed for deserting then go back to the front line. This conveys how soldiers were suffering due to the hardship of war as they found themselves to have no escape from their inevitable deaths as they had no opportunity to leave due to their superiors lack of consideration. This also shows how during WW1 if soldiers were not prepared to fight they were of no use in the war and their only way out was through their death.


Sheriff also illustrates the idea of coping mechanisms through the elements of belonging and friendship. Sherriff uses a rhetorical question in, 'Why didn't you tell me instead of talking about neuralgia?' This is used to show a more compassionate side to Stanhope as he is making Hibbert feel as if he can talk to him about how he is feeling and he can confide in him. As well as this Sherriff states 'we all feel like you do.' The quantifier 'all' is used by Stanhope to present the ideas that these feelings of fear and desires to leave occur within all the soldiers and they all share this hidden thought. Stanhope uses this to help Hibbert feel as if he isn't alone with his damaged mentality and that all soldiers share the same feelings. Sheriff also uses the inclusive pronoun 'we' to present the soldiers as a unit and to help Hibbert feel as if he isn't alone and he has others to help him through this experience and hardship. In addition, this pronoun usage also conveys that even superiors share these ideas and desires to leave due to the tough proximity in which they find themselves and their poor mental states. An alternative interpretation of this could be that Stanhope is only saying these things in order to stop Hibbert from leaving and to return to the front line.