The Castle - Edwin Muir

uses a fable to make a point
1. betrayal is often secret and subtle
  1. Army is only strong if it's men can't be bribed
    1. idea of corruption
reader lured into sympathising with the speaker
1. brave, committed
  1. shame at being betrayed
2. confident army betrayed for money
when conflict is dealt with using military means, everyday morals are set aside
speakers inability to see that armed confrontation breeds betrayal
1. every man for himself?
style
1. simple yet vivid
Muir had lived in Prague, Dresden, Italy..
1. politically aware of the rise of fascism
Enemy seems to pose no threat
1. defenders of the castle become complacent, castle is lost.
  1. Final stanza reflects on why this happened
Allegorical Poem; narrative
Sudden alliteration at point of betrayal
1. "A little wicked wicket gate/the wizened warder let them through"
  1. Invokes crisis - speaker has been confident so far
Repetition establishes strength of citadel
1. "tier on tier"
Contrast
1. "towering battlements" vs "grew thin"
Rhyme scheme enhances story telling nature of the poem

Resource summary

	Created by Heather Taylor almost 11 years ago