"Petty" petulant, he is belittling the argument of debate
suggesting that the
men were forced to
be patriotic.
Structure
free verse
one stanza- mimics a rant or speech
Iambic pentameter
portrays rhythm of speech
rhythm of drums-
patriotism
rhythm of Shakespeare-
cohesion
through
rhyme- some
kind of framing
"to please newspapers"
He is criticising the
media's representation
of the war
Could perhaps be a response to the
likes of Jessie Pope and her poem
“Who’s for the Game?” and various
other jingoist writers of the time.
arguing for a quieter form of
patriotism which deals with the love
for the earth in which he was born.
"grow hot with love of English men"
that patriots have almost a
false love for their country, as
they only love England as to
please the newspapers, and
therefore have a blind loyalty
to England. The beginning of
the poem therefore has an
almost contemptuous,
scornful, angry tone.
"banging a gong"
ambiguous, referring to the Kaiser
who is made to look ridiculous
idea is ludicrous- he is making a
lot of noise but not doing anything
He is being critical
"two witches cauldrons roar"
It is as though he is watching a storm
empathising the ferocity of the hatred
witches, magic and the supernatural =
all beyond our control- perhaps
suggests the war/ patriotism is irrational
he has unwilllingly
been dragged into
the war-
was written on 26th December 1915
written After an argument with his Father
conventional
patriot who
demonised the
Germans.
accused of not
being patriotic
enlisted and so
joined the Artists
Rifles on July 1915.
Edward Thomas had been
serving in the army for just over
six months. he worked as a map
reading instructor