Anthem for Doomed Youth Flashcards
Recall the 1st stanza of the poem, starting from “what passing bells…”
What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
— Only the monstrous anger of the guns.
Only the stuttering rifles’ rapid rattle
Can patter out their hasty orisons.
No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells;
Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,—
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;
And bugles calling for them from sad shires.
Recall the 2nd stanza starting from “What candles may be held…”
What candles may be held to speed them all?
Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes
Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.
The pallor of girls’ brows shall be their pall;
Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,
And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.
Why is there a contrast between the word ‘anthem’ and the word ‘doomed’?
Anthem - hope
Doomed - no hope
What message is conveyed in this poem?
The youth who died in battles should be remembered
Why is youth talked about instead of adults?
Youth brings a stronger sense of sympathy as they have had to experience the tragedies of war at such a young age
“rifles rapid rattle”
What technique is used here and what does this show?
Alliteration of ‘r’ sound to show how the quick speed at which the bullets are fired
“Monstrous anger of the guns”
What technique is used here?
Personification
What does the mention of ‘holy’ imply?
It implies that the death of the youths should be treated as something sacred
Describe the structure of this poem?
- Sonnet
- irregular rhyme scheme
Why is it ironic that the poem is written in a sonnet form?
Sonnets are usually about love, but the poem talks about conflict. BUT It could be that the writer is expressing his love for the youth who died in the war
Why does the writer compare the youth to cattle?
Cattle are slaughtered mercilessly and usually together so the writer may have compared the youth to cattle due to the lack of respect shown as they died (the youth)
“Stuttering Rifles rapid rattle”
What technique is used here?
Alliteration
What does the harsh ‘t’ letter in ‘rattle’ show?
The harsh conditions of the war
“shrill, demented choirs”
What technique is used here?
Emotive language and oxymoron
“bugles being called from sad shires”
What technique is used here?
Personification
