Attack, Anthem for Doomed Youth and Saving Private Ryan Essay Example
The quote "With bombs and guns and shovels and battle-gear, Men jostle and climb to meet the bristling fire" should be considered in regards to the poems 'Attack' and 'Anthem for Doomed Youth', as well as the film 'Saving Private Ryan'. Use evidence from all three sources.
Based on the harsh realities of World War 1, the poem 'Attack' portrays soldiers in the trenches striving to advance. This quote depicts soldiers in a rush to escape from the trenches, armed and armored while bristling fire rages on, possibly from enemy grenades. It gives a glimpse into the dehumanizing experiences that people endured while fighting for their country's freedom.
The quote emphasizes that war's true cost is borne by individuals, as it portrays the harrowing experiences of soldiers without any mention of machinery. "Lines of grey, muttering faces, mas
...ked with fear, They leave their trenches, going over the top, While time ticks blank and busy on their wrists, And hope, with furtive eyes and grappling fists, Flounders in mud. O Jesu, make it stop!" This quote concludes the poem 'Attack' and expresses the author's belief that death is inevitable for most soldiers and highlights their fear while leaving their trenches. Siegfried Sassoon aims to show through his poem that losing hope left soldiers with little purpose to carry on as it was the driving force behind their courage, confidence, and commitment to serve their country's cause.
Using language that depicts time as precious, Siegfried Sassoon creates an image of soldiers whose lives are rapidly ticking away. With this imagery, he suggests that war is not a heroic death, but rather a dehumanizing and inhumane one due to the filthy
and chaotic nature of battle. The opening line of Sassoon's 'Anthem for Doomed Youth', "What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?", likens soldiers to helpless farm animals being herded to their slaughter. Like cattle, the soldiers are denied funerals, which could be another interpretation of 'passing bells'. As the question is rhetorical, it serves more as a statement than a query.
The film 'Saving Private Ryan' depicted several real-life war moments. In one instance, a soldier slipped while trying to progress and was shot down as he got up. Blood gushed out of his body like a flooding river. Another soldier who went to aid him was also shot down, with blood similarly pouring from his body. The second soldier's bravery in attempting to help his probably-friend comes with the brutal cost of death.
The movie illustrates the saying, 'Individuals are responsible for the actual price of war.' The soldiers depicted in the film made sacrifices for their country; one gave his life defending his nation, while another lost his own attempting to rescue a comrade. At the beginning of the movie, a soldier's helmet was hit by an enemy bullet as he targeted them. He was momentarily stunned and removed his helmet to examine it. Unfortunately, at that exact moment, fate intervened and another bullet struck him from the same direction - but this time he had taken off his helmet, and it hit him directly in the head.
Although depicted in a historical combat film, it is likely that scenes depicting soldiers dying from fatal head wounds and bleeding profusely with no possibility of survival were common during past world wars. The movie also portrayed
several instances where soldiers expressed their pride in fighting for their country and contributing to worldwide advancement.
Private James Ryan was told to go home because his siblings had died in battle and it could be fatal if his mother lost all her children. However, he refused to leave as he believed staying and completing the mission was his duty. He felt leaving was not an option unless the war ended or he died, due to his pride in his work. This determination played a significant role in the Allied victory during the war, demonstrating that wars have serious consequences for individuals.
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