Georgian poetry was characterized by hazy idealism Essay Example

for birth and death in 'The Dead'. The titles of the poems, such as "Futility", "Peace", "Absolution" and "Virtue", are abstract nouns that hint at what to expect. While peace and virtue offer tranquility, absolution suggests forgiveness for sins, possibly including murder during war. In contrast, futility implies a lack of faith or giving up.

The idea of hopelessness is supported by the fragmented syntax in the poem's eleventh line, which mirrors the shattered dreams. The poignant effect intensifies with the use of rhetorical questions, suggesting the narrator's quest for solutions. References to religion crop up frequently in these poems, such as in the persistence of hope and supplication, "Grant my son's ashes lie...

During the beginning of World War I, the theme of the everyman as a hero sacrificing themselves for the greater good was popular in Georgian poetry, often represented through the incarnation of Christ. This is evident in 'The Dead', where the everyman figure becomes Christ in the twelfth line, leaving behind a white unbroken glory and gathered radiance symbolizing a return to innocence. The use of sibilance and softening of 't's to 'th's enhances the surreal imagery and emphasizes this peaceful brilliance.

The state of perfection that Christ embodies is arguably revealed through the phrase "unbroken glory". Although Brooke's poem does not directly refer to death, its title, 'The Dead', alludes to the harsh reality of mortality. Despite this, the poem's language is gentle, using euphemisms and romantic imagery such as "colours", "music", "flowers", "laughter", and "rich skies". The deliberate peaceful atmosphere, aided by frequent caesuras that slow the pace of the poem, creates an artificial sense of serenity that can be labeled as

'hazy idealism'.