he Send Off and The Drum Essay Example

are often enthused by the enemy's capitulation.

The line "To sell their liberty for charms" suggests that people are willing to trade their freedom for money, potentially affecting their country. In "The Send-Off," the phrase "grimly gay" employs alliteration to highlight the forced cheerfulness of the soldiers and the uncertainty of their adventure. This contradiction captures the mixture of excitement and fear felt by both the men and the country they are fighting for. Scott references "ambition's voice commands" in the same context.

This phrase "ambition" is emblematic of the soldiers' lives during the war. For some, it's an ambition to go back to their country while for others it's the ambition to fight for their country. Additionally, it could be a substitute referring to the general who orders soldiers in the war. The following line evokes a feeling of mortality, "To March, and fight, and fall, in foreign lands."

The Send Off by Owen portrays the harsh reality of war. Even though soldiers fight for their country, they risk their lives and may end up dead in enemy territory. The poem conveys a sense of shame and uncertainty surrounding the operation, as well as the prospect of too few soldiers returning injured and weary. Owen also mentions how strangers joined the war effort, emphasizing that these individuals were not personally known to him.

The concept of giving flowers as a symbol of good fortune is intertwined with the tradition of presenting flowers as part of a funeral wreath. This juxtaposition highlights how gifting flowers can be seen as the first injury in a soldier's experience of war, leading inevitably to death. Scott's depiction of the

true meaning of war evokes the devastation and brutality which characterized the Napoleonic wars, with references to "burning towns", "mangled limbs" and "windows tears". These quotes effectively communicate the sense of horror and violence which pervaded the conflict, underscoring the grief and trauma experienced by widows left to cope without their spouses.

Both Owen and Scott depict the horror experienced by those forced to leave their homes and relocate. Although Owen portrays it to a lesser extent than Scott, the use of an apostrophe in "men's" emphasizes the vast number of soldiers who perished.

In his poem, Wilfred Owen depicts the end of a war and the departure of soldiers from an allied country. He speculates if they will return amidst the ringing of bells and exuberant celebratory train loads. However, he questions whether only a few soldiers will return, insufficient even for drums and yells. His use of the word 'shall' connotes uncertainty about the soldiers' fate. Thus, Owen's conflicting statements illustrate his own apprehension regarding the outcome of the soldiers' return.

The betrayal experienced by soldiers is marked by their dehumanization and apathetic treatment at the hands of the authorities who process them. The terminology used, such as "siding-shed" and "train-loads," undermines their humanity and suggests they are mere commodities being transported. The poem's structure is characterized by stanzas with varying line lengths. The shorter lines convey a sense of foreboding, alluding to bleak events in war, while the longer lines are more informative. This unevenness in line length and stanza structure creates movement within the poem, mimicking the rhythmic march of soldiers and a moving train.

The drum's structure differs greatly, divided into

two stanzas that mimic its parading rhythm. Repetition is applied in both stanzas to emphasize this beat. While Scott's poem effectively conveys its message, I find it more relatable because of his personal response. His use of "I" allows for more individual communication and he provides insight into the experiences soldiers and families faced during war.

In addition to providing a personal statement, Owen acknowledges the impact of war on others and vividly depicts its brutality. His expertise as a soldier lends valuable insights into the workings of war. In contrast, John Scott, who opposed violence, may have had a biased perspective on war.

Both Owen and the author of the Napoleonic war poem only focus on the negative aspects of war, disregarding the honor and commemoration one receives after participating. Although Owen and the Napoleonic war poem's author share similar sentiments towards war, their poems differ in writing style and issues discussed due to being written during separate wars. The violence depicted in John Scott's poem may be attributed to the lack of modern weapons like guns and explosives, resulting in more brutal battles fought with swords.

Considering this, I believe that the two poems convey their messages differently but are equally impactful.