Poetry Essay Test Questions

of a Ball Turret Gunner," the reader witnesses further instances of brutality and cruelty. The line "When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose" (5) portrays a heightened level of intensity compared to Hardy's poem. Nevertheless, the underlying message remains unchanged: both individuals were victims of their circumstances and fate.

The character portrayed by Hardy has a rather relaxed and non-traumatized perspective on war. He does not have a strong desire to take someone's life. He mentions the possibility of having encountered the person he is obligated to shoot in a bar, and even buying them a drink. He experiences remorse for having to end this person's life, but acknowledges that it is simply another unavoidable aspect of war. His primary concern lies in the inhumane nature of war, rather than the fate of the individual. In this poem, the character holds the advantage because he is the one who successfully kills the enemy and manages to survive thus far.

Jarrell's character in the poem has a completely different perspective on war, as he is a terrified and vulnerable man. The line "And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze" (2) can be interpreted in three ways, one of them being that he is frozen with fear. He is situated at the bottom of an aircraft in an exposed position, miles away from the safety of the ground. It seems like the character believes he has no chance of survival. Ultimately, the character meets his demise and is killed. The tone and imagery used in "The Man He Killed" create a fast-paced and simplistic atmosphere, while also maintaining a

somewhat playful undertone.

Both poems, "The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner" and the untitled poem, depict the drawbacks of war while acknowledging its futility and senselessness. In the untitled poem, the speaker refers to war as "quaint and curious" (17), adopting a conversational tone with the use of speech marks. The tone in "The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner" is melancholic, with minimal use of quotation. Dark and depressing imagery such as "wet fur" (2), "black flack" (4), "nightmare fighters," and being "washed out of the turret" (5) vividly capture the horrifying aspects of war. Despite their differences, both poems are straightforward and easily comprehensible, employing informal diction, middle diction, dialect, and jargon.

These poems are characterized by simplicity and lack of complexity. Both "The Man He Killed" and "The Death of a Ball Turret Gunner" convey the theme of war and its brutality. It is easy to relate to the emotions of the soldiers and sympathize with their situation. Both poems highlight the absurdity of war and the soldiers' sense of obligation to follow orders. However, they differ in tone, with one being upbeat and lighthearted while the other is gloomy and slow-paced, despite having few stanzas.