Drilling in Russell Square

• Symbolic of the prelimineary stage of the conflict
• "Drilling in Russel Square" - Destruction of nature
• Second word of poem "Withered" and Repetition of "moulder" in lines 2 and 3 - The nation is rotting.
• Autumn setting - A harsh winter brewing.

  
  

  War coming - a new society will emerge as we know it. Never a sense of positive change here.
• "The autumnal warmth strange dreams doth breed" the air is coated in ambiguity
• "Squad, 'Shun! Form fours..." - Contrast to a stagnant tense atmosphere

  Shanks is trying to demonstrate the unpredictability of war
• "Squad, 'Shun..Form Fours...And once the France we knew Was a warm and distant place with sun shot through" - War ruins natural beauty
• "A happy land of gracious palaces, And Paris! Paris! Where twice the green trees Do twice salute the all delightful year!" - Pre-war nostalgia. Mimics the final moments before a big push, commemorating the french who were traditional enemies, as in this dire moment these rivalries all fade into one block of horror.
• "Germany we thought a singing place" - Jingoistic - meaning patriotism. Undertones of cynicism towards how the Germans have lost the sanctity of their beloved united nation and now commit atrocities.
• Good poem for:

  Realities of war

  Futility of war
• "Innocent, singing, pleasant, Germany" - Can be interpretted many ways - That the speaker is bargaining that these previously honourable and moral vices present in German people means the war may end with Germans becoming vigilant of their atrocities

  Or

  Irony and cynicicism towards Germans - you are supposed to be this way. But look at you now.
• France and Germany presented as allies as England cant quite comprehend how evil they are now