exposure

• “Our brains ache”

  • psychological impact of war
  • seeing ‘half known faces’ die
• | form

  • allows 5th line to stand out
  • Regular stanzas
  • consistency = monotony of war
• | form

  • creates rich imagery
  • simple fifth line creates an ANTI-CLIMAX

  mirrors how soldiers must stay alert even when nothing happens— highlighting the FUTILITY of war
• | structure

  • chaotic - mirrors the pain and chaos of war
  • Cyclical: but nothing happens!
• | structure

  • caesura: punctuation in middle
  • barrier between comfort & war
  • ellipsis = boredom
• | language

  • religious references: soldiers are carrying out their MORAL DUTY
  • shows selflessness
  • tied to idea of Jesus suffering to save humanity
  • sense of acceptance of death: “we turn back to our dying”
  • soldiers LOSING love for god? Faith is DYING
• | language

  • personification of nature: symbolises ANTAGONIST
  • juxtaposes nurturing role of females with connotations to army - “her melancholy army”
  • minimises significance of fighting
  • soldiers are fighting nature than opposition