Attitudes to war and patriotism

• “If I should die, think only this of me: / That there's some corner of a foreign field / That is for ever England."

  • This opening establishes a clear patriotic sentiment.
  • The speaker anticipates death in service to his country, viewing it as a means of extending England's presence and influence.
  • It reflects a willingness to sacrifice oneself for the sake of national identity and territorial expansion.
• “In that rich earth a richer dust concealed; / A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware..."

  • This quote suggests that the soldier's very being is a product of England.
  • He is "shaped" and "made aware" by his country, implying a sense of duty and obligation to defend it.
  • It reflects the idea that the individual is indebted to the nation for their identity and purpose.
• “Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam, / A body of England's, breathing English air..."

  • This emphasises the positive aspects of English life that the soldier is defending.
  • The "flowers to love" and "ways to roam" suggest a sense of freedom, beauty, and opportunity that the soldier is willing to fight for.
  • It portrays England as a source of joy and fulfillment, making it worth protecting.
• “Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home..."

  • This evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing for the comforts of home.
  • The "rivers" and "suns of home" symbolise the familiar and cherished aspects of English life that the soldier is fighting to preserve.
  • It reflects a deep emotional connection to the land and its people.
• “And think, this heart, all evil shed away, / A pulse in the eternal mind, no less..."

  • This suggests that war can be a purifying experience, allowing the soldier to transcend his individual limitations and become part of something greater.
  • The "eternal mind" evokes a sense of immortality and spiritual fulfillment, suggesting that the soldier's sacrifice will have lasting significance.