Analysis

• "The Soldier" - The title suggests an anonymous soldier and perhaps reflects how many soldiers were to lose their lives in battle.
• "If I should die,"- There is an acceptance that he may die, but this is viewed as a sacrifice he is willing to make.

  The poem is written in the first person and reflects the idea that it is an honour to fight and die for your country.
• "foreign field" - The adjective “foreign” suggests how far from home he is and how strange the environment feels compared to England.
• "That is for ever earth England." - The first mention of his country and his pride in fighting for her – that he represents her, even in death.
• "A richer dust concealed" - Religious overtones, reminiscent of a funeral service, he returns to dust upon his death.
• "Whom England bore, shaped, made aware," - Here he personifies England– she is almost his mother, who raised him and nurtured him.
• "Her flowers to love, her ways to roam," and "Washed by the rivers, blest by the suns of home" - imagery suggests beauty of England – her “flowers” and lanes, her “rivers”.
• "All evil shed away" - The use of the adjective “evil” is perhaps an implied reference to the horrors of war and the cruelty mankind is capable of.
• "A pulse in the eternal mind" - This suggests that in death he almost

  becomes part of the universe, he achieves some form of immortality.
• "Her sights and sounds, dreams happy as her day;" and "And laughter, learnt of her friend;" - The poet reminds us of the cherished memories of England and home, shared with friends.
• "In hearts at peace, under an English heaven" - Death brings peace and comfort and he can die in the knowledge of a life well spent and sacrificed appropriately to help protect a nation that is so important and righteous - even heaven reflects its values.