From The Fourth of August - Laurence Binyon

• "Now in thy splendour go before us" - "Splendour" echoes the mood of England upon the arise of conflict. Glorification of war.
• "Spirit of England, ardent-eyed" - Ardent = enthusiastic. "Spirit" suggests there is a collective blessing to grace this war and let it unfold. Hence the whole nation has blood on its hands for letting this happen.
• "Enkindle this dear earth that bore us" - Suggests that we should protect the soil despite the conflict about to unfold. Turns out to be truly ironic as the soldiers are fighting over the land, and mass destruction occurs.
• "In the hour of peril purified"- alliteration relates to patriotism, dignity and honour. The speaker believes the simple unification of the nation will mean they will be unstoppable.
• Tone switches from last 4 lines. "The care we hugged drop out of vision" The patriotism and euphoric nature of building up to conflict is now released as people begin to realise this conflict will be deadly.
• "Our hearts with deeper thoughts dilate" - The population are beginning to find out the real horrors of war.
• "We step away from our days of sour division" - The working class will now be honoured as heroes, they were never celebrated before the war.
• We step away from days of sour division *enjambment* Into the grandeur of our fate" Enjambment emphasises the step into something new.