the soldier

• context: brooke was a soldier in WW1 who died of blood poisoning. buried in a 'foreign field' in Cyprus
• structure: poem begins with the idea of the anonymous soldier's death. middle of the poem personifies England and considers how beautiful and picturesque the countryside is.
• "if i should die" - acceptance he may die, but viewed as a sacrifice he's willing to take
• "in hearts at peace, under an English heaven" - death brings peace and comfort so he can die in the knowledge of a life well spent and sacrificed appropriately to help protect a nation - even heaven reflects its values