Analysing 'Spring Offensive'

Transcription

1 Stanza 1 1 last makes the hill sound 2 ease suggests that the soldiers Drawings, questions and ideas about this stanza. Halted against the shade of a last 1 hill, They fed, and, lying easy, were at ease 2 And, finding comfortable chests and knees, Carelessly 3 slept. But many there stood still To face the stark, blank 4 sky beyond the ridge, Knowing their feet had come to the end of the world. 5 3 Carelessly makes it sound as if... 4 stark blank suggests that the sky is 5 I think end of the world means that Page 1 of 7

2 Stanza 2 1 This is unlike the usual image of a world war one battlefield because 2 oozed is an example of Drawings, questions and ideas about this stanza. Marvelling they stood, and watched the long grass swirled 1 By the May breeze, murmurous with wasp and midge, For though the summer oozed 2 into their veins Like the injected drug 3 for their bones' pains, Sharp on their souls hung the imminent 4 line of grass, Fearfully flashed 5 the sky's mysterious glass. 3 This simile suggests that 4 Imminent makes me think that the soldiers are thinking 5 This alliteration makes me think Page 2 of 7

3 Stanza 3 1 Hour after hour tells me that 2 Blessed has connotations of Drawings, questions and ideas about this stanza. Hour after hour 1 they ponder* the warm field, - And the far valley behind, where the buttercups Had blessed 2 with gold their slow boots coming up, Where even the little brambles would not yield, But clutched and clung to them like sorrowing hands; 3 They breathe like trees unstirred. 4 3 This simile makes the brambles sound like 4 This simile makes the soldiers sound * ponder means to think about Page 3 of 7

4 Stanza 4 1 This simile compares 2 I think the little word is Drawings, questions and ideas about this stanza. Till like a cold gust 1 thrilled the little word 2 At which each body and its soul begird And tighten them for battle. No alarms Of bugles, no high flags, no clamorous * haste 3 - Only a lift and flare of eyes 4 that faced The sun, like a friend with whom their love is done. 3 This is showing how the attack is very different from (explain how) 4 This describes * Clamorous means noisy Page 4 of 7

5 Stanza 5 1 This verb makes the soldiers sound as though 2 This metaphor describes Drawings, questions and ideas about this stanza. So, soon they topped the hill, and raced 1 together Over an open stretch of herb and heather Exposed. And instantly the whole sky burned 2 With fury against them; and soft sudden cups 3 Opened in thousands for their blood; and the green slopes Chasmed and steepened 4 sheer to infinite 5 space. 3 When I read this, I can see 4 These words suggest that the slope 5 I think he uses infinite because Page 5 of 7

6 Stanza 6 1 Leapt makes me think that these soldiers 2 When I read hot blast and fury it makes me imagine Drawings, questions and ideas about this stanza. Of them who running on that last high place Leapt 1 to swift unseen bullets, or went up On the hot blast and fury 2 of hell's upsurge, Or plunged and fell away past this world's verge, 3 Some say God caught them 4 even before they fell. 3 This phrase makes me imagine 4 To me, this means Page 6 of 7

7 Stanza 7 1 This describes the soldiers who 2 Out-fiending describes Drawings, questions and ideas about this stanza. But what say such as from existence' brink Ventured but drave too swift to sink, 1 The few who rushed in the body to enter hell, And there out-fiending 2 all its fiends and flames With superhuman inhumanities, Long-famous glories, immemorial shames - And crawling slowly back, have by degrees Regained cool peaceful air in wonder - Why speak not they of comrades that went under? 3 3 I think they don t speak of those that went under because Page 7 of 7