O What is That Sound W.H.Auden Apple Inc. 1st Edition
Context!... 3 Poem!... 4 S.M.I.L.E. Analysis!... 6 Sample Exam Question Part A!... 15 Comparison!... 15 Sample Exam Question - Part B!... 16
Context W.H. Auden Wystan Hugh Auden (21 February 1907" 29 September 1973) was an Anglo-American poet, born in England, later an American citizen, regarded by many as one of the greatest writers of the 20th century. His work is noted for its stylistic and technical achievements, its engagement with moral and political issues, and its variety of tone, form and content. The central themes of his poetry are love, politics and citizenship, religion and morals, and the relationship between unique human beings and the anonymous, impersonal world of nature. His early poems, written in the late 1920s and early 1930s, alternated between telegraphic modern styles and fluent traditional ones, were written in an intense and dramatic tone, and established his reputation as a left-wing political poet and prophet. He became uncomfortable in this role in the later 1930s, and abandoned it after he moved to the United States in 1939, where he became an
American citizen in 1946. His poems in the 1940s explored religious and ethical themes in a less dramatic manner than his earlier works, but still combined traditional forms and styles with new forms devised by Auden himself. Poem O what is that sound which so thrills the ear Down in the valley drumming, drumming? Only the scarlet soldiers, dear, The soldiers coming. O what is that light I see flashing so clear Over the distance brightly, brightly? Only the sun on their weapons, dear, As they step lightly. O what are they doing with all that gear, What are they doing this morning, morning? Only their usual manoeuvres, dear, Or perhaps a warning. O why have they left the road down there, Why are they suddenly wheeling, wheeling? Perhaps a change in their orders, dear, Why are you kneeling? O haven't they stopped for the doctor's care, Haven't they reined their horses, horses? Why, they are none of them wounded, dear, None of these forces. O is it the parson they want, with white hair, Is it the parson, is it, is it?
No, they are passing his gateway, dear, Without a visit. O it must be the farmer that lives so near. It must be the farmer so cunning, so cunning? They have passed the farmyard already, dear, And now they are running. O where are you going? Stay with me here! Were the vows you swore deceiving, deceiving? No, I promised to love you, dear, But I must be leaving. O it's broken the lock and splintered the door, O it's the gate where they're turning, turning; Their boots are heavy on the floor And their eyes are burning. WH Auden
S.M.I.L.E. Analysis Remember, to analyse a poem we need to look at: -Structure -Meaning -Imagery (similes, metaphors, personification) -Language -Effect on the reader
Meaning Meaning is a good place to start when thinking about a poem, as here you can discuss the principal theme(s) of the poem and why you think the poet has written it. Meaning-key points There are two speakers in this poem, as Auden admits himself. The whole poem is a duologue, with the first two lines in each stanza being questions (asked by speaker one) and the latter two lines answers (said by speaker two). Married Couple were the vows you swore deceiving, deceiving? and use of word dear. Soldiers invading town (possible Nazis coming for Jews) but timescale is very vague-applys to all conflict. Conflict between husband and wife and the tow and the soldiers attacking. possibility that 1st speaker knows what s going to happen but tries to placate the second speaker throughout before abandoning her. As the poem progresses, speaker one's sense of desperation heightens. So much so that in stanza eight, speaker one pleads "Stay with me here!", with speaker two replying "I must be leaving." This shows the contrast between the two characters, speaker one seems distraught, uncertain and asks questions in every stanza. Speaker two seems more level headed and calm. He or she appears to have all the answers and replies to the questions abruptly. This conflict of emotions between characters in the poem reflects the confusion of war. Speaker one is clearly distressed at seeing the soldiers, whereas speaker two is dealing with this more rationally. But I must be leaving is this the man leaving to fight or abandoning his wife? Fight or flight?
Exploration - Meaning What are the emotions of the two speakers in the first 3 stanzas? How do these emotions change in the 8th stanza? What do you think is happening in the final stanza and how is this portrayed?
Structure Structure refers to the way a poem is set out and organised. Here, you write about things like rhyme scheme, length, repetition and the flow of ideas throughout the poem. Key points - Structure There is a very strong sense of rhythm throughout this poem which is strongly reflected by the image laden language like "drumming, drumming" creates. The rhythm speeds up as the poem progresses to represent suspense and the fact that the soldiers are closing in and getting closer-time is running out. Rhythm suggests soldier s marching song-sound of boots. The rhyming pattern is very regular which is very reminiscent of military marching and discipline. ABAB- There are two speakers in this poem, as Auden admits himself. The whole poem is a duologue, with the first two lines in each stanza being questions (asked by speaker one) and the latter two lines answers (said by speaker two). As the poem progresses, speaker one's sense of desperation heightens. Repetition on the second line of each stanza gives it a nursery rhyme type feel: drumming, drumming? gives the effect of the sheer noise and fear the nazis evoked brightly, brightly? signifies that the image is becoming clearer and attack is inevitable Wheeling, wheeling? large organised army-changes direction. Juxtaposition between power of army and innocence of couple. ballad 4 lines song like quality-use of the O at the start of each stanza. Stanzas provide a snapshot of what is happening-events becoming clearer to wards the end. O where are you going/ Saty with me here! use of? and! shoe desperation and hopelessness
What is the effect of the repetition throughout the poem? - - - - Why is the second and the fourth line of each stanza indented? - - - - - - How does the rhythm of the poem relate to what is happening?
Imagery This is where you look at techniques such as similes, metaphors and personification. What pictures has the poet tried to create in your head? Imagery - Key Points The final metaphor "their eyes are burning" shows the malicious intent that is seen by the narrator. Pathetic fallacy Only the sun on their weapons, dear -only their weapons have hope not the millions of Jews. Rhetorical questions used throughout Why are you kneeling? this could mean kneeling in respect, prayer or kneels have buckled from fear. Questions add to confusion. No rhetorical question in in final stanza-everything is clear-no hope. speaking here? Who is Imagery - Exploration How does Carson build up sense of panic and desertion/betrayal?
How does the poet create the malicious intent of the soldiers? What is the significance of the metaphor?
Language This is where you comment on the language the poet uses. What choices has he/she made, and why? Key Points - Language At the start of the poem the language is rather sedate and calm. Phrases like "only the scarlet soldiers, dear" set the reader at ease. However, as the poem progresses the language becomes more and more panicked. Words like "suddenly" build tension and the constant use of "why" adds layers to the panic alliteration Scarlet soldiers -covered in blood? Represents anger, fierceness, death? Could also relate to nursery rhyme soldiers dressed in red. Thrills excitement Words give chilling atmosphere in contrast to song like, nursery rhyme qualities of layout: warning, wounded, cunning, deceiving, splintered onomatopoeia of drumming, drumming noise of marching soldiers-suspense and inevitability Exploration - Language What effect does the alliteration within the poem have? What is the effect of some of the words used and why have they been selected?
Effect on the reader Have you noticed any similarities / differences with other poems in the Clashes and Collisions collection? Which poem(s) might this best fit with? ------- ------- ------- ------- What is your own personal response to the poem? Did you like it? Why or why not? ------- ------- ------- ------- ------
Sample Exam Question Part A 3. a) Explore how the writer presents his ideas about the causes of violence in O What is That Sound Use examples of the language from the poem to support your answer. (15 marks). NB - In the exam, you would have about 30 minutes to complete this question. Write an answer to this question and email it to me. Comparison
Belfast Confetti Second poem. Meaning Structure Imagery Language Effect Sample Exam Question - Part B Answer EITHER 3(b)i OR 3(b)ii 3 b) (i) Compare how the writers of O What is That Sound and present incidents of conflict. 3 b) (ii) Compare how the writers of O What is that Sound and one other poem of your choice from the Clashes and Collisions collection present their views about conflict in any setting. (15 marks)
Use examples from the language of both poems to support your answer. NB - In the exam, you would have about 30 minutes to complete this question. Write an answer to this question and email it to me.