TSR Wiki > Study Help > Subjects and Revision > Revision Notes > English > The Fallen Subaltern - Herbert Asquith
- 'starshells float’ --> fate, written in the stars --> natural, not monstrous. gentle & unthreatening
- ‘our fallen friend’ ‘waiting legions’ --> camaraderie even in death, still loyal to war (listening to outcomes)
- ‘wound in the flag of England’ --> the fates of the men and the country are intertwined/ they are one entity/ dying for country
- ‘the guns will flash and thunder o’er the grave’ --> glory and importance (Converse to WO spring offensive ‘no alarms of bugles, no high flags’)
- ‘What other’ --> naturally daaarling! War is a natural process
- ‘sun-god’ --> shows classical private education, god --> immortality, the service the men have done has given them this (reflected in ‘waiting legions’), sunset --> death of soldier, again natural
- ‘and leaves behind twilight in the world’ --> have made a difference
- Also a good example of providing for future generations in the 4th stanza
- Measured uniformed rhyme scheme. All natural processes, v balanced, trad poetry (old values) etc etc, just use usual waffle about how balanced rhyme schemes are significant
Comments
These notes are aimed at A Level English students at A2 level.
Originally written by Steph! on TSR Forums.
