Evaluate the use of metaphor in an anti-war poem The falling leaves Evaluate the use of metaphor in an anti-war poem

Margaret Postgate Cole As a young woman, Cole began to question the role of religion, adopting atheist views. Her brother, Raymond Postgate, was imprisoned during WW1 as a conscientious objector, as the court didn’t accept that his atheism was a valid reason for not fighting. When he was eventually forced to sign up, he was found to be medically unfit, but because the public was so sure that any young man not in uniform must be a coward, he went on the run. It was during her brother’s trial that Margaret Postgate’s views of the Great War were transformed. Her support for her brother confirmed her as a pacifist and led her to campaign against conscription, or forced enlistment.

Task: Read the poem Can you underline the metaphors that symbolises the soldiers and the experience and outcome of war? METAPHOR-describing one thing as another to reflect the qualities of the described object. Example: the butterfly in the boxing ring evaded his opponent.

The Falling Leaves – Margaret Postgate Cole November 1915 Today, as I rode by, I saw the brown leaves dropping from their tree In a still afternoon, When no wind whirled them whistling to the sky, But thickly, silently, They fell, like snowflakes wiping out the noon; And wandered slowly thence For thinking of a gallant multitude Which now all withering lay, Slain by no wind of age or pestilence, But in their beauty strewed Like snowflakes falling on the Flemish clay.

I saw the brown leaves dropping from their tree November 1915 Today, as I rode by, I saw the brown leaves dropping from their tree This person is a spectator observing the scene. The leaves could be a metaphor for the soldiers dying. The poem is set in November 1915, which is during World War I. This links to ‘Futility’, as Owen also uses natural imagery – the sun.

This links to ‘Mametz Wood’, as Sheers uses alliteration. The day is peaceful. Nothing is making the leaves fall off the tree. This suggests there’s no reason for the soldiers’ deaths. In a still afternoon, When no wind whirled them whistling to the sky, Alliteration. The repeated ‘w’ is a soft, peaceful sound. This contrasts the chaos of war. It also sounds like ‘why?’ – why are the soldiers dying? This links to ‘Mametz Wood’, as Sheers uses alliteration.

Similes are also used in ‘Bayonet Charge’. But thickly, silently, They fell, like snowflakes wiping out the noon; Noon is the middle of the day. This suggests the soldiers were being wiped out in the prime of their lives. Snowflakes are cold, which links to death. Also, snowflakes are unique; the soldiers each have their own lives away from the war. Similes are also used in ‘Bayonet Charge’.

Literal. What the speaker sees. Today, as I rode by, I saw the brown leaves dropping from their tree In a still afternoon, When no wind whirled them whistling to the sky, But thickly, silently, They fell, like snowflakes wiping out the noon; And wandered slowly thence For thinking of a gallant multitude Which now all withering lay, Slain by no wind of age or pestilence, But in their beauty strewed Like snowflakes falling on the Flemish clay. What it makes them think about. The poem is split into two parts. They are separated by the semi-colon. There is only one full stop at the end. This suggests that the poem is one thought – the speaker stays focused on it throughout. This links to ‘Futility’, as the poem is split into two parts.

Rhyme scheme: abcabc defdef. Today, as I rode by, I saw the brown leaves dropping from their tree In a still afternoon, When no wind whirled them whistling to the sky, But thickly, silently, They fell, like snowflakes wiping out the noon; And wandered slowly thence For thinking of a gallant multitude Which now all withering lay, Slain by no wind of age or pestilence, But in their beauty strewed Like snowflakes falling on the Flemish clay. Rhyme scheme: abcabc defdef. Mirrors the two parts of the poem. The poem has a volta (turning point). This is similar to a sonnet. However, this poem only has 12 lines. The rhyming couplet is missing. This could be because the soldiers are dead; there is no resolution. This links to ‘Futility’, as it is a sonnet with a turning point.

“thence” means from there And wandered slowly thence For thinking of a gallant multitude “gallant multitude” means lots of brave soldiers. This links to ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’, as the soldiers are “noble”.

“withering” means dying. The soldiers were not killed by old age or disease. Their deaths were unnatural. Which now all withering lay, Slain by no wind of age or pestilence, But in their beauty strewed Like snowflakes falling on the Flemish clay. “Flemish clay” is a reference to Flanders Fields. The snowflake simile is repeated. This links to ‘Futility’, as Owen also mentions “clay”.

Representation of soldiers ‘No wind whirled them whistling to the sky'. What does this suggest about their death? what does gates mean when she describes the soldiers as ‘slain by no wind of age or pestilence’? What do ‘snowflakes’ suggest about the soldiers? Consider what happens to snowflakes when they fall to the ground. What does the phrase ‘beauty strewed’ reflect about the manner in which soldiers die?

What is Cole’s view of the soldiers? The word ‘ ’…………. The phrase ‘’ ………….