Poetry Revision “The Drum” and “O What is that Sound”

“The Drum” by John Scott Explore how Scott uses structure and language to convey his attitudes towards war and conflict.

PEA paragraphs POINT: EVIDENCE: ANALYSIS:

Voice ‘I hate’ – first person, strong emotion – sets tone for poem, personal perspective / opinion Quaker – pacifists (wrong to go to war)

Imagery ‘their liberty (freedom) for charms / of tawdry lace, and glittering arms’ (uniforms and weapons) ‘charms’ – almost worthless, cheap jewellery / for luck – appearance vs reality of war

Language features ‘drum’s discordant sound / Parading round and round and round’ – alliteration ‘discordant’ – negative term stands out. Repetition – reflects rhythm of drum. Unceasing / never stops. ‘lures’ – tricking / deceiving / persuading them. Dishonest, also predatory Ambition’s voice – abstract noun- always going to be a force of ‘ambition’ to send young men to war Inevitability: ‘when ambition…’

Rhyme and Rhythm Rhyming couplets John Scott uses rhyming couplets in ‘The Drum’ for emphasis. The end-line rhymes create a beat like the sound of ‘The Each line has the same number of beats EXCEPT the last line in each stanza.

Rhyme and Rhythm Rhyming couplets John Scott uses rhyming couplets in ‘The Drum’ for emphasis. The end-line rhymes create a beat like the sound of ‘The Drum’ or the marching soldiers the ‘thoughtless youth’ will become by the end of the stanza. The beat could also represent the obedience of soldiers as part of a homogenous group or the strict regime that is part of army life. Each line has the same number of beats EXCEPT the last line in each stanza. The extra beat in the last line of the stanza emphasises the true nature of war according to the poet. At the end of stanza one this emphasis lands on ‘fall’ due to the alliteration used.

Form and Structure First verse highlights naivety of youth, second verse highlights consequences of this Second verse reveals reality of war ‘and’ repetition builds up momentum until last line – build tension and expectation up to last line – negative / depressing

2 nd Stanza ‘mangled limbs’ etc – graphic images of suffering ‘Misery’s hand’ – metaphorical / personification – giving an abstract noun agency – soldiers are not in control – the young men are not making their own choices

“O What is that Sound” by W.H. Auden There is more than one possible interpretation of this poem… What do you think the poem is about? First voice could be man or woman betrayed by husband or wife by the end because of cowardliness / soldiers coming to conscript / enemy approaching etc Ambiguity suggests / reinforces / accentuates uncertainty and confusion of first speaker and possible dishonesty of the second speaker

How could this poem be compared to “The Drum”? SimilaritiesDifferences

Voice First Voice Questions – uncertainty, worry, dependency Repetition – of questions, emphasises their emotions, of end word – voice could have asked before, again emphasises concern, also provides rhythm (soldiers marching) builds up sense of tension – is the voice becoming more fraught / worried? Second Voice Short answers – lack of care / attention, callous, detached, apathy ‘dear’ – patronising / sarcastic but does show a relationship exists – loved one, could be genuine at the beginning. Repetition – loses sentiment, becomes empty, which could reflect relationship / trust / second’s speaker’s intentions

Imagery / Language ‘scarlet soldiers’ – alliteration emphasise soldiers might be bloodthirsty, mystery surrounding soldiers. ‘Scarlet’ – red suggests danger, warnings, pain, anger Tension builds as Soldiers come closer… - soldiers slowly advance from ‘down in the valley’ to having ‘passed the farmyard’ ‘Why are you kneeling?’ – prayer. Question implies some confusion or misunderstanding from second speaker ‘their eyes are burning’ – threatening, dangerous, aggressive, inhuman?

Rhyme and Rhythm Repetition of first voice builds tension and emphasises rhythm – soldiers marching Starts off with regular rhyme scheme but stanza 4 onwards moves into half rhymes only – weakening of loyalty of second voice? Rhythm all the way through is constant representing the onwards march and inevitable arrival of the soldiers

Form and Structure The first voice is deceived by the second by the end of the poem. Regular structure builds tension right up to the end. We don’t know what happens once the soldiers arrive- more haunting?