'The Volunteer' by Robert Service
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
Sez I: My Country calls? Well, let it call.
I grins perlitely and declines wiv thanks.
Go, let 'em plaster every blighted wall,
'Ere's ONE they don't stampede into the ranks.
Them politicians with their greasy ways;
Them empire-grabbers -- fight for 'em? No fear!
I've seen this mess a-comin' from the days
Of Algyserious and Aggydear:
I've felt me passion rise and swell,
But . . . wot the 'ell, Bill? Wot the 'ell?
Sez I: My Country? Mine? I likes their cheek.
Me mud-bespattered by the cars they drive,
Wot makes my measly thirty bob a week,
And sweats red blood to keep meself alive!
Fight for the right to slave that they may spend,
Them in their mansions, me 'ere in my slum?
No, let 'em fight wot's something to defend:
But me, I've nothin' -- let the Kaiser come.
And so I cusses 'ard and well,
But . . . wot the 'ell, Bill? Wot the 'ell?
Sez I: If they would do the decent thing,
And shield the missis and the little 'uns,
Why, even _I_ might shout "God save the King",
And face the chances of them 'ungry guns.
But we've got three, another on the way;
It's that wot makes me snarl and set me jor:
The wife and nippers, wot of 'em, I say,
If I gets knocked out in this blasted war?
Gets proper busted by a shell,
But . . . wot the 'ell, Bill? Wot the 'ell?
Ay, wot the 'ell's the use of all this talk?
To-day some boys in blue was passin' me,
And some of 'em they 'ad no legs to walk,
And some of 'em they 'ad no eyes to see.
And -- well, I couldn't look 'em in the face,
And so I'm goin', goin' to declare
I'm under forty-one and take me place
To face the music with the bunch out there.
A fool, you say! Maybe you're right.
I'll 'ave no peace unless I fight.
I've ceased to think; I only know
I've gotta go, Bill, gotta go.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Volunteer: An Epic Poem of Love and War
Robert Service's "The Volunteer" is a poem that captures the essence of war and the human spirit that drives individuals to fight for their country. The poem tells the story of a young man named John who volunteers to fight in World War I, leaving behind his love, Mary, and family. Service's use of vivid imagery and powerful metaphors creates a gripping narrative that takes the reader on John's journey from the excitement of enlistment to the horror of the battlefield.
The Enlistment
The poem opens with John's decision to enlist in the army, driven by a sense of duty and patriotism. Service writes, "I'm going out to fight for England!" / he said with a proud delight. / "I'm going to do my bit, you know, / and I think I'll do it right." These lines establish John's character as a young man eager to serve his country and prove his worth. The use of exclamation marks and the repetition of "I'm going" adds a sense of urgency and excitement to his decision.
Service's use of foreshadowing is also notable in this section. John says, "I may not come back a hero, / but I'll come back a man!" This line hints at the possibility of John's death or injury in the war, and the transformation he will undergo as a result of his experiences.
The Journey
The second section of the poem describes John's journey to the battlefield, where he is faced with the harsh realities of war. Service writes, "He went away to a world of war, / to a world of mud and blood, / where the only sound in the eerie night / was the lone owl in the wood." This description creates a stark contrast between John's previous life and the brutal world he has entered. The use of sensory language, such as "mud and blood" and the "lone owl" creates a vivid image of the warzone and the isolation and despair that soldiers face.
The poem also explores the theme of camaraderie among soldiers. John meets other soldiers on his journey, and they form a bond based on their shared experiences. Service writes, "They talked of their homes and families, / of the girls they used to know, / and they sang the songs of the olden days, / that brought back the long ago." This passage highlights the importance of human connection and shared memories in times of conflict.
The Battle
The third section of the poem is the most powerful, as John faces the horrors of war firsthand. Service's use of vivid imagery and powerful metaphors creates a sense of chaos and confusion that mirrors the battlefield itself. He writes, "The shell burst right beside him / and he felt a searing flame, / and he fell to the ground in agony, / as if death itself had came." The use of the word "searing" emphasizes the intense pain that John experiences, and the repetition of the word "and" creates a sense of rapid movement and fragmentation.
The poem also explores the theme of sacrifice, as John and his fellow soldiers give their lives for their country. Service writes, "They knew they were fighting for freedom, / for the right to be men and free, / and they died with the flag above them, / for the sake of their land and sea." These lines highlight the soldiers' sense of duty and sacrifice, and the importance of their actions in protecting their country and preserving their way of life.
The Return
The final section of the poem returns to John's love, Mary, and the impact that his death has on her. Service writes, "And Mary sat by the lonely hearth, / and she wept for her love so true, / and she prayed to God in her secret heart, / that she might go to him too." This passage highlights the toll that war takes on loved ones left behind, and the pain and grief that they experience.
The poem ends with a sense of hope and resilience, as Service writes, "And the years roll on and the world forgets, / but the old love lingers still, / and though they sleep in the silent earth, / they are living yet, they are living still." These lines suggest that even though the soldiers have passed away, their memory and sacrifice live on, inspiring future generations to continue fighting for freedom and justice.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Robert Service's "The Volunteer" is a powerful poem that captures the essence of war and the human spirit that drives individuals to fight for their country. Through vivid imagery and powerful metaphors, Service creates a narrative that takes the reader on John's journey from the excitement of enlistment to the horror of the battlefield, and finally to the impact that his death has on his loved ones. The poem explores themes of duty, sacrifice, camaraderie, and love, highlighting the resilience and hope that endure even in the face of tragedy.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Volunteer: A Poem of Heroism and Sacrifice
Robert Service's "The Volunteer" is a classic poem that tells the story of a young man who volunteers to fight in World War I. The poem is a powerful tribute to the bravery and selflessness of those who fought and died in the war, and it captures the spirit of sacrifice that defined that era.
The poem begins with the narrator describing the young man who volunteers to fight. He is described as "a lad of nineteen summers" who is "tall and strong and clean of limb." The narrator notes that the young man is "eager to serve his country" and that he is "full of the fire of youth."
The poem then shifts to the young man's journey to the front lines. He travels by train and sees the "fields of France" passing by. He is filled with a sense of duty and honor, and he is determined to do his part in the war.
As the young man arrives at the front lines, he is greeted by the "thunder of guns" and the "rattle of rifles." He is confronted with the harsh realities of war, and he realizes that he is in a dangerous and deadly situation. However, he remains steadfast and determined to do his duty.
The poem then describes the young man's experiences in battle. He fights bravely and selflessly, risking his life to protect his fellow soldiers. He is wounded in battle, but he continues to fight on, refusing to give up or give in.
The poem ends with the young man's death. He dies a hero, sacrificing his life for his country and his fellow soldiers. The narrator notes that the young man's sacrifice was not in vain, and that his memory will live on forever.
"The Volunteer" is a powerful poem that captures the spirit of sacrifice and heroism that defined World War I. The young man in the poem represents the thousands of young men who volunteered to fight in the war, and who gave their lives in service to their country.
The poem is also a tribute to the bravery and selflessness of those who fought in the war. The young man in the poem is not a professional soldier, but rather a civilian who volunteered to fight. He is motivated by a sense of duty and honor, and he is willing to risk his life to protect his country and his fellow soldiers.
The poem also captures the harsh realities of war. The young man is confronted with the "thunder of guns" and the "rattle of rifles," and he is wounded in battle. However, he remains steadfast and determined, refusing to give up or give in.
The poem's message is clear: war is a brutal and deadly business, but there are those who are willing to sacrifice everything to protect their country and their fellow soldiers. The young man in the poem represents the best of humanity, and his sacrifice is a reminder of the courage and selflessness that can be found in even the darkest of times.
In conclusion, "The Volunteer" is a classic poem that captures the spirit of sacrifice and heroism that defined World War I. The young man in the poem represents the thousands of young men who volunteered to fight in the war, and who gave their lives in service to their country. The poem is a powerful tribute to the bravery and selflessness of those who fought in the war, and it is a reminder of the courage and selflessness that can be found in even the darkest of times.
Editor Recommended Sites
Prompt Composing: AutoGPT style composition of LLMs for attention focus on different parts of the problem, auto suggest and continueLogic Database: Logic databases with reasoning and inference, ontology and taxonomy management
PS5 Deals App: Playstation 5 digital deals from the playstation store, check the metacritic ratings and historical discount level
Rust Language: Rust programming language Apps, Web Assembly Apps
GNN tips: Graph Neural network best practice, generative ai neural networks with reasoning
Recommended Similar Analysis
Music Swims Back To Me by Anne Sexton analysisMannahatta by Walt Whitman analysis
I Am The People, The Mob by Carl Sandburg analysis
Flesh and the Spirit, The by Anne Bradstreet analysis
She rose to his requirement, dropped by Emily Dickinson analysis
After the Quarrel by Paul Laurence Dunbar analysis
Vantage Point, The by Robert Lee Frost analysis
Song by Sir John Suckling analysis
Prisoner of Chillon, The by George Gordon, Lord Byron analysis
Trees by Joyce Kilmer analysis