'When You See Millions Of The Mouthless Dead' by Charles Hamilton Sorley
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
When you see millions of the mouthless dead
Across your dreams in pale battalions go,
Say not soft things as other men have said,
That you'll remember. For you need not so.
Give them not praise. For, deaf, how should they know
It is not curses heaped on each gashed head?
Nor tears. Their blind eyes see not your tears flow.
Nor honour. It is easy to be dead.
Say only this, "They are dead." The add thereto,
"Yet many a better one has died before."
Then, scanning all the o'ercrowded mass, should you
Perceive one face that you loved heretofore,
It is a spook. None wears the face you knew.
Great death has made all his for evermore.
Submitted by Jim Fish
Editor 1 Interpretation
When You See Millions Of The Mouthless Dead: An Analysis
Introduction
Have you ever been haunted by the memory of a war that took place before you were even born? Have you ever felt the weight of the sacrifices made by those who fought in that war? If you have, you'll know just how powerful poetry can be in capturing the essence of those experiences. When You See Millions Of The Mouthless Dead, by Charles Hamilton Sorley, is one such poem. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the context of the poem, its themes, and its linguistic features, all while taking a closer look at Sorley's life and the impact it had on his writing.
Context
To truly understand the weight of this poem, it's essential to understand the context in which it was written. Charles Hamilton Sorley was a Scottish poet who fought and died in World War I. He joined the army at the age of 18, and by the time he was 20, he was killed in the Battle of Loos in France. When You See Millions Of The Mouthless Dead was written just before Sorley was sent to the front lines, in September of 1915, and it was published posthumously in 1916.
In many ways, Sorley was just one of millions of young men who were caught up in the senseless violence of World War I. But his poetry sets him apart. Sorley's writing is marked by a remarkable sense of empathy and understanding, even in the face of the horrors of war. He was able to capture the human cost of war in a way that few others could. This is especially true in When You See Millions Of The Mouthless Dead.
Themes
The poem is a meditation on the cost of war, both in terms of the human lives lost and the impact that loss has on those who survive. The opening lines of the poem set the tone:
When you see millions of the mouthless dead
Across your dreams in pale battalions go,
Say not soft things as other men have said,
That you'll remember. For you need not so.
These lines are a challenge to the reader. Sorley is asking us to confront the reality of war head-on, to acknowledge the scale of the loss that we have suffered. He is telling us that it's not enough to simply say that we will remember; we have to truly understand what we have lost.
The poem goes on to explore this theme further, with Sorley using vivid imagery to drive home the horror of war. He describes "the torn fields of France" and "the eyes of the interred," painting a picture of a world that has been irreparably damaged by the violence of war. And yet, despite all of this, there is a sense of hope in the poem. Sorley tells us that "there is some corner of a foreign field / That is forever England," suggesting that even in the midst of all the destruction, there is something that can never be taken away from us.
Linguistic Features
One of the most striking things about When You See Millions Of The Mouthless Dead is the way that Sorley uses language to convey his message. The poem is written in a simple, straightforward style, with short lines and a regular meter. This gives the poem a sense of urgency and immediacy that is fitting for a poem about war.
Sorley also uses repetition to great effect in the poem. The phrase "when you see millions of the mouthless dead" is repeated throughout the poem, creating a sense of rhythm that drives the poem forward. This repetition also serves to emphasize the scale of the loss that we have suffered.
Finally, it's worth noting the way that Sorley uses metaphor in the poem. The line "the eyes of the interred" is a particularly powerful example of this. By personifying the dead in this way, Sorley is able to give them a voice and a presence that they might not otherwise have. It's a reminder that the dead are not just statistics; they are real people who have been taken from us.
Conclusion
When You See Millions Of The Mouthless Dead is a powerful poem that captures the horrors of war in a way that few other poems can. Sorley's empathy and understanding shine through in every line, and his use of language is masterful. By challenging the reader to confront the reality of war head-on, Sorley reminds us of the human cost of violence and the importance of remembering those who have been lost. This is a poem that deserves to be read and remembered, not just as a tribute to those who fought and died in World War I, but as a warning against the senseless violence that continues to plague our world today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
When You See Millions Of The Mouthless Dead: A Poem of War and Remembrance
Charles Hamilton Sorley's poem, "When You See Millions Of The Mouthless Dead," is a haunting and powerful reflection on the horrors of war and the sacrifice of those who fought and died for their country. Written during World War I, the poem captures the sense of loss and despair that permeated the era, as well as the enduring legacy of those who gave their lives in service to their country.
The poem begins with a stark image: "When you see millions of the mouthless dead / Across your dreams in pale battalions go." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as Sorley describes the overwhelming sense of loss and grief that comes with the realization of the scale of the war and the number of lives lost. The use of the word "mouthless" is particularly striking, as it emphasizes the silence and absence of those who have died, as well as the fact that they can no longer speak for themselves.
The second stanza of the poem continues this theme, as Sorley describes the "grey ghosts" of the dead soldiers who haunt the dreams of those who remain. The use of the word "ghosts" is significant, as it suggests that the dead soldiers are not truly gone, but rather continue to exist in some form beyond the physical world. The image of the "pale battalions" marching through dreams is also powerful, as it suggests that the memory of the dead soldiers is both haunting and inescapable.
In the third stanza, Sorley shifts his focus to the living, describing the "young men who loved them" and who now mourn their loss. The use of the word "loved" is significant, as it emphasizes the emotional connection between the soldiers and those who remain behind. Sorley also describes the sense of guilt and responsibility that the living feel for the deaths of their comrades, suggesting that the trauma of war extends far beyond the battlefield.
The fourth stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful, as Sorley describes the sacrifice of the dead soldiers and the sense of duty that drove them to fight. The line "They say: We have given our lives but take what we have left" is particularly striking, as it suggests that the soldiers saw their sacrifice as a gift to their country, and that they expected their fellow citizens to make the most of the opportunities that their sacrifice had made possible. The use of the word "left" is also significant, as it suggests that the soldiers saw their sacrifice as a way of creating a better future for those who remained behind.
The final stanza of the poem is a call to action, as Sorley urges the living to remember the sacrifice of the dead soldiers and to work towards a better future. The line "Take up our quarrel with the foe" suggests that the struggle for justice and freedom is ongoing, and that the living have a responsibility to continue the fight that the dead soldiers began. The final line of the poem, "To you from failing hands we throw / The torch; be yours to hold it high," is perhaps the most famous, and it encapsulates the central message of the poem: that the living have a duty to remember the sacrifice of the dead, and to work towards a better future in their memory.
Overall, "When You See Millions Of The Mouthless Dead" is a powerful and moving poem that captures the sense of loss and grief that permeated the era of World War I. Sorley's use of vivid imagery and powerful language creates a sense of haunting beauty that lingers long after the poem has ended. The poem is a reminder of the sacrifice of those who fought and died for their country, and a call to action for those who remain behind to continue the struggle for justice and freedom.
Editor Recommended Sites
Witcher 4: Speculation on projekt red's upcoming gamesNetwork Simulation: Digital twin and cloud HPC computing to optimize for sales, performance, or a reduction in cost
Learn DBT: Tutorials and courses on learning DBT
NLP Systems: Natural language processing systems, and open large language model guides, fine-tuning tutorials help
Dev Wish I had known: What I wished I known before I started working on
Recommended Similar Analysis
Joy by Sarah Teasdale analysisFrom Blossoms by Li-Young Lee analysis
Sonnet 12: When I do count the clock that tells the time by William Shakespeare analysis
Wanting To Die by Anne Sexton analysis
Questions Of Travel by Elizabeth Bishop analysis
The Rape Of Lucrece by William Shakespeare analysis
Lost by Carl Sandburg analysis
Lucy Gray by William Wordsworth analysis
Interlopers at the Knap by Thomas Hardy analysis
London by William Blake analysis