'Don't Cheer' by Robert Service
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Don't cheer, damn you! Don't cheer!
Silence! Your bitterest tear
Is fulsomely sweet to-day. . . .
Down on your knees and pray.
See, they sing as they go,
Marching row upon row.
Who will be spared to return,
Sombre and starkly stern?
Chaps whom we knew - s0 strange,
Distant and dark with change;
Silent as those they slew,
Something in them dead too.
Who will return this way,
To sing as they sing to-day.
Send to the glut of the guns
Bravest and best of you sons.
Hurl a million to slaughter,
Blood flowing like Thames water;
Pile up pyramid high
Your dead to the anguished sky;
A monument down all time
Of hate and horror and crime.
Weep, rage, pity, curse, fear -
Anything, but . . . don't cheer.
Sow to the ploughing guns
Seed of your splendid sons.
Let your heroic slain
Richly manure the plain.
What will the harvest be?
Unborn of Unborn will see. . . .
Dark is the sky and drear. . . .
For the pity of God don't cheer.
Dark and dread is their way.
Who sing as they march to-day. . . .
Humble your hearts and pray.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Don't Cheer by Robert Service: A Deep Dive into its Literary Significance
How often do we celebrate victories without paying heed to the struggles that came before? How often do we cheer in triumph, ignoring the sacrifices and losses that made it possible? These are the profound questions that Robert Service's classic poem "Don't Cheer" brings to the fore.
Written in Service's signature style, the poem is a critique of the superficial nature of human celebrations. It urges us to pause and reflect on the deeper meaning of our victories and the role of sacrifice and loss in achieving them. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will take a deep dive into the poem's literary significance, themes, and stylistic features.
Background and Context
Before we delve into the poem, let's first understand a bit about the poet and the context in which it was written. Robert Service was a British-Canadian poet who gained fame for his ballads about the Yukon Gold Rush. His poems were known for their simple yet powerful language, their strong narrative structure, and their ability to capture the essence of human experience.
"Don't Cheer" was written in 1910, a time when the world was changing rapidly. The Industrial Revolution had brought about significant changes in society and technology, and the world was on the brink of World War I. It was a time of great optimism and progress, but it was also a time of great uncertainty and fear.
Service, in his own way, was trying to make sense of this changing world. He was trying to understand the nature of human experience, the meaning of victory, and the role of loss and sacrifice in achieving it. "Don't Cheer" was his way of critiquing the superficiality of human celebrations and urging us to look beyond the surface to the deeper truths of life.
Themes and Interpretation
At its core, "Don't Cheer" is a poem about the nature of victory and the role of sacrifice in achieving it. The poem is divided into two stanzas, with the first stanza setting the tone for the rest of the poem.
The speaker, who is presumably the poet himself, is addressing a crowd of people who are cheering a victory. He urges them to stop cheering, to pause and reflect on the deeper meaning of their victory. He asks them to think about the sacrifices and losses that made their victory possible, and to honor those who gave their lives for it.
The second stanza is a reflection on the nature of victory itself. The speaker argues that victory is not just about winning, but also about the sacrifices that are made along the way. He urges us to look beyond the surface of victory, to see the deeper meaning of sacrifice and loss.
As we read the poem, we begin to see that it is not just a critique of the superficiality of human celebrations, but also a meditation on the nature of life itself. Life, like victory, is not just about the highs, but also about the lows. It is about the sacrifices we make, the losses we endure, and the lessons we learn along the way.
The poem's themes are universal and timeless, and they speak to us on a deep level. They remind us that life is not just about success, but also about struggle. They remind us that victory is not just about winning, but also about the sacrifices that are made along the way.
Stylistic Features
Like all of Service's poems, "Don't Cheer" is written in a simple, straightforward style. The language is accessible and easy to understand, but it is also powerful and evocative.
One of the most striking features of the poem is its use of repetition. The phrase "Don't cheer" is repeated throughout the poem, emphasizing the speaker's message and driving it home. The repetition also gives the poem a musical quality, making it easy to remember and recite.
Another stylistic feature of the poem is its use of imagery. Service uses vivid, sensory language to describe the sacrifices and losses that made victory possible. He describes the "boys who went under," the "widows' tears," and the "orphans' cries," painting a picture of the human cost of victory.
Finally, the poem's structure is worth noting. The first stanza is a direct address to the crowd, while the second stanza is a reflection on the nature of victory. This structure gives the poem a sense of movement and progression, leading the reader from one idea to the next.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Don't Cheer" is a powerful poem that urges us to look beyond the surface of victory and to honor the sacrifices and losses that made it possible. Through its simple language, powerful imagery, and repetition, the poem drives home its message and reminds us of the deeper truths of life.
As we reflect on our own lives, we can learn much from the poem's themes and messages. We can learn to honor the sacrifices of others, to look beyond the surface of success, and to appreciate the deeper meaning of life. In this sense, "Don't Cheer" is not just a poem, but a profound meditation on the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Don't Cheer: A Poem of Irony and Sarcasm
Robert Service, the renowned poet, has left an indelible mark on the world of literature with his unique style of writing. His poems are known for their simplicity, humor, and irony. One such poem that stands out is "Don't Cheer." This poem is a perfect example of Service's mastery of irony and sarcasm. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail.
The poem "Don't Cheer" is a satirical take on the concept of war and patriotism. The poem starts with a call to arms, asking young men to join the army and fight for their country. The speaker of the poem, who is presumably a military officer, urges the young men to leave their homes and families and join the war effort. The tone of the poem is serious and patriotic, and the speaker seems to be genuinely concerned about the welfare of his country.
However, as the poem progresses, the tone changes, and the speaker's true intentions become clear. The speaker is not interested in the welfare of the country or the young men who are being sent to war. Instead, he is more interested in the glory and fame that comes with winning a war. He urges the young men to fight bravely and to die for their country, without any regard for their lives.
The irony in the poem lies in the fact that the speaker is asking the young men to fight for a cause that he himself does not believe in. He is not interested in the welfare of the country or the young men who are being sent to war. Instead, he is more interested in the glory and fame that comes with winning a war. The speaker's true intentions are revealed in the last stanza of the poem, where he says, "And when the war is over, and the victory is won, / Don't cheer, boys, don't cheer, / Just stand and look a little sad, / And down with a tear."
The speaker's words are dripping with sarcasm. He is mocking the young men who are being sent to war and the people who cheer for them. He is saying that there is nothing to cheer about in war, and that victory comes at a great cost. The speaker is asking the young men to sacrifice their lives for a cause that he himself does not believe in, and then to mourn their own deaths.
The poem is a commentary on the futility of war and the blind patriotism that often accompanies it. The speaker is not interested in the welfare of the country or the young men who are being sent to war. Instead, he is more interested in the glory and fame that comes with winning a war. The poem is a warning against blind patriotism and the dangers of war.
In conclusion, "Don't Cheer" is a poem that is full of irony and sarcasm. The speaker is mocking the blind patriotism that often accompanies war and the people who cheer for it. The poem is a commentary on the futility of war and the dangers of blind patriotism. Robert Service's mastery of irony and sarcasm is on full display in this poem, and it is a testament to his skill as a poet.
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