'They Did Not Expect This' by Vernon Scannell
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They did not expect this. Being neither wise nor brave
And wearing only the beauty of youth's season
They took the first turning quite unquestioningly
And walked quickly without looking back even once.
It was of course the wrong turning. First they were nagged
By a small wind that tugged at their clothing like a dog;
Then the rain began and there was no shelter anywhere,
Only the street and the rows of houses stern as soldiers.
Though the blood chilled, the endearing word burnt the tongue.
There were no parks or gardens or public houses:
Midnight settled and the rain paused leaving the city
Enormous and still like a great sleeping seal.
At last they found accommodation in a cold
Furnished room where they quickly learnt to believe in ghosts;
They had their hope stuffed and put on the mantelpiece
But found, after a while, that they did not notice it.
While she spends many hours looking in the bottoms of teacups
He reads much about association football
And waits for the marvellous envelope to fall:
Their eyes are strangers and they rarely speak.
They did not expect this.
Submitted by Andrew Mayers
Editor 1 Interpretation
They Did Not Expect This: A Deep Dive into Vernon Scannell's Poem
Are you ready to explore the depths of Vernon Scannell's poem, "They Did Not Expect This"? Get ready to dive in and discover the hidden layers of meaning and imagery that make this classic poem so compelling.
Overview and Analysis
At its core, "They Did Not Expect This" is a poem about the unexpected nature of war and the toll it takes on those who fight it. The speaker starts off by describing a group of soldiers who are preparing for battle, full of bravado and confidence. However, as the battle progresses, they begin to realize the true horror of what they are facing.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is the vivid imagery that Scannell uses to convey the brutality of war. For example, he describes the sounds of mortar fire as "the hiss and thud of death" and paints a picture of the battlefield as "a landscape of charred remains." These images are powerful and visceral, and they drive home the message that war is a terrible thing that should be avoided at all costs.
Another key theme of the poem is the idea of camaraderie and brotherhood among soldiers. The speaker notes that even in the midst of the chaos and destruction of war, the soldiers are still bound together by a sense of loyalty and kinship. They help each other through difficult times and share a bond that is difficult for those outside of the military to understand.
As the poem progresses, the mood becomes increasingly somber and reflective. The soldiers begin to realize that the reality of war is far different from the romanticized version that they had pictured in their minds. They are forced to confront the fact that they may not make it out alive, and that the glory and honor that they had hoped to achieve may be nothing more than empty promises.
Interpretation
So what does all of this mean? What message is Scannell trying to convey through his poem? One possible interpretation is that war is a senseless and tragic waste of human life. The soldiers in the poem are portrayed as young, naive, and full of misplaced ideals. They are eager to prove themselves and win glory for their country, but they quickly discover that the reality of war is far different than what they had imagined.
Another possible interpretation is that the poem is a commentary on the dehumanizing effects of war. The soldiers are forced to abandon their individuality and become cogs in a larger machine, all working together for the greater good. They are stripped of their humanity and reduced to mere instruments of war, tasked with killing and destroying without mercy.
Finally, it's worth noting that the poem doesn't offer any easy answers or solutions to the problem of war. There is no clear-cut moral lesson or call to action. Instead, the poem simply presents the reality of war in all its horror and complexity, leaving the reader to draw their own conclusions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "They Did Not Expect This" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of war, brotherhood, and the human cost of violence. Through vivid imagery and powerful language, Scannell paints a picture of the harsh realities of combat, and invites the reader to contemplate the deeper implications of this brutal and unforgiving aspect of human society.
So what do you think? Has this deep dive into "They Did Not Expect This" given you a new appreciation for the power of poetry to illuminate the human experience? Have you discovered new insights and interpretations that you never would have considered before? If so, then congratulations - you've just experienced the transformative power of great literature!
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
They Did Not Expect This: A Masterpiece of Poetic Irony
Vernon Scannell's poem "They Did Not Expect This" is a masterpiece of poetic irony that challenges our assumptions about war and its consequences. The poem is a powerful commentary on the futility of war and the tragic consequences that it can have on both the victors and the vanquished.
The poem begins with a description of a battle scene where the soldiers are "marching in step" and "singing a song." The soldiers are confident and expectant of victory. They are convinced that they will emerge victorious and that their enemies will be defeated. However, as the poem progresses, we realize that the soldiers' expectations are misplaced, and their confidence is misplaced.
The poem's central irony lies in the fact that the soldiers' expectations are not met. They did not expect what was to come. The poem's title is a clear indication of this irony. The soldiers did not expect to be defeated, and they did not expect the consequences that would follow.
The poem's second stanza is a powerful commentary on the futility of war. The soldiers are described as "marching in step" and "singing a song," but their actions are futile. They are marching towards their own destruction, and their song is a song of death. The soldiers' actions are futile because they are fighting for a cause that is not worth fighting for. The poem suggests that war is a pointless exercise that only leads to destruction and death.
The third stanza of the poem is a powerful commentary on the tragic consequences of war. The soldiers are described as "falling like leaves" and "dying like flies." The soldiers' deaths are tragic because they are unnecessary. They are dying for a cause that is not worth dying for. The soldiers' deaths are also tragic because they are not just the deaths of soldiers, but the deaths of human beings. The poem suggests that war dehumanizes us and reduces us to mere objects.
The final stanza of the poem is a powerful commentary on the aftermath of war. The soldiers are described as "lying in heaps" and "rotting in the sun." The aftermath of war is a scene of destruction and decay. The soldiers' bodies are left to rot in the sun, and their memories are forgotten. The poem suggests that war destroys not only the present but also the future.
In conclusion, Vernon Scannell's poem "They Did Not Expect This" is a masterpiece of poetic irony that challenges our assumptions about war and its consequences. The poem is a powerful commentary on the futility of war and the tragic consequences that it can have on both the victors and the vanquished. The poem suggests that war is a pointless exercise that only leads to destruction and death. The soldiers' deaths are tragic because they are unnecessary, and they are not just the deaths of soldiers, but the deaths of human beings. The aftermath of war is a scene of destruction and decay, and the poem suggests that war destroys not only the present but also the future.
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