Editor 1 Interpretation

Channel Firing: An Analysis of Thomas Hardy's Classic Poem

Are you a fan of Thomas Hardy's literary works? If you are, then you have come to the right place. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into one of Hardy's most famous poems, Channel Firing. This poem was written in 1914, during the early years of the First World War. Hardy was known to be a pessimistic writer, and Channel Firing was no exception.

The Poem

Before we begin our analysis, let us first take a look at the poem itself:

That night your great guns,
    unawares,
Shook all our coffins as we lay,
And broke the chancel window-squares,
    We thought it was the Judgment-day

And sat upright. While drearisome
    Arose the howl of wakened hounds:
The mouse let fall the altar-crumb,
    The worms drew back into the mounds,
The glebe cow drooled. Till God called, "No;
    It's gunnery practice out at sea
Just as before you went below;
    The world is as it used to be:
"All nations striving strong to make
    Red war yet redder. Mad as hatters
They do no more for Christés sake
    Than you who are helpless in such matters.
"That this is not the judgment-hour
    For some of them's a blessed thing,
For if it were they'd have to scour
    Hell's floor for so much threatening....
"Ha, ha. It will be warmer when
    I blow the trumpet (if indeed
I ever do; for you are men,
    And rest eternal sorely need)."
So down we lay again. "I wonder,
    Will the world ever saner be,"
Said one, "than when He sent us under
    In our indifferent century!"
And many a skeleton shook his head.
    "Instead of preaching forty year,"
My neighbour Parson Thirdly said,
    "I wish I had stuck to pipes and beer."
Again the guns disturbed the hour,
    Roaring their readiness to avenge,
As far inland as Stourton Tower,
    And Camelot, and starlit Stonehenge.

The Analysis

From the first line of the poem, Hardy establishes a sense of fear and uncertainty. The "great guns" that shook the coffins of the dead are a symbol of the destructive power of war. The allusion to the Judgment Day further emphasizes the severity of the situation. The dead, who were supposed to be at peace, are now awakened by the sound of war.

The imagery of the mouse letting fall the altar-crumb and the worms drawing back into the mounds suggests that even the smallest creatures are affected by the chaos of war. The cow drooling and the howl of the wakened hounds add to the overall sense of unease.

However, the most interesting part of the poem is God's response to the chaos. He dismisses the sound of the guns as "gunnery practice out at sea" and reassures the dead that the world is "as it used to be". God's lack of concern for the destruction caused by war is a commentary on the indifference of the world towards human suffering.

The reference to "All nations striving strong to make/ Red war yet redder" highlights the senseless nature of war. The phrase "mad as hatters" is a reference to the madness caused by exposure to mercury, which was used in the hat-making industry. This suggests that the leaders of the nations are not thinking rationally and are making decisions that will only lead to more destruction.

The line "I wish I had stuck to pipes and beer" spoken by Parson Thirdly, is an example of the disillusionment felt by many during this time. The war had shattered their beliefs and hopes for a better future.

The final lines of the poem, with the guns roaring their readiness to avenge, suggest that the war is far from over. The reference to Stourton Tower, Camelot, and Stonehenge is significant as they are all symbols of England's ancient past. The fact that even these revered landmarks are not immune to the destruction of war emphasizes the severity of the situation.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Thomas Hardy's Channel Firing is a commentary on the senselessness of war and the indifference of the world towards human suffering. The poem's vivid imagery and portrayal of the dead being awakened by the sound of war creates a sense of unease in the reader. God's lack of concern for the destruction caused by war highlights the apathy of the world towards human suffering.

The disillusionment felt by many during this time is evident in Parson Thirdly's line "I wish I had stuck to pipes and beer". The final lines of the poem suggest that the war is far from over and even England's ancient landmarks are not immune to the destruction of war.

Thomas Hardy's pessimistic view of the world is reflected in this poem, but it also serves as a reminder of the horrors of war and the need for peace. Channel Firing is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that still resonates with readers today.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Channel Firing: A Poem of War, Death, and the Resilience of Life

Thomas Hardy's Channel Firing is a powerful and haunting poem that captures the essence of war and its impact on human life. Written in 1914, at the onset of World War I, the poem is a reflection of the author's own experiences and observations of the war. It is a poem that speaks to the futility of war, the inevitability of death, and the resilience of life.

The poem begins with a description of a night scene, where the sound of guns firing can be heard from across the English Channel. The speaker of the poem wonders if the sound is that of a naval battle or a thunderstorm. The ambiguity of the sound is a reflection of the uncertainty and confusion that war brings. The speaker then imagines the dead rising from their graves, disturbed by the sound of the guns. This is a powerful image that sets the tone for the rest of the poem.

The dead, in the poem, are portrayed as being more alive than the living. They are described as being able to hear the sound of the guns and to feel the vibrations of the earth. The dead are also portrayed as being more aware of the futility of war than the living. They are described as being able to see the absurdity of the conflict and to understand the senselessness of the violence.

The poem then takes a turn towards the humorous, as the dead begin to converse with each other. They discuss the state of the world and the absurdity of the war. They joke about the fact that the living are unaware of their presence and continue to fight and kill each other. This is a powerful commentary on the blindness of the living, who are unable to see the reality of the situation.

The dead then turn their attention to the speaker of the poem, who they address directly. They ask him if he is afraid of death and if he is prepared for the inevitable. The speaker responds by saying that he is not afraid of death, but that he is not prepared for it either. This is a powerful statement that speaks to the uncertainty and unpredictability of life.

The dead then offer the speaker some advice. They tell him to live his life to the fullest and to enjoy every moment. They tell him that life is short and that he should make the most of it. This is a powerful message that speaks to the resilience of life. Despite the inevitability of death, life goes on and must be lived to the fullest.

The poem then takes a turn towards the apocalyptic, as the dead imagine the end of the world. They imagine the earth shaking and the sky falling. They imagine the dead rising from their graves and the living being consumed by fire. This is a powerful image that speaks to the destructive power of war and the fragility of human life.

The poem ends with the sound of the guns fading away and the dead returning to their graves. The speaker is left alone, contemplating the message of the dead. He is left with a sense of awe and wonder at the resilience of life and the power of death.

In conclusion, Thomas Hardy's Channel Firing is a powerful and haunting poem that captures the essence of war and its impact on human life. It is a poem that speaks to the futility of war, the inevitability of death, and the resilience of life. It is a poem that reminds us to live our lives to the fullest and to make the most of every moment. It is a poem that speaks to the human spirit and the power of the human soul.

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'Channel Firing' by Thomas Hardy