'The Shut-Eye Sentry' by Rudyard Kipling
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Sez the Junior Orderly Sergeant
To the Senior Orderly Man:
"Our Orderly Orf'cer's ~hokee-mut~,
You 'elp 'im all you can.
For the wine was old and the night is cold,
An' the best we may go wrong,
So, 'fore 'e gits to the sentry-box,
You pass the word along."
So it was "Rounds!What Rounds?" at two of a frosty night,
'E's 'oldin' on by the sergeant's sash, but, sentry, shut your eye.
An' it was "Pass!All's well!"Oh, ain't 'e drippin' tight!
'E'll need an affidavit pretty badly by-an'-by.
The moon was white on the barricks,
The road was white an' wide,
An' the Orderly Orf'cer took it all,
An' the ten-foot ditch beside.
An' the corporal pulled an' the sergeant pushed,
An' the three they danced along,
But I'd shut my eyes in the sentry-box,
So I didn't see nothin' wrong.
Though it was "Rounds!What Rounds?"O corporal, 'old 'im up!
'E's usin' 'is cap as it shouldn't be used, but, sentry, shut your eye.
An' it was "Pass!All's well!"Ho, shun the foamin' cup!
'E'll need, etc.
'Twas after four in the mornin';
We 'ad to stop the fun,
An' we sent 'im 'ome on a bullock-cart,
With 'is belt an' stock undone;
But we sluiced 'im down an' we washed 'im out,
An' a first-class job we made,
When we saved 'im, smart as a bombardier,
For six-o'clock parade.
It 'ad been "Rounds!What Rounds?"Oh, shove 'im straight again!
'E's usin' 'is sword for a bicycle, but, sentry, shut your eye.
An' it was "Pass!All's well!"'E's called me "Darlin' Jane"!
'E'll need, etc.
The drill was long an' 'eavy,
The sky was 'ot an' blue,
An' 'is eye was wild an' 'is 'air was wet,
But 'is sergeant pulled 'im through.
Our men was good old trusties --
They'd done it on their 'ead;
But you ought to 'ave 'eard 'em markin' time
To 'ide the things 'e said!
For it was "Right flank -- wheel!" for "'Alt, an' stand at ease!"
An' "Left extend!" for "Centre close!"O marker, shut your eye!
An' it was, "'Ere, sir, 'ere! before the Colonel sees!"
So he needed affidavits pretty badly by-an'-by.
There was two-an'-thirty sergeants,
There was corp'rals forty-one,
There was just nine 'undred rank an' file
To swear to a touch o' sun.
There was me 'e'd kissed in the sentry-box,
As I 'ave not told in my song,
But I took my oath, which were Bible truth,
I 'adn't seen nothin' wrong.
There's them that's 'ot an' 'aughty,
There's them that's cold an' 'ard,
But there comes a night when the best gets tight,
And then turns out the Guard.
I've seen them 'ide their liquor
In every kind o' way,
But most depends on makin' friends
With Privit Thomas A.!
When it is "Rounds!What Rounds?"'E's breathin' through 'is nose.
'E's reelin', rollin', roarin' tight, but, sentry, shut your eye.
An' it is "Pass!All's well!"An' that's the way it goes:
We'll 'elp 'im for 'is mother, an' 'e'll 'elp us by-an'-by!
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Shut-Eye Sentry by Rudyard Kipling: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Are you ready to dive into the world of Rudyard Kipling's poetry? If you haven't read The Shut-Eye Sentry yet, you're in for a treat. This classic poem is a masterful example of Kipling's ability to weave powerful emotions into his writing, using vivid imagery and memorable language to create an unforgettable experience for the reader.
The Plot
The Shut-Eye Sentry tells the story of a soldier who falls asleep while on guard duty, leading to a disastrous outcome for his fellow soldiers. The poem begins with a description of the soldier, who is "stiff and sore and sleepy" and struggles to stay awake. Despite his best efforts, the soldier eventually succumbs to exhaustion and falls asleep, leaving his post unguarded.
As a result of his negligence, the enemy is able to infiltrate the camp and attack the sleeping soldiers. The poem ends with a haunting image of the soldier, who awakens to find his comrades dead and himself alone and dishonored.
The Themes
While The Shut-Eye Sentry is certainly a cautionary tale about the dangers of falling asleep on guard duty, it also explores deeper themes about duty, loyalty, and the consequences of our actions.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is the way in which Kipling portrays the soldier's sense of duty. Despite being tired and in pain, the soldier is determined to do his duty and stay awake. He recognizes the importance of his role in protecting his comrades and is willing to endure discomfort and hardship to fulfill his responsibilities.
However, the poem also highlights the fragility of this sense of duty. The soldier's exhaustion and physical pain make it difficult for him to remain alert, and his dedication to his duty ultimately fails in the face of overwhelming fatigue. This raises questions about the relationship between duty and physical and emotional limitations, and the ways in which these limitations can impact our ability to fulfill our responsibilities.
Another important theme in the poem is the idea of loyalty. The soldier's failure to stay awake and keep watch has devastating consequences for his fellow soldiers, and he is left alone to bear the weight of his guilt and shame. This raises questions about the importance of loyalty to one's comrades, and the impact that our actions (or inactions) can have on those around us.
Finally, The Shut-Eye Sentry explores the idea of consequences. The soldier's decision to fall asleep on duty has tragic consequences for his fellow soldiers, and he is left to face the reality of his choices. The poem does not shy away from the harshness of these consequences, and the soldier is forced to confront the full weight of his guilt and shame. This raises important questions about the relationship between action and consequence, and the ways in which our choices can have lasting impacts on ourselves and others.
The Language and Imagery
One of the most striking aspects of The Shut-Eye Sentry is Kipling's use of language and imagery to create a vivid and haunting atmosphere. The poem is filled with powerful descriptions that bring the soldier's exhaustion and pain to life, from his "aching head" to his "heavy eyes" and "cramped and drowsy feet." Through these images, Kipling is able to convey the soldier's physical and emotional state with remarkable clarity, and the reader is left with a sense of the soldier's struggle and desperation.
Similarly, the poem is filled with striking imagery that highlights the soldier's isolation and shame. The image of the soldier standing alone in the dawn light, surrounded by his dead comrades, is particularly haunting, and the poem's final lines - "And he sees the vision splendid of the sunlit camps aglow / And he hears the tramp of armies, and he hears the trumpets blow" - are a powerful reminder of what the soldier has lost and what he can never regain.
Conclusion
The Shut-Eye Sentry is a powerful and haunting poem that explores important themes about duty, loyalty, and consequence. Through Kipling's masterful use of language and imagery, the reader is transported into the soldier's world, experiencing his exhaustion, pain, and shame with remarkable clarity. While the poem is certainly a cautionary tale about the dangers of falling asleep on guard duty, it is also a nuanced exploration of the complexities of duty, loyalty, and the human experience. If you haven't read The Shut-Eye Sentry yet, now is the time to do so - you won't be disappointed.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Shut-Eye Sentry: A Masterpiece of Rudyard Kipling
Rudyard Kipling, the Nobel Prize-winning author, is known for his exceptional storytelling skills and his ability to capture the essence of human emotions in his works. One of his most celebrated poems, The Shut-Eye Sentry, is a masterpiece that showcases his talent for weaving a tale that is both captivating and thought-provoking.
The poem is set in the backdrop of the Anglo-Afghan War of 1878-80, where the British army was engaged in a fierce battle with the Afghan tribesmen. The Shut-Eye Sentry is a story of a young British soldier who falls asleep while on duty as a sentry, and the consequences that follow.
The poem begins with a vivid description of the harsh and unforgiving terrain of Afghanistan, where the British soldiers are stationed. Kipling paints a picture of a desolate and barren landscape, where the only sound that can be heard is the howling of the wind. The opening lines of the poem set the tone for what is to come, and the reader is immediately drawn into the world that Kipling has created.
The soldier in question is described as a young man, who is tired and weary from the constant fighting and the harsh conditions of the war. He is tasked with the responsibility of guarding the camp at night, and he takes his duty seriously. However, as the night wears on, he begins to feel the effects of fatigue, and his eyes start to droop.
Kipling uses vivid imagery to describe the soldier's state of mind, as he struggles to stay awake. He talks about the soldier's eyelids feeling heavy, and his head nodding forward. The reader can almost feel the soldier's exhaustion, and the sense of impending doom that hangs over him.
As the soldier falls asleep, Kipling introduces a supernatural element to the poem. The Shut-Eye Sentry is visited by a mysterious figure, who is described as a "shadowy form". The figure is not given a name, but it is clear that he is not of this world. Kipling uses this figure to represent the soldier's subconscious mind, and the guilt that he feels for falling asleep on duty.
The figure speaks to the soldier, and tells him that he has failed in his duty as a sentry. He tells him that he has put the lives of his fellow soldiers in danger, and that he will be held responsible if anything happens to them. The soldier is filled with a sense of dread, as he realizes the gravity of his mistake.
Kipling uses this moment to explore the theme of responsibility, and the consequences of one's actions. The soldier is forced to confront the fact that his actions have put others in danger, and he must now face the consequences of his mistake.
The poem reaches its climax when the soldier wakes up, and realizes that he has been asleep for several hours. He is filled with a sense of panic, as he realizes that he has failed in his duty. He rushes to the camp, only to find that the enemy has already attacked, and many of his fellow soldiers have been killed.
Kipling uses this moment to drive home the message of the poem. The soldier's failure to stay awake has had dire consequences, and he must now live with the guilt of his actions. The poem ends with the soldier being court-martialed, and the reader is left to ponder the consequences of his actions.
In conclusion, The Shut-Eye Sentry is a masterpiece of poetry, that showcases Rudyard Kipling's exceptional storytelling skills. The poem is a powerful exploration of the themes of responsibility, guilt, and the consequences of one's actions. Kipling's use of vivid imagery and supernatural elements adds to the overall impact of the poem, and the reader is left with a sense of awe and admiration for the author's talent. The Shut-Eye Sentry is a must-read for anyone who appreciates great literature, and it is a testament to the enduring legacy of Rudyard Kipling.
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