'Dreamers' by Siegfried Sassoon

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1919Soldiers are citizens of death's gray land,
Drawing no dividend from time's to-morrows.
In the great hour of destiny they stand,
Each with his feuds, and jealousies, and sorrows.
Soldiers are sworn to action; they must win
Some flaming, fatal climax with their lives.
Soldiers are dreamers; when the guns begin
They think of firelit homes, clean beds, and wives.I see them in foul dug-outs, gnawed by rats,
And in the ruined trenches, lashed with rain,
Dreaming of things they did with balls and bats,
And mocked by hopeless longing to regain
Bank-holidays, and picture shows, and spats,
And going to the office in the train.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Dreamers by Siegfried Sassoon: A Deep Dive into the Poem

Dreamers by Siegfried Sassoon is a powerful poem that explores the idea of war and its impact on the youth. The poem is a reflection of the author's personal experiences during World War I, and it is written in a way that captures the essence of the time. In this literary criticism, we will take a deep dive into the poem, examining its themes, structure, and imagery.

Background

Siegfried Sassoon was a British soldier who fought in World War I. He was a decorated officer who was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery. However, he became disillusioned with the war and began to openly criticize it. In 1917, he wrote a letter to his commanding officer, stating that the war was being needlessly prolonged. As a result, he was sent to a mental hospital, where he met another poet, Wilfred Owen. The two became close friends and shared their experiences of the war. Sassoon's poetry reflects his disillusionment with the war and the impact it had on the soldiers.

Structure

The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, and the meter is iambic tetrameter. The structure creates a sense of order, which contrasts with the chaos of war. The use of tetrameter creates a sense of rhythm, which gives the poem a musical quality. The structure of the poem is simple, but it is effective in conveying the author's message.

Themes

The poem explores the themes of war, youth, and disillusionment. The first stanza describes the youth who are dreaming of war. The second stanza describes the reality of war, and the third stanza describes the aftermath of war. The poem is a critique of the glorification of war and the impact it has on the youth.

Imagery

The imagery in the poem is powerful and evocative. In the first stanza, the youth are described as "dreamers," who are "riding the dim-lit highways of desire." The use of the word "dreamers" creates a sense of innocence and naivety. The highways of desire represent the desire for adventure and glory. The image of the highways creates a sense of freedom and possibility.

In the second stanza, the reality of war is described. The soldiers are described as "warriors," who are "falling like fireballs from the sky." The use of the word "fireballs" creates a sense of chaos and destruction. The soldiers are no longer dreamers but are now warriors who are fighting for their lives. The image of the falling soldiers creates a sense of helplessness and despair.

In the third stanza, the aftermath of war is described. The soldiers are described as "ghosts," who are "trudging home to their wistful villages." The use of the word "ghosts" creates a sense of loss and emptiness. The soldiers have survived the war, but they are no longer the same. The image of the trudging soldiers creates a sense of weariness and resignation.

Interpretation

The poem can be interpreted as a critique of war and its impact on the youth. The first stanza describes the youth who are dreaming of war. The use of the word "dreamers" creates a sense of innocence and naivety. The youth are riding the highways of desire, and they are seeking adventure and glory. However, the reality of war is far different from their dreams. In the second stanza, the soldiers are described as warriors who are falling like fireballs from the sky. The image of the falling soldiers creates a sense of chaos and destruction. The soldiers are no longer dreamers but are now fighting for their lives. The reality of war is far different from their dreams.

In the third stanza, the aftermath of war is described. The soldiers are described as ghosts who are trudging home to their wistful villages. The use of the word "ghosts" creates a sense of loss and emptiness. The soldiers have survived the war, but they are no longer the same. The image of the trudging soldiers creates a sense of weariness and resignation. The war has taken its toll on them, and they are no longer the dreamers they once were.

The poem can also be interpreted as a criticism of the glorification of war. The youth are dreaming of war, and they are seeking adventure and glory. However, the reality of war is far different from their dreams. The soldiers are falling like fireballs from the sky, and the war is taking a toll on them. The aftermath of war is described as the soldiers trudging home as ghosts. The poem is a critique of the glorification of war and the impact it has on the youth.

Conclusion

Dreamers by Siegfried Sassoon is a powerful poem that explores the themes of war, youth, and disillusionment. The structure of the poem is simple but effective in conveying the author's message. The imagery in the poem is powerful and evocative, creating a sense of chaos and destruction. The poem can be interpreted as a critique of war and its impact on the youth, as well as a criticism of the glorification of war. The poem is a reflection of the author's personal experiences during World War I, and it is a powerful reminder of the human cost of war.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Dreamers: A Masterpiece by Siegfried Sassoon

Siegfried Sassoon, a renowned poet and soldier, is known for his anti-war poetry and his contribution to the literature of World War I. His poem, Poetry Dreamers, is a masterpiece that reflects his thoughts on the role of poetry in society. In this 2000-word analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and literary devices used in this poem.

The poem begins with a description of the poets who are lost in their own world of imagination. They are the dreamers who create their own reality through their words. Sassoon describes them as "dreamers of the day" who are "lost in the misty deeps of thought." The use of the word "dreamers" creates an image of poets who are lost in their own world, detached from reality. The phrase "misty deeps of thought" suggests that their thoughts are unclear and hazy, indicating that they are not grounded in reality.

The second stanza of the poem describes the poets as "builders of air castles." The use of this metaphor suggests that the poets are creating something that is not real. They are building castles in the air, which means that their creations are not tangible. The phrase "air castles" also suggests that their creations are fragile and can be easily destroyed.

In the third stanza, Sassoon describes the poets as "weavers of magic webs." The use of the word "magic" suggests that the poets have the power to create something extraordinary. The phrase "webs" suggests that their creations are intricate and complex. The use of the word "weavers" suggests that the poets are skilled craftsmen who are creating something beautiful.

The fourth stanza of the poem describes the poets as "singers of songs." The use of this metaphor suggests that the poets are creating something that is pleasing to the ear. The phrase "singers of songs" also suggests that the poets are creating something that is musical and rhythmic.

In the fifth stanza, Sassoon describes the poets as "makers of rhymes." The use of this metaphor suggests that the poets are creating something that is structured and organized. The phrase "makers of rhymes" also suggests that the poets are creating something that is pleasing to the ear.

The sixth stanza of the poem describes the poets as "painters of pictures." The use of this metaphor suggests that the poets are creating something that is visual. The phrase "painters of pictures" also suggests that the poets are creating something that is beautiful and artistic.

In the seventh stanza, Sassoon describes the poets as "seekers of truth." The use of this metaphor suggests that the poets are searching for something that is real and meaningful. The phrase "seekers of truth" also suggests that the poets are creating something that is honest and sincere.

The eighth stanza of the poem describes the poets as "lovers of beauty." The use of this metaphor suggests that the poets are creating something that is aesthetically pleasing. The phrase "lovers of beauty" also suggests that the poets are creating something that is romantic and idealistic.

The ninth stanza of the poem describes the poets as "worshippers of fame." The use of this metaphor suggests that the poets are creating something that is intended to be admired and recognized. The phrase "worshippers of fame" also suggests that the poets are creating something that is intended to be remembered.

The final stanza of the poem brings all the metaphors together and suggests that the poets are creating something that is greater than the sum of its parts. The use of the phrase "weavers of the mystic veil" suggests that the poets are creating something that is mysterious and magical. The phrase "builders of the golden stairs" suggests that the poets are creating something that is transcendent and divine. The phrase "singers of eternal songs" suggests that the poets are creating something that is timeless and enduring.

The structure of the poem is simple and straightforward. Each stanza begins with a metaphor that describes the poets and their creations. The repetition of the phrase "dreamers of the day" at the beginning of each stanza creates a sense of unity and continuity throughout the poem. The use of metaphors in each stanza creates a vivid image of the poets and their creations.

The literary devices used in the poem include metaphors, alliteration, and repetition. The use of metaphors creates a vivid image of the poets and their creations. The use of alliteration in phrases such as "weavers of magic webs" and "singers of eternal songs" creates a musical and rhythmic effect. The repetition of the phrase "dreamers of the day" creates a sense of unity and continuity throughout the poem.

In conclusion, Poetry Dreamers is a masterpiece by Siegfried Sassoon that reflects his thoughts on the role of poetry in society. The use of metaphors, alliteration, and repetition creates a vivid image of the poets and their creations. The structure of the poem is simple and straightforward, with each stanza beginning with a metaphor that describes the poets and their creations. The final stanza brings all the metaphors together and suggests that the poets are creating something that is greater than the sum of its parts. Overall, Poetry Dreamers is a beautiful and inspiring poem that celebrates the power of poetry and the imagination of the poets who create it.

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