An analysis of a First World War poetry anthology

David Becker

An analysis of a First World War poetry anthology


‘…I’d live with scarlet Majors at the Base
And speed glum heroes up the line to death…
…And when the war is done and youth stone dead,
I’d toddle safely home and die – in bed.’ (Sassoon, Base Details: 2-3/9-10)

Gardner states in his introductory note that ‘…those who wish to ponder on tactics and strategy, or to know How It Happened, must turn to other volumes. This account has nothing to do with that: it is traced on the emotions of the men at war.’ (UTLTD: pg. xix) It therefore comes as no surprise that of the 134 poems included in the anthology, not one is written by a female. Sexism does not come into it. Portrayals of war through the eyes of those who saw it most clearly naturally leads to a more intense experience on the part of the reader. This can be attributed to the poetry included being vivid in description and often highly emotionally charged. An analysis of Up the Line t...