england to her sons W.N Hodgson

title

establishes metaphor creates relationship, proud parents, young men who want to protect/ impress

thesis

in “england to her sons”, W.N hodgson employs a poingant blend of patriotic duty and religious sacrafice to argue that the preservation of national liberty justifies the ultimate loss of individual life. By personifiying England as a maternal figure who calls her children to the battlefield, hodgson transitions froma romanticised vision of chivalry to a solemn acceptancy of mortality, suggesting that the soldiers’ deaths are not merely tragic ends, but a sacred debt paid to ensure the enduring glory of their homeland

stanza 1

“sons of mine, i hear you thrilling”: connatations of excitement

“to the trumpet call of war;”: traditional warfare

“Gird ye then, i give you freely”:deliberate archaic language to replicatw traditional chivalric language/ references cycle of ongoing younger generation going to war/ continuation of tradition (masculinity)

“all the noblest of the children I in love and anguish bore.”: creates juxtaposition- love for country results for anguish

stanza 2

“free in service, wise in justice,”: anaphora- connect idea that they are free and made good choice

“fearing but dishonours breath;”: fear of failing mother/ personification of “dishonour” emphasises importance of patriotism

“steeled to suffer uncomplaining”: juxtapose “dishonour”( “breathe”) is weak and steele is strong (men) “uncomplaining”- know they will suffer

“loss and failure, pain and death;”: juxtaposition of semantic fields of hope and loss/ largely monosyllabic- negatives are outweighed by postives

“strong in faith that sees the issue and in hope that triumpheth”: fricatives harshen soundscape, tone aggressive

stanza 3

“Go, and may the god of battles”: imperative, propaganda posters- had a women saying “go”- england personified as a women- dominant hedgemony women needed protecting - war was justified by religion : have to turn to other religions for protection (ironic)

caesura

• stanza 1/2: lots of caesura

• stanza 2: less

• quickens pace, mimics excitement of joining war; war effect gaining momentum

AO3- W.N Hodgson

volunteered for british army on outbreak of first world war in 1914

awarded for military class for holding a captured trench for 36 hours without reinforcements or supplies

AO4

similar: happy is england now

contrast: no one cares less than i , rendezvous, noon