What thinks a soldier about to die? And what if England had been colonized and not colonizer? These questions could be answered with the poems "The Soldier" and "Colonization in Reverse". The first written in 1914 by Rupert Brooke, a writer of English origin, at the beginning of the First World War and later published after the author's death in 1915. Louise Bennett, a writer of Jamaican origin, writes the second letter on 1966. Between this two letters are various differences such as tone, imagery and form of writing but there are also similarities such as the use of a country, England. And now an analysis of the key aspects will be made to help the better understanding of these texts.
Beginning with the fact that both texts are poems, however one "The Soldier", including it’s special name, it is a sonnet. The sonnets have the characteristic of being 14 verses, each of these with 11 syllables. "Colonization in Reverse" has 11 stanzas of 4 verses each one. These peculiarities of writing depend on the author. In the second poem the way it is written helps readability, allowing pauses and therefore a better understanding and assimilation.
The language used in each one is very different, starting with the fact that in the second text, the English used is different than the normally known or used in countries like Mexico, USA or England; makes use of words like "wat", "Tous" or "Englan” that are not used in American English. In the first text in English is better known, but to understand what the poem means is not simple, there must be a deep reading and consents to realize in fact everything involved in this poem. If we contrast these two facts we can realize that although it is a bit difficult to understand, first poem is easier because of the English used, nevertheless in the second one we have to clarify points for its adequate understanding. One point to note is that although second text has a different English the text is more recent, difference is due to where it was written, Jamaica, in which they talk different languages.
The feelings that are managed differ greatly. In "The Soldier" is felt a longing for the fact of dying far from home, which is England, in an enemy camp without many things that were in country, it shows great patriotism, casting a love for England saying that he recalls sights, sounds, smells of his homeland. In verse 4 it says: "In That rich earth a richer dust concealed" which shows that for a soldier the simple fact that an Englishman was killed elsewhere in fought for their country, he is enriching the soil where he died, which shows
again the great patriotism that a soldier had. Very different feelings are shown in "Colonization in Reverse" in which joy is very noticeable, though the last three stanzas denote anger or resentment against England. The joy shows to be changing the story and be this time the Jamaicans the ones who exceeded and managed to go one step further colonizing a country like England. The irony is also felt, in a verse says, "Oono see da
turnabout?" (Do you see the irony?), the author expresses surprise that this event may be true, as weaker people managed to handle with a greater country. Denoting these feelings we can realize how the authors create with some words the feelings of people, who saw these two poems contrast greatly.
The image on both poems was a resource well used by authors. The first text says "Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home "or" Her sights and sounds, dreams happy as her day "in both verses people can imagine a beautiful place, with landscapes that show tranquility and happiness; show England as the perfect place, this helps the reader imagine something amazing and feel the same love The soldier felt for his country. In the second text images shown are of joy and discovery and in following verse:
"What an islan! What a people!
Man an woman, old an young
Jus a pack dem bag an baggage
An turn history upside dung! "
In this verse we can see the given idea of a start, something new and fantastic that pleases people of Jamaica. The images between the two poems are contrasting, but equally help the reader to interpret and feel more a part of environment in both of them.
Beginning with the fact that both texts are poems, however one "The Soldier", including it’s special name, it is a sonnet. The sonnets have the characteristic of being 14 verses, each of these with 11 syllables. "Colonization in Reverse" has 11 stanzas of 4 verses each one. These peculiarities of writing depend on the author. In the second poem the way it is written helps readability, allowing pauses and therefore a better understanding and assimilation.
The language used in each one is very different, starting with the fact that in the second text, the English used is different than the normally known or used in countries like Mexico, USA or England; makes use of words like "wat", "Tous" or "Englan” that are not used in American English. In the first text in English is better known, but to understand what the poem means is not simple, there must be a deep reading and consents to realize in fact everything involved in this poem. If we contrast these two facts we can realize that although it is a bit difficult to understand, first poem is easier because of the English used, nevertheless in the second one we have to clarify points for its adequate understanding. One point to note is that although second text has a different English the text is more recent, difference is due to where it was written, Jamaica, in which they talk different languages.
The feelings that are managed differ greatly. In "The Soldier" is felt a longing for the fact of dying far from home, which is England, in an enemy camp without many things that were in country, it shows great patriotism, casting a love for England saying that he recalls sights, sounds, smells of his homeland. In verse 4 it says: "In That rich earth a richer dust concealed" which shows that for a soldier the simple fact that an Englishman was killed elsewhere in fought for their country, he is enriching the soil where he died, which shows
again the great patriotism that a soldier had. Very different feelings are shown in "Colonization in Reverse" in which joy is very noticeable, though the last three stanzas denote anger or resentment against England. The joy shows to be changing the story and be this time the Jamaicans the ones who exceeded and managed to go one step further colonizing a country like England. The irony is also felt, in a verse says, "Oono see da
turnabout?" (Do you see the irony?), the author expresses surprise that this event may be true, as weaker people managed to handle with a greater country. Denoting these feelings we can realize how the authors create with some words the feelings of people, who saw these two poems contrast greatly.
The image on both poems was a resource well used by authors. The first text says "Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home "or" Her sights and sounds, dreams happy as her day "in both verses people can imagine a beautiful place, with landscapes that show tranquility and happiness; show England as the perfect place, this helps the reader imagine something amazing and feel the same love The soldier felt for his country. In the second text images shown are of joy and discovery and in following verse:
"What an islan! What a people!
Man an woman, old an young
Jus a pack dem bag an baggage
An turn history upside dung! "
In this verse we can see the given idea of a start, something new and fantastic that pleases people of Jamaica. The images between the two poems are contrasting, but equally help the reader to interpret and feel more a part of environment in both of them.
Important points, as the fact of not knowing the exact meaning of the word "colonization" in the second text can help many different ways of seeing the poem. You might think that it was a "complete" colonization: culture, arms, people, or you can take the fact that people traveled to England hoping better opportunities and little by little the great migration was “Colonization." And in "The Soldier" we can question if the image we want to show is of a military soldier or a figure "Soldier" is only used to represent any person leaving their country to fight for it in different ways.
With all that we can realize two ways in which you can see a country on the one hand the most beloved country, for which life is given and on the other hand a country that is finally passed and colonized by those who previously were humiliated and who now seek
something better. Different in writing, on the dates, in images and many things, but equal in the conviction to defend their nation, it can be said that the two poems are nationalistic; they say the best of their country, everyone defending their identity and history. Then I can get to the personal conclusion about the main topic: there can be many loves, but the feels for our country is unique and forever.
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