Soldiers that fought in the trenches had to face the constant fear of death and pain. They became very aware of their own mortality as they faced disease and bullets. Artillery and machine gun fire and barbed wire tore through their friends’ bodies and laid waste to beautiful landscapes. It would have been very easy to despair and feel as though the world around them were being destroyed. However, one soldier was able to find hope and encouragement, even when surrounded by this world of human barbarity. In the poem, “In Flanders Fields”, John McCrae uses symbolism, diction, and imagery to send a message to his fellow veterans of World War I that life is brief and, despite the horrors of their previous experience, life can be enjoyed and filled
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This entire stanza paints a picture of tranquility and calm amidst the chaos of war. The image of the poppies among the crosses tells a story of past pain and suffering turned to peace and rest. This stanza begins with this calm setting and then is harshly contradicted by the very last line “scarce heard amid the guns below” (McCrae). This shows the reader that even with the painful memories of the past, it is possible to view the world in a more positive light. Though there is death in this world, life and beauty can also be found and appreciated.
The diction displayed in the poem suggests that there is an end to suffering. The second stanza says, “…we lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, loved and were loved, and now we lie in Flanders fields” (McCrae). This description of the life these fallen soldiers had before the war indicates a life of pleasure and meaning. They had happy relationships with people and enjoyed the beauty found in the world. Ending this description with “…and now we lie in Flanders fields” suggests that these relationships do not stop after death. This idea would be of great comfort to those veterans traumatized by the deaths of their comrades. The use of the word “lie” is used specifically to show that there is no pain in the Fallen’s current state. The knowledge that their friends are resting peacefully would be therapeutic, especially if their friends were killed in a brutal manner. These friends were clearly free of pain and reflecting on the good things in the world, rather than focusing on the
This entire stanza paints a picture of tranquility and calm amidst the chaos of war. The image of the poppies among the crosses tells a story of past pain and suffering turned to peace and rest. This stanza begins with this calm setting and then is harshly contradicted by the very last line “scarce heard amid the guns below” (McCrae). This shows the reader that even with the painful memories of the past, it is possible to view the world in a more positive light. Though there is death in this world, life and beauty can also be found and appreciated.
The diction displayed in the poem suggests that there is an end to suffering. The second stanza says, “…we lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, loved and were loved, and now we lie in Flanders fields” (McCrae). This description of the life these fallen soldiers had before the war indicates a life of pleasure and meaning. They had happy relationships with people and enjoyed the beauty found in the world. Ending this description with “…and now we lie in Flanders fields” suggests that these relationships do not stop after death. This idea would be of great comfort to those veterans traumatized by the deaths of their comrades. The use of the word “lie” is used specifically to show that there is no pain in the Fallen’s current state. The knowledge that their friends are resting peacefully would be therapeutic, especially if their friends were killed in a brutal manner. These friends were clearly free of pain and reflecting on the good things in the world, rather than focusing on the