The horror of a senseless death or the sweetness of victory, how should one respond to matters of life or death? In these poems “Charge of the Light Brigade” and “Death of the Ball Turret Gunner” many may ask themselves these questions concerning life or death during war. There are many emotions involved when discussing any war. There are many states who have benefited from wars, and some who have suffered from wars. There are people who have lost their lives on the battlefield and honored as heroes. Some people see this as a senseless death versus being victorious or a hero. There are different views among people concerning wars, one in which we feel devoted to both sides, the victorious side and the senseless side. This sensitive discussion
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The Captain, who was misdirected, led this group of six- hundred British Calvary against Russian troops. Unfortunately, this Calvary charged the Russians in the wrong direction and every weapon was aimed toward them. Although, one- hundred and fifty-seven troops were killed or wounded; they showed bravery while charging toward their doom. The reasons behind this fight and massacre are the Russians’ mission to control the Dardanelles. This would have threatened British sea …show more content…
This poem focuses on one person, a young man who is killed in battle. It appears there wasn’t any glory or honor mentioned, nor presumed in this poem. This young gunner talks about his experience in the ball turret as if it was like being in a womb protected, secure, and comfortable. “From my mother’s sleep I fell into the State,” (1) “And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze.” (2) The gunner’s warm and safe feeling of his environment swiftly changed when he realizes his present situation. “Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life, / I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters.” (3-4) The gunner would appear to have had a rather postmortem observation; realizing he was no longer in a safe place. That he was going to die; yet he showed no expression of fear. “When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose.” (5) This short statement materializes images of guts and blood throughout the ball turret. The men are spraying his body parts out with a hose; perhaps preparing the turret for the next soldier. It creates a question of rather the government really cares about their soldiers. Was this gunner forced into the military? Can we blame the war on the government? Are our soldiers disposable? Unfortunately, there is nothing left of this soldier and no mention of any honors. This poem makes a small time frame significant by focusing on a soldiers’ birth, death, and
The Captain, who was misdirected, led this group of six- hundred British Calvary against Russian troops. Unfortunately, this Calvary charged the Russians in the wrong direction and every weapon was aimed toward them. Although, one- hundred and fifty-seven troops were killed or wounded; they showed bravery while charging toward their doom. The reasons behind this fight and massacre are the Russians’ mission to control the Dardanelles. This would have threatened British sea …show more content…
This poem focuses on one person, a young man who is killed in battle. It appears there wasn’t any glory or honor mentioned, nor presumed in this poem. This young gunner talks about his experience in the ball turret as if it was like being in a womb protected, secure, and comfortable. “From my mother’s sleep I fell into the State,” (1) “And I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze.” (2) The gunner’s warm and safe feeling of his environment swiftly changed when he realizes his present situation. “Six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life, / I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters.” (3-4) The gunner would appear to have had a rather postmortem observation; realizing he was no longer in a safe place. That he was going to die; yet he showed no expression of fear. “When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose.” (5) This short statement materializes images of guts and blood throughout the ball turret. The men are spraying his body parts out with a hose; perhaps preparing the turret for the next soldier. It creates a question of rather the government really cares about their soldiers. Was this gunner forced into the military? Can we blame the war on the government? Are our soldiers disposable? Unfortunately, there is nothing left of this soldier and no mention of any honors. This poem makes a small time frame significant by focusing on a soldiers’ birth, death, and