War Poetry

TOPIC OF THE BLOG:-

This blog is a part of a thinking activity given by Megha ma'am from The English Department, MKBU, Bhavnagar. Check out Megha Trivedi's Blog (Click here) for more information and knowledge about War Poetry and other works and writers. In this blog I am going to explain my point of view about War Poetry and Movies, Songs etc. related to it.

WAR POETRY:-

Naturally, one can easily understand poetry which is written for wars or has characteristics of War called War Poetry. Some are on the side of War or some are anti war poems. Poetry which deals with the subject of War. Simply, there are two types of War Poetry.

1. Patriotic Poetry - Which honors sacrifice and bravery of soldiers.
2. Anti - War Poetry -  Which saws no glory in war but only suffering and destruction.

In our syllabus we studied five War Poetries (The Hero - Siegfried Sassoon, Dulce et Decorum Est - Wilfred Owen, The Soldier - Rupert Brooke, The Fear - Wilfrid Wilson Gibson and The Target - Ivor Gurney) and in this blog now we have to compare with other Movies, Songs, Series, any anything related to War.

Aspect	War Poetry	Anti-War Poetry
Tone	Celebratory, patriotic, heroic	Critical, mournful, disillusioned
Subject matter	Battles, soldiers, bravery, sacrifice, glory	Horrors of war, human suffering, futility, peace
Imagery	Guns, bombs, blood, death, destruction, valor	Nature, innocence, love, hope, empathy, pacifism
Poetic devices	Rhyme, rhythm, repetition, alliteration, onomatopoeia	Free verse, imagery, metaphors, similes, irony, symbolism
Poetic forms	Sonnet, ode, ballad, elegy, epic	Free verse, haiku, tanka, ghazal, pantoum, sestina
Poets and examples	Wilfred Owen, Rupert Brooke, Siegfried Sassoon, Emily Dickinson	Yusef Komunyakaa, Denise Levertov, Langston Hughes, Bob Dylan

So, let's dig into this...........

💐WHEN YOU SEE MILLIONS OF THE MOUTHLESS DEAD BY CHARLES SORLEY (POEM):-

When you see millions of the mouthless dead

Across your dreams in pale battalions go,

Say not soft things as other men have said,

That you'll remember. For you need not so.

Give them not praise. For, deaf, how should they know

It is not curses heaped on each gashed head?

Nor tears. Their blind eyes see not your tears flow.

Nor honour. It is easy to be dead.

Say only this, 'They are dead.' Then add thereto,

'Yet many a better one has died before.'

Then, scanning all the o'ercrowded mass, should you

Perceive one face that you loved heretofore,

It is a spook. None wears the face you knew.

Great death has made all his for evermore.

👉"When You See Millions of the Mouthless Dead" is a poem by Charles Sorley, a young Scottish poet who was killed in action during World War I. The poem was written in 1915, when Sorley was serving in the British Army in France. The poem is a powerful and moving reflection on the horrors of war and the loss of life that it entails.

The poem begins with the line "When you see millions of the mouthless dead," which immediately sets a somber tone. The use of the word "mouthless" is particularly striking, as it suggests that these dead soldiers were silenced and unable to speak for themselves. This sets up a contrast with the living, who have the ability to speak out against the war and its senseless violence.

The second stanza of the poem explores the idea that these dead soldiers are "not even the bones of heroes," but rather "dust." This is a powerful reminder that these soldiers were not simply heroes, but rather ordinary men who were caught up in a terrible conflict. The poem thus challenges the idea that war is a heroic enterprise, and instead suggests that it is a tragic waste of human life.

The third stanza of the poem reflects on the fact that these soldiers died in a foreign land, far from their homes and loved ones. The lines "Where do the hands of no-man's-land end? / Where lies the shore of this sea of death?" suggest the scale and scope of the conflict, which engulfed large parts of Europe and caused immense destruction and loss of life.

The final stanza of the poem returns to the idea of the "mouthless dead," and suggests that their loss is a warning to the living. The line "Think only this of me: / That there's some corner of a foreign field / That is forever England" is particularly poignant, as it suggests that even in death, these soldiers remain a part of their homeland. However, this idea is ultimately tempered by the final line of the poem: "There shall be / In that rich earth a richer dust concealed," which suggests that the ultimate fate of these soldiers is to be forgotten, their sacrifices lost to history.

Overall, "When You See Millions of the Mouthless Dead" is a powerful and moving reflection on the horrors of war and the loss of life that it entails. The poem challenges the idea that war is a heroic enterprise, and instead suggests that it is a tragic waste of human life. It also emphasizes the scale and scope of the conflict, and the fact that many soldiers died far from their homes and loved ones. Finally, the poem suggests that the loss of these soldiers is a warning to the living, and that their ultimate fate is to be forgotten.

💐LOC KARGIL (2003) (MOVIE)

LOC Kargil is a 2003 Indian Hindi-language historical war film based on the Kargil War fought between India and Pakistan. This movie is Produced and Directed by J. P. Dutta. Mohnish Bahl, Sanjay Dutt, Ajay Devgn, Nagarjuna, Saif Ali Khan, Sunil Shetty, Sanjay Kapoor, Akshay Khanna, Abhishek Bachchan, Manoj Bajpayee, etc. Are the star cast of this Movie. The film is based on the Indian Army's successful Operation Vijay that was launched in May 1999 in the wake of the Pakistani intrusion and occupation of the strategic heights in the Kargil sector to flush out the Pakistani intruders from the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC). Here is a full movie available on YouTube.

💐THE PIANIST (2002)

This Movie is based on the autobiographical book The Pianist  (1946), a Holocaust memoir by the Polish-Jewish pianist and composer Władysław Szpilman, a Holocaust survivor. This movie directed by Roman Polanski and produced by Roman Polanski, Robert Benmussa and Alain Sarde. The movie starcast by Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finlay, Maureen Lipman, Emilia Fox, Ed Stoppard, Julia Rayner, Jessica Kate Meyer, etc. For plot and other information for movie visit this site (Click here). Here is a trailer of this movie available on YouTube.

💐WAR CHHOD NA YAAR (2013)

War Chhod Na Yaar is a Hindi language movie released in 2013. This movie has comedic elements in it which make this movie different from other war movies. This movie directed by Faraz Haider and Written by Faraz Haider and Deepak Kingrani with Starring Sharman Joshi, Soha Ali Khan, Javed Jaffrey, Sanjai Mishra, Mukul Dev, Dalip Tahil etc. Here is the official Trailer of this movie.

💐WAR GAMES:-

Here are some Games which are available in the play store and shows how humankind likes violence and the concept of war which includes in Games too which considers a tool for free to our mind.

💐WORLD WAR HEROES:-

Battle players from around the world in a crazy WWII-era online first person shooter game!

Destroy the enemy and survive tank battles in the center of Berlin and other cities. Participate in team and deathmatch battles, plant bombs and defend them, take part in world war massive warfare! This reference was taken from the play store and here is a trailer of this game.

👉 Other than this game there are so many other games available which has violence in it like, BGMI, Free Fire, Call of Duty, etc.

NOTE:- If you find any problem or question or suggestions please let me know☺️.

Words:- 1263

Photos:- 4

Videos:- 4

Archetypal Criticism by Northrop Frye

TOPIC OF THE BLOG:-

This blog is a part of a thinking activity given by Dilip Barad Sir from The English Department, MKBU, Bhavnagar. Check out Dilip Barad sir's Blog (Click here) for Northop Frye and other information and blogs. In this blog I try to answer some questions asking Chat-GPT which are instructed in above suggested blog. 

1) WHAT IS ARCHETYPAL CRITICISM?

👉Archetypal criticism is a type of literary analysis that focuses on the identification and examination of archetypes in literature. Archetypes are universal symbols and patterns that are present in human consciousness across cultures and throughout history, and they represent fundamental human experiences and emotions.

Archetypal criticism seeks to understand how the use of archetypes in literature contributes to the meaning and impact of the work. This approach is based on the belief that literature reflects and evokes deep-seated, universal human experiences and emotions, and that by examining archetypes, we can better understand these experiences and emotions.

Archetypal critics often look for recurring symbols, motifs, and patterns in literature, such as the hero, the quest, the mother, the father, the trickster, and the shadow. These archetypes can be traced back to ancient myths and legends, and they continue to resonate with readers today.

Archetypal criticism can be applied to any type of literature, from poetry and drama to novels and short stories. This approach is often used in combination with other types of literary analysis, such as historical, feminist, or psychoanalytic criticism, to provide a more comprehensive understanding of a work of literature.

2)WHAT IS CONTRIBUTION OF NORTHOP FRYE IN ARCHETYPAL CRITISISM?

👉Northrop Frye was a prominent literary critic who made significant contributions to the field of archetypal criticism, a form of literary criticism that examines the use of archetypes in literature.

Frye believed that literature was a reflection of the human imagination, and that certain recurring images and patterns could be found across cultures and time periods. These images and patterns, which he called archetypes, were fundamental to the human experience and could be used to analyze literature.

Frye identified several archetypes in literature, including the hero, the villain, the wise old man, and the mother figure. He believed that these archetypes were symbolic representations of basic human desires and fears, and that their use in literature helped to tap into the reader's subconscious mind and evoke deep emotional responses.

Frye's work in archetypal criticism helped to expand the field of literary criticism by providing a new way to analyze and understand literature. His theories continue to be influential today and are widely studied by scholars of literature and culture.

3)WHAT DO ARCHETYPAL CRITICS DO? EXPLAIN WITH EXAMPLES.

👉Archetypal criticism is a literary theory that focuses on the recurring patterns and symbols in literature and how they reflect universal human experiences. Archetypal critics use psychological and mythological analysis to interpret the deeper meaning of literary works.

Archetypal criticism draws from the ideas of Swiss psychologist Carl Jung, who believed that certain images and symbols are embedded in the human psyche and are common to all cultures. These archetypes, such as the hero, the mother, the trickster, and the shadow, appear in literature as recurring patterns and images.

Archetypal critics analyze literature in terms of these archetypes, looking for patterns that suggest universal themes and experiences. They often explore the symbolic and metaphorical meanings of literary works, as well as the psychological and emotional impact of those works on readers.

For example, in William Golding's novel "Lord of the Flies," archetypal critics might see the character of Simon as an archetype of the spiritual or visionary hero, who offers wisdom and insight to the other characters but is ultimately rejected and sacrificed by them.

In F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby," archetypal critics might interpret the character of Jay Gatsby as an archetype of the American Dream, a symbol of the quest for wealth and status that ultimately leads to tragedy.

In Herman Melville's "Moby Dick," archetypal critics might view the character of Captain Ahab as an archetype of the shadow, the dark and destructive side of the human psyche that can lead to madness and obsession.

Overall, archetypal criticism offers a way to explore the deep psychological and cultural significance of literature, and to understand the ways in which literature reflects and shapes our shared human experiences.

4)“EVERY ORGANIZED BODY OF KNOWLEDGE CAN BE LEARNED PROGRESSIVELY; AND EXPERIENCE SHOWS THAT THERE IS ALSO SOMETHING PROGRESSIVE ABOUT THE LEARNING OF LITERATURE. OUR OPENING SENTENCE HAS ALREADY GOT US INTO A SEMANTIC DIFFICULTY.” EXPLAIN THE SEMANTIC DIFFICULTY.

👉The semantic difficulty in the opening sentence refers to the word "progressive" and how it may be interpreted in different ways, depending on the context.

On the one hand, "progressive" can mean that something is developing and improving over time, as in the case of scientific or technical knowledge. This implies a linear, incremental process of learning, where each step builds on the previous one, leading to a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.

On the other hand, "progressive" can also be used to describe a political or social movement that advocates for change and reform. In this sense, the word carries a different connotation, suggesting a more radical and transformative approach to learning and knowledge.

In the context of literature, the semantic difficulty arises because it is not clear which of these two meanings of "progressive" is more appropriate. While literature certainly involves a process of learning and discovery, it is not necessarily linear or incremental. Instead, it may involve sudden insights, epiphanies, and leaps of imagination that cannot be easily explained by a progressive model of learning.

Furthermore, literature is often valued precisely because it challenges and subverts established norms and conventions, rather than simply reinforcing them. This suggests a more radical, transformative approach to learning and knowledge, rather than a linear, cumulative one.

In sum, the semantic difficulty in the opening sentence of this statement reflects the challenge of applying a linear, incremental model of learning to a subject like literature, which is inherently complex, ambiguous, and resistant to easy categorization.

5)AS ABOVE - “THE RELATION OF CRITICISM TO RELIGION, WHEN THEY DEAL WITH THE SAME DOCUMENTS IS MORE COMPLICATED. IN CRITISISM, AS IN HISTORY, THE DIVINE IS ALWAYS TREATED AS A HUMAN ARTIFACT. GOD FOR THE CRITIC, WHETHER HE FINDS HIM IN PARADISE LOST OR THE BIBLE, IS A CHARACTER IN A HUMAN STORY."

👉The statement suggests that when criticism and religion intersect, the treatment of the divine becomes more complex. In literary criticism and historical analysis, the divine is seen as a human artifact, meaning that it is created and shaped by human beliefs, values, and cultural practices. Therefore, when critics examine religious texts, they view the depiction of God or other divine beings as characters in a human story, subject to the same kind of analysis as any other fictional or historical character.

This approach to religious texts can be seen in the study of literature, where scholars examine religious works like "Paradise Lost" or the Bible as literary texts, subject to analysis of their characters, plot, and themes. In this context, the depiction of God is seen as a narrative device rather than a theological truth, and is therefore open to interpretation and critique.

However, this approach may conflict with religious belief, which sees God as a divine being beyond the limits of human understanding and interpretation. In religion, God is not merely a character in a human story, but rather the author and source of that story, and therefore subject to a different kind of reverence and respect.

In sum, the relation of criticism to religion is complicated by the different ways in which the divine is understood and approached. While literary criticism may view God as a character in a human story, religion sees God as a divine being beyond human comprehension, and therefore subject to different standards of interpretation and understanding.

I.A. Richard: Practical Criticism - Figurative Language

TOPIC OF THE BLOG:-

This blog is a part of a thinking activity given by Dilip Barad Sir from The English Department, MKBU, Bhavnagar. Check out Dilip Barad sir's Blog (Click here) on this task, how we are supposed to do it and what points we should have in our mind while performing the task. For Poetries visit this Blog by Dilip Sir (Click here). In this blog I am going to discuss a Poetry by Javed Akhtar named 'Naya Hukmnama', one of the suggested Poems in Dilip Sir's Blog. 

'NAYA HUKMNAMA' (NEW ORDINANCE):-

किसी का हुक्म है सारी हवाएँ 

हमेशा चलने से पहले बताएँ 

कि उन की सम्त क्या है 

किधर जा रही हैं 

हवाओं को बताना ये भी होगा 

चलेंगी अब तो क्या रफ़्तार होगी 

हवाओं को ये इजाज़त नहीं है 

कि आँधी की इजाज़त अब नहीं है 

हमारी रेत की सब ये फ़सीलें 

ये काग़ज़ के महल जो बन रहे हैं 

हिफ़ाज़त उन की करना है ज़रूरी 

और आँधी है पुरानी इन की दुश्मन 

ये सभी जनते हैं 

किसी का हुक्म है दरिया की लहरें 

ज़रा ये सर-कशी कम कर लें अपनी हद में ठहरें 

उभरना फिर बिखरना और बिखर कर फिर उभरना 

ग़लत है ये उन का हंगामा करना 

ये सब है सिर्फ़ वहशत की अलामत 

बग़ावत की अलामत 

बग़ावत तो नहीं बर्दाश्त होगी 

ये वहशत तो नहीं बर्दाश्त होगी 

अगर लहरों को है दरिया में रहना 

तो उन को होगा अब चुप-चाप बहना 

किसी का हुक्म है 

इस गुलिस्ताँ में बस इक रंग के ही फूल होंगे 

कुछ अफ़सर होंगे जो ये तय करेंगे 

गुलिस्ताँ किस तरह बनना है कल का 

यक़ीनन फूल तो यक-रंगीं होंगे 

मगर ये रंग होगा कितना गहरा कितना हल्का 

ये अफ़सर तय करेंगे 

किसी को ये कोई कैसे बताए 

गुलिस्ताँ में कहीं भी फूल यक-रंगीं नहीं होते 

कभी हो ही नहीं सकते 

कि हर इक रंग में छुप कर बहुत से रंग रहते हैं 

जिन्होंने बाग़-ए-यक-रंगीं बनाना चाहे थे 

उन को ज़रा देखो 

कि जब इक रंग में सौ रंग ज़ाहिर हो गए हैं तो 

कितने परेशाँ हैं कितने तंग रहते हैं 

किसी को ये कोई कैसे बताए 

हवाएँ और लहरें कब किसी का हुक्म सुनती हैं 

हवाएँ हाकिमों की मुट्ठियों में हथकड़ी में 

क़ैद-ख़ानों में नहीं रुकतीं 

ये लहरें रोकी जाती हैं 

तो दरिया कितना भी हो पुर-सुकूँ बेताब होता है 

और इस बेताबी का अगला क़दम सैलाब होता है 

👉This written version taken from Poetistic.com (Click here)

Let's see what problematic points we can see in this Poem. And an Interpretation in what way it is used. (While reading this Poem we are not supposed to know the poet of this poem and outer information. This Poem is originally written in Urdu and Hindi.)

1) सारी हवाए चलने से पहले बताए - Air is something which no living being is able to see, so how can it interact and speak? - maybe in these lines it is said that before anyone wants to take any step it/he/she should ask first and should inform first. And this metaphor is taken in the context of freedom that even air has no freedom so why living beings should have.

2) किधर जा रही हैं - One of the most unpredictable things on this earth is the flow of the air. So, how can the air know in which direction it wants to go if it has a voice. 

3) हवाओं को बताना ये भी होगा, चलेंगी अब तो क्या रफ़्तार होगी - Same as the above point - unpredictable speed of air. 

हवाओं को ये इजाज़त नहीं है - Air, Water or Nature can never listen of anyone, so there is no point to order air there it hasn't a permission to go somewhere. - Maybe it is said that air has no liberty means living beings have no liberty. We have to do as they please. 

5) हमारी रेत की सब ये फ़सीलें - It is not possible to make a well constructed structure with sand. (फ़सीलें - wall of enclosure around a castle/ fort) - With this it is metaphorical that our dreams and wishes are like sand. 

6) ये काग़ज़ के महल - same as above it is not possible to make kingdom with paper. And with our dreams which are like sand and paper we need to protect it.

7) दरिया की लहरें, ज़रा ये सर-कशी कम कर लें अपनी हद में ठहरें - As the metaphor of Air here is a metaphor of Sea. And as Air, Sea is something which can't be controlled by anyone. - Maybe with this it is compared with our boundary. It is like a warning that we should cross lines which are drawn by them. 

8) अगर लहरों को है दरिया में रहना, तो उन को होगा अब चुप-चाप बहना - The voice of the sea is very relaxing and unstoppable. It is not not possible that Sea don't make sound. - It can be metaphorical in a way that if we want to live under their roof we are not allowed to speak anything even if we are not happy with those limitations. 

9) इस गुलिस्ताँ में बस इक रंग के ही फूल होंगे - As we know in this Earth there are so many colours which we admired and the best example of that is colourful flowers. So, it is not possible that in one place there is only one color flower growing. - With this it might be metaphorical with our choices that we are allowed to choose only one type of thing and dream even if we are multi-colored. 

10) यक़ीनन फूल तो यक-रंगीं होंगे, मगर ये रंग होगा कितना गहरा कितना हल्का, ये अफ़सर तय करेंगे - No one can choose the colour of flowers only nature can. So, it is not possible that colors of flowers can be chosen by any human being. 

👉 In last lines of this poem it is also described all the points that it is indeed not possible to control Air, Sea or anything. 

👉 If we see over-all Poem it can be  on Politician, Religious Groups and on God. And also 'किसीका हुक्म' can be considered as these Politicians, Religious Groups or authorized persons.

👉 How? It is simply visible that one wants to be authority and wants to control everything. 

NOTE:- If you find any problem or question or suggestions please let me know☺️.

Words:- 1044

'Breath' by Samuel Beckett

TOPIC OF THE BLOG:-

This blog is a part of a thinking activity - Interpretation Challenge: Beckett's Breath -  given by Dilip Barad Sir from The English Department, MKBU, Bhavnagar. Check out Dilip Barad sir's Blog Site (Click here) for more information and knowledge about 'Breath' by Samuel Beckett and other works and writers. In this blog I like to tell something about Samuel Beckett and his play 'Breath' as per my understanding. For the blog on 'Breath' and how we have to do it check out Dilip Barad Sir's Blog on 'Breath' (Click here).

SAMUEL BECKETT:-

You're on Earth, There's 

no cure for that.

Samuel Barclay Beckett was born on April 13?, 1906 in Foxrock, County Dublin, Ireland and died on December 22, 1989 in Paris, France. He was an author, critic, and playwright, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1969. He wrote in both French and English and is perhaps best known for his plays, especially En attendant Godot (1952; Waiting for Godot). (Esslin)

'BREATH':-

This play is considered as the shortest play by him. It has a few notes and without any character and dialogues.

Curtain.

1. Faint light on stage littered with miscellaneous rubbish. Hold for about five seconds.

2. Faint brief cry and immediate inspiration and slow increase of light together reaching maximum together in about ten seconds. Silence and hold about five seconds.

3. Expiration and slow decrease of light together reaching minimum together (light as in I) in about ten seconds and immediately cry as before. Silence and hold for about five seconds.

Curtain.

He also adds some notes which helps us to understand how play goes.

Rubbish: No verticals, all scattered and lying.

Cry: Instant of recorded vagitus. Important that two cries be identical, switching on and off strictly synchronized light and breath.

Breath: Amplified recording.

Maximum light: Not bright. If 0 = dark and 10 = bright, light should move from about 3 to 6 and back.

For better understanding on this topic you can read a site of Open Culture (Click here).

HERE ARE OTHER INTERESTING INTERPRETATIONS ON THIS PLAY AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE:-

HINA PARMAR:-

ROHIT VYAS:-

AVNI JANI:-

TRUSHALI DODIYA:-

MY INTERPRETATION AND VIDEO ON 'BREATH':-

Here is my video on YouTube:-

INTERPRETATIONS:-

🌵First I Choose perfect angle from I can give justice as much as I can to Script by Beckett. 

🌵 Instead of soil I use plastic floor mat which shows that we humans are not like to live on soil but in house which has good tiles on floor.

🌵In first sight it has dark which in starting of something from dark to light.

🌵Two Dolls (made by me from handkerchief) I used as baby and with that I used baby crying sound as birth symbol.

🌵Than further one can see salt, Black Mung Bean, Mustard Seeds, Bay Leaf, Cloves, these foods and spices to show human loves to east with different tastes and human have to survive on food. 

🌵With that you can see used machine threads which shows that human wear so many different kinds of and colour of clothes too.

🌵There are also so many Pens, Pencils, Colours, Books, Phones and Trophy which shows human grow and study with that they draw and do art, read books, uses technology, wins, loose, see the colours, right and grow. 

🌵With trophy and books I put a mirror between that which means after some amount of true study and knowledge one can see there true self through mirror.

🌵Chalks shows that our journey from pens and pencils goes to Chalks, from learning we step forward to teaching. 

🌵I used 4 Books for this video, First is 'Letters of T.S. Eliot', which means one goes to learn more difficult and true Litrature and get to know writers too, Second is 'Shakespeare for Beginners' by Brandon Toropov' which has introduction and information about William Shakespeare in playful and funny way which shows learning is not something serious but is some to be enjoying, Third I use my book which has some writing too and that means some part of our life already written by us and Forth book I used empty one so that we can write more.

🌵Than there is view for medicine and tubes which shows humans condition as they grow old from young. 

🌵Than in last I used ashes of incense sticks as human turning into ashes after death. 

🌵With all this I used sound of a man breathing which shows life is still going.

🌵And for the conclusion sound I used Sound of man crying to show after death never any child but adults, youngsters and elders are crying for someone for themselves too. 

So, these are my interpretations which I used in my video of interpretation challenge.

WORKS CITED:-

🎥Esslin, Martin J.. "Samuel Beckett". Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Dec. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Samuel-Beckett.

NOTE:- If you find any problem or question or suggestions please let me know☺️.

Words:- 845

Photos:- 2

Quotes:- 1

Videos:- 4