Great WAr Literature POETRY ANALYSIS Poet: W N Hodgson Poem: England to Her Sons In this poem, England is personified

or given human attributes and she speaks as though she were the mother of all the young men going to war.As such, this poem could be sa id to have two representations: the losses of the nation as a whole and the losses of each individual mother. In the first verse, England says she can hear the young men fs excitement at the outbreak of war. She suggests that they should prepare themselves for wha t lies ahead and promises to provide as many men as necessary.This opening demonstrates both the patriotic fervour and underlying fears which were prevalent at that time.The re is a suggestion that the cost will be great as England pledges to give eall f of her hon ourable sons to the cause. In the second verse, the poet recounts all the virtues of England fs sons: self-sa crifice and judiciousness.These men are afraid of nothing except shame in their own actions. In addition, he says, they are prepared to accept either death or injury, without a word of complaint. He also asserts that the faith of England fs sons, their hopes for the future and their belief in the righteousness of their cause will eventually bring them succ ess.This verse shows a strong feeling of patriotism in the poet, which was not unusual at the b eginning of the war. Hodgson here reflects the belief that England fs cause was just and, in c ommon with, for example Rupert Brooke, seems to believe that his generation were particularl y well suited to defend their country. In the final verse, England again addresses her sons, bidding the young men to g o to war under the supervision and leadership of God, whom the poet clearly believes to b e on England fs side. England then suggests that, if God should decide that the young m en must die, she will accept this action and all she will ask in return is somewhere to weep.The ending of this poem, while remaining patriotic, also introduces a poignant note. England, Hodgson seems to imply, must and will accept the losses that lie ahead. However, the national as a whole will also mourn, when the time comes, for all the young men who have given their lives.

In common with the work of Rupert Brooke, Hodgson fs poem is fiercely patriotic. H e is not, however, pro-war: instead he acknowledges that men must do their duty and a nswer www.greatwarliterature.co.uk Sheet 1

Great WAr Literature England to Her Sons (cont) their nation fs call, but that this may also require a terrible sacrifice, which w ill be felt not just by each soldier fs mother,but by the whole country.To describe a call to arms as et hrilling f may seem blood-thirsty today, but readers should bear in mind that, at the time this poem was written,such feelings were commonplace.At the outbreak of the First World Wa r,tens of thousands of young men flocked to enlist: some out of duty, others because th ey sought adventure. Most believed it would be a short war, of may a few month fs duration a nd nobody wanted to miss out on the efun f. In this piece, Hodgson reflects these sent iments but, in the final line, he also admits that there will be deaths and that those at home will suffer too.This is an indication of Hodgson fs own temperament. He had enlisted be cause it was the right thing to do but, very quickly, he began to become melancholy about the loss of life and innocence which the war would be bound to cause. Even here, though, he seems to urging people to act with dignity in grief, suggesting that those who mourn shou ld do so quietly and with decorum.That is not to say that they should not grieve,but that ,like the soldiers for whom they weep, they should behave honourably. www.greatwarliterature.co.uk Sheet 2