"The Soldier" by Rupert Brooke.

If I should die, think only this of me:

That there's some corner of a foreign field

That is for ever England. There shall be

In that rich earth a richer dust concealed:

These are the first four lines of Rupert Brooke's poignant sonnet, "The Soldier". "The Soldier" is a poem about death in war. This does not glorify war, but only shows that dying in war is a proud thing to do for your country. It is a message from Rupert Brooke and possibly all the young men at war to their loved ones. Brooke's purpose seems to be bequeathing his spirit even though his body may be in another country. As you can see in this picture, (**show picture of Rupert Brooke**) Rupert Brooke looks quite determined and young and so this is a sad, depressing poem but it is also quite reflective.

Rupert Brooke

English: A statue of Rupert Brooke in his birth to...

Grave of Rupert Brooke on the Greek island of Skyr...

In this sense, the poem is typical of the early part of World War 1.

"The Soldier" is a poem with many techniques since Rupert Brooke seems to be well educated and is quite formal with his writing. It includes the use of repetition, metaphors and visual imagery. The poem goes at a moderate pace so therefore it is easily seen that the poem is natural and harmonious.

Brooke uses many devices to send his message of dying in war. In the body of "The Soldier", he uses visual imagery "Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home", to create a very peaceful picture of English life that will survive his death. This makes the reader feel serene when thinking about English life. So, even though he says that he may die, by calling himself a dust, he makes his death more pleasant than...