The Silent One.The Silent One.By Ivor Gurney.By Ivor Gurney.

P.g 182.

‘‘The Silent One’The Silent One’

http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?vwww.youtube.com/watch?v=ItpeD2PT7tA=ItpeD2PT7tA

About Ivor Gurney.About Ivor Gurney.

Ivor Gurney, a gifted chorister, composer Ivor Gurney, a gifted chorister, composer and poet, was born in 1890. His musical and poet, was born in 1890. His musical studies were interrupted by the war, during studies were interrupted by the war, during which he suffered a nervous breakdown in which he suffered a nervous breakdown in 1918. He spent the last fifteen years of his 1918. He spent the last fifteen years of his life in mental hospitals, dying of life in mental hospitals, dying of tuberculosis in 1937.tuberculosis in 1937.

Summary of the poem.Summary of the poem.

In the poem a soldier takes In the poem a soldier takes cover while facing a barrier cover while facing a barrier of uncut barbed wire in no-of uncut barbed wire in no-mans land. Two men lie down mans land. Two men lie down on the wire, and one of them on the wire, and one of them the soldier is familiar with. A the soldier is familiar with. A commanding officer points a commanding officer points a possible way through the possible way through the wire, one that would mean wire, one that would mean death to the soldier. The death to the soldier. The soldier refuses to take it. soldier refuses to take it.

Written between 1919-1922Written between 1919-1922

Structure.Structure. The structure of ‘The silent one’ is only partly The structure of ‘The silent one’ is only partly

organised according to the rhyme: It begins organised according to the rhyme: It begins with two rhyming couplets, but the end rhyme with two rhyming couplets, but the end rhyme afterwards is deliberately imperfect. An afterwards is deliberately imperfect. An example of this is ‘unbroken’ and ‘unshaken’ example of this is ‘unbroken’ and ‘unshaken’ which are half rhymes. which are half rhymes. ‘seen’ also weakly rhymes with ‘whizzing’ but ‘seen’ also weakly rhymes with ‘whizzing’ but does rhyme with ‘screen’. In-between these does rhyme with ‘screen’. In-between these half rhymes ‘clothes’ and ‘oaths’ are the only half rhymes ‘clothes’ and ‘oaths’ are the only full rhymes.full rhymes.

Explanation for Structure.Explanation for Structure. The reason for the weak rhyming in ‘The silent one The reason for the weak rhyming in ‘The silent one

could be because a lot is going on within the lines: could be because a lot is going on within the lines: Phrases and words within the poem are frequently Phrases and words within the poem are frequently repeated. For example ‘again’ ‘retreated’ repeated. For example ‘again’ ‘retreated’ ‘darkness’ ‘wires’ ‘line’ ‘accent’ ‘no’. This could ‘darkness’ ‘wires’ ‘line’ ‘accent’ ‘no’. This could suggest that this poem is written in a colloquial suggest that this poem is written in a colloquial style and in the form of everyday speech. This is style and in the form of everyday speech. This is presented through the speaker and the way they presented through the speaker and the way they quite frequently pick up on different remarks quite frequently pick up on different remarks causing them to jump onto different thoughts causing them to jump onto different thoughts which results with broken sentences.which results with broken sentences.

Analysis of quotes.Analysis of quotes.- ‘‘who dies on the wires’: The barbed wire represents the fact that who dies on the wires’: The barbed wire represents the fact that

for the majority of the first world war armies were defending for the majority of the first world war armies were defending their territory in a fixed constant manner.their territory in a fixed constant manner.

- ‘‘who… had chattered’ and ‘infinite lovely chatter of Bucks who… had chattered’ and ‘infinite lovely chatter of Bucks accent’: The soldier is familiar with the dead man on the wires. accent’: The soldier is familiar with the dead man on the wires. The disagreement of his observation referring to the man’s ‘hours The disagreement of his observation referring to the man’s ‘hours of life’ and ‘infinite lovely chatter’ contrasts strongly with the of life’ and ‘infinite lovely chatter’ contrasts strongly with the honesty of Gurney’s description of his comrade’s fate. Also there honesty of Gurney’s description of his comrade’s fate. Also there is a strong contrast between the musicality in the man’s is a strong contrast between the musicality in the man’s Buckinghamshire accent and his silence in death.Buckinghamshire accent and his silence in death.

- ‘‘hearing bullets whizzing – Thought of music’: The accurate hearing bullets whizzing – Thought of music’: The accurate hearing of sound is very important to this poem. The reference to hearing of sound is very important to this poem. The reference to music and sound in this poem could imply that this is a poem music and sound in this poem could imply that this is a poem composed by Ivor Gurney from personal experience as he was a composed by Ivor Gurney from personal experience as he was a composer.composer.

- ‘‘retreated and came on again, Again retreated – retreated and came on again, Again retreated – and a second time faced the screen’: The return and a second time faced the screen’: The return again and again to the wire effectively describes again and again to the wire effectively describes the actions of a man facing an overwhelming the actions of a man facing an overwhelming object ‘the screen’ of wire.object ‘the screen’ of wire.

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