The speaker is someone close to the returning soldier. The poem reflects the emotions and questions of a person receiving news about their loved one returning from war, expressing relief and a sense of care for the soldier's condition.
They sent him back to her. The letter came
Saying... and she could have him. And before
She could be sure there was no hidden ill
Under the formal writing, he was in her sight —
Living. — They gave him back to her alive —
How else? They are not known to send the dead —
And not disfigured visibly. His face? —
His hands? She had to look — to ask,
“What was it, dear?” And she had given all
And still she had all — they had — they the lucky!The speaker is…
preparing to go to war.
delivering news from the war.
someone close to the returning soldier.
organizing supplies for the war effort.
13 answers
High in the breast. Nothing but what good care
And medicine and rest — and you a week,
Can cure me of to go again.” The same
Grim giving to do over for them both.What happened to the soldier?
He lost a close friend in battle.
He was ambushed by enemy troops.
He was wounded in battle but not fatally.
He decided to leave the army permanently.
The soldier was wounded in battle but not fatally. The lines suggest that he has sustained a serious injury ("A bullet through and through") but indicates that with good care and time, he can recover and return to duty.
How was it with him for a second trial.
And with his eyes he asked her not to ask.
They had given him back to her, but not to keep.One way the speaker and the soldier communicate is through…
drawings.
hand gestures.
audio recordings.
nonverbal signals.
One way the speaker and the soldier communicate is through nonverbal signals. The speaker asks him with her eyes, and he responds with his eyes, indicating a silent understanding and communication without words.
decisions made during times of war can be regretable
sodiers fighting together in battle can build strong bonds
war has a significant impact on both sodielrs and their loved ones
war forces the development of medical and techonolgical advances
The central theme of the poem is that war has a significant impact on both soldiers and their loved ones. The poem reflects the emotional turmoil and complexity of relationships affected by war, highlighting the physical and psychological scars that soldiers bear upon returning and the strain on their connections with those at home.
Lines 9-12 read:
“And still she had all — they had — they the lucky!”
In these lines, the speaker reflects on a sense of both gratitude and irony. The speaker acknowledges that despite the trauma and injury the soldier has endured, they are fortunate that he has returned alive. The phrase "still she had all" suggests that she still retains her loved one, while "they the lucky" implies that, compared to others who may have lost loved ones in the war, they are among the fortunate ones who have been reunited.
At the same time, these lines also underscore the emotional complexities of their situation; although they are grateful for his return, there is an underlying awareness of the sacrifices and scars that come with his experiences in battle. There's a juxtaposition between the relief of having him back and the acknowledgment of the pain and changes that war has inflicted on them both.
Line 23 states:
“But not to keep.”
The impact of this line is significant because it encapsulates the tension and sadness surrounding the soldier's return. While there is relief and gratitude that he has come back alive, the poignant phrase "but not to keep" highlights the idea that his return is not a return to normalcy or permanence.
This line implies several layers of meaning:
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Temporary Nature of Healing: It suggests that even though he is physically present, the emotional and psychological scars of war are still very much with him. This may foreshadow future struggles or a sense of looming separation.
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Loss of Innocence: The soldier's experiences in war have fundamentally changed him, which means that he may no longer be the same person the speaker knew before he left. Even though he is back, a part of him may remain distant or altered due to his experiences.
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Existential Reality of War: It reflects a harsh reality many families face where the return of a loved one from war is often marred by the understanding that their experiences have taken a toll that cannot simply be erased.
Overall, this line poignantly captures the bittersweet nature of their reunion—celebration mixed with sorrow, gratitude intertwined with the acknowledgment of unresolved pain.
joyful and exicted
engraged and tense
appreicative and anxious
depresed and unenthuisastic
The tone of the speaker is best described as appreciative and anxious. The speaker expresses gratitude for the soldier's return and recognizes the relief of having him alive, yet there is an underlying anxiety about the changes that have occurred due to his experiences in war. The mix of appreciation for his return and concern for his well-being and the impact of his injury reflects this nuanced tone.