Who's for the Game? - Jessie Pope

Who's for the game, the biggest that's played,

The red crashing game of a fight?

Who'll grip and tackle the job unafraid?

And who thinks he'd rather sit tight?

Who'll toe the line for the signal to Go?

Who'll give his country a hand?

Who wants a turn to himself in the show?

And who wants a seat in the stand?

Who knows it won't be a picnic - not much -

This line gives a bit of insight into Pope herself, she is very clearly not able to be a solider yet finds it admirable and heroic for the men who are sacrificing their lives. She encourages the foolish bravery and obliviousness of the young men, embraces it even further by comparing the upcoming carnage as not much unlike a picnic. A picnic is a universal sign of comfort, tranquillity, and peace. Pope is wanting the boys to perceive war to be a game they are able to tap out of easily so that they enlist, and enlist in large quantities. She is feeding into their optimistic, hopeful, and unfortunately naïve mindset that the war will not be on for long and that you simply need to wield a gun to defend yourself as your opposing side is the only danger. Pope describing war to be, to an extent, similar to a picnic with the phrase "not much" is distinctly manipulative and cunning yet not blaringly so, letting boys be swiftly influenced by the propaganda into joining so they can join in on the fun.

Yet eagerly shoulders a gun?

Who would much rather come back with a crutch

Then lie low and be out of the fun?

Come along, lads -

The language/utilisation of 'along' indicates there being already a large mass of enthusiastic participants that you would join along with, along to. This emphasises how glorified and fulfilling each man or boy believes war to be. In a way it is igniting our inner Herd Mentality with each boy knowing he will be ridiculed if he is not an element of the incoming bloodshed.

The use of the word "lads" highlights (spotlights) the target audience, young, proud, prideful, and foolish lads.

But you'll come on all right -

This line is clear evidence of Pope moulding the optimism that everyone, for the sake of their sanity and health, held onto tightly. It is the hopefulness that you will be able to go into a dangerous situation and be invincible, immortal, untouchable because you are unlike no other.

The direct pronouns Pope uses in the poem are no mistake, the pronouns 'you', 'yours', etc were put in this poem for men and boys alike at the time to feel targeted personally by Pope, she is assuring him that she has faith in him and that he will come back practically untouched apart from a bit more blood under his shoes.

She is moulding this optimism to say to the readers without explicitly writing it, "you're capable of being strong enough to come home while others might not. You are able to do this while others cannot. You will come home." She has faith in him, even if she does not know who he is.

For there's only one course to pursue,

Direct implication that war is the one thing you should, must do. Pope is almost guilting the reader into thinking his only purpose is to be a weapon for his country, his home and leave that home to possibly die alone and painfully.

Your country is up to her neck in a fight,

And she's looking and calling for you.

FLIRTY: Form/fixture, Language, Imagery, Rhythm/rhyme, Tone/thematic concern, Your interpretation of the poem

Does it Matter? - Siegfried Sassoon

Does it matter?—losing your legs?...

Repetition involving the thought of 'does it matter?' emphasises the pondering he does as to whether any of the losses he has dealt with truly means anything.

For people will always be kind,

He is wondering if it means anything to have experienced a loss right in front of your own eyes - possibly haunting you for eternity when you're both awake and asleep - when you will have the kindness, respect, and admiration from your peers until the day you die and possibly afterwards too.

And you need not show that you mind

When the others come in after hunting

To gobble their muffins and eggs.

Does it matter?—losing your sight?...

There’s such splendid work for the blind;

And people will always be kind,

This repeated line almost verbatim to the one above stresses the bittersweet glory he gets for fighting and surviving long enough to process the propaganda that had most definitely been the main contributor to his eagerness to unknowingly pursue a harrowing ordeal.

As you sit on the terrace remembering

And turning your face to the light.

Do they matter?—those dreams from the pit?...

Noticeable shift in the question, it is now referencing a recurring event, 'dreams' is in a plural form, there is no word of it ending or having ended meaning that the memories have stayed with him in his mind where he can't control the frequency, the timing, etc. He is a slave to his own mind replaying his darkest days even when he came home 'in one piece' long ago.

You can drink and forget and be glad,

He now has the privilege to drinks and celebrations; the end of both his country and his own war, he has all the opportunities in the world to be praised, glorified, and made to be a hero, rightfully so. He now has the privilege to be joyful.

And people won’t say that you’re mad;

And the people who do see the side effects of the horrors will at most look on in pity, understanding in a way which is both ignorant and oblivious.

For they’ll know you’ve fought for your country

For he has done the greatest of services! He has fought and won, he has proven his worth to his country for grappling the heavy weight of death and destruction.

And no one will worry a bit.