BIOL1003 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: War Poet
10 Aug 2021
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Document Summary
Death, the transient nature of life, the sadness of the youth losing their lives and the despondence of war, are all ideas and themes explored in kenneth slessor"s war poem, beach burial . Beach burial is not a typical war poem; there is no celebration of heroics, no declamations of patriotic or nationalism. The poem instead serves as somber tribute to soldiers of all nations whether foe or friend who have been united by the common enemy; death. The poem conveys slessor"s attitudes towards war the insignificance and unnecessary sacrifice - through the use of language, symbolism, imagery, and rhyme. Battle of el alamein, where 1234 australian deaths were sustained. As a war correspondent, slessor wrote sympathetically about the death of young people. The poem draws the reader to the harsh and tragic reality of the war. Slessor marginialises the flamboyance and heroism normally present in war texts. The title, beach burial, is a paradox in itself.
