A. Rupert Brooke was a well educated English poet know for his idealistic war sonnets. He was well educated and raised in a fairly well off family. He joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and died at age 27.

C. This was written in 1914 at the very beginning of WWI when nationalism and tension between countries was high.

L. The language was patriotic, passionate, and romantic.

A. The audience was the British people, especially those who who might potentially fight in the war.

I. The intent was to inspire England to fight in the oncoming war.

M. Brooke split his poem into five sections: Peace said that war would give Britain something to do–a common cause to rally around the flag. Safety portrayed the paradoxical safety in going to war. Perhaps he meant that soldiers feel safe with their fellow soldiers or simply because they have a purpose in war. Both of The Dead stanzas say that soldiers could have the gift of dying for Britain by taking up arms. Finally, The Soldier talked of how dying for Britain would repay the land that raised the soldier.