ANALYSIS POETRY USING OBJECTIVE APPROACH OF THE POEM “THE DIRGE FOR A SOLDIER”

. Method used in poem .

In this discussion the writer used objective approach that point to objective way . by this method the reader are expected arrive at greater understanding for both the construction and meaning of the poetry itself . the objective method will make the easier way to reader how to analysis this poetry to find out more about small part of it in gaining better understanding .

This method try to investigates the undiscovered meaning and construction for each poem that will analyze . Below is the poem under title “The Dirge of Soldier” by George H.Boker .

In the east the morning comes,
Hear the rollin’ of the drums

On the hill.
But the heart that beat as they beat
In the battle’s raging day heat
Leitch still.
Unto him the night has come,
Though they roll the morning drum.
What is in the bugle’s blast?
It is: “Victory at last!

Now for rest.”
But, my comrades, come behold him,
Where our colors now enfold him,
And his breast
Bares no more to meet the blade,
But lies covered in the shade.
What a stir there is to–day!
They are laying him away

Where he fell.
There the flag goes draped before him;
Now they pile the grave sod o’er him
With a knell.
And he answers to his name
In the higher ranks of fame.
There’s a woman left to mourn
For the child that she has borne

In travail.
But her heart beats high and higher,
With the patriot mother’s fire,
At the tale.
She has borne and lost a son,
But her work and his are done.
Fling the flag out, let it wave;
They ‘re returning from the grave—

“Double quick!”
And the cymbals now are crashing,
Bright his comrades’ eyes are flashing
From the thick
Battle–ranks which knew him brave,
No tears for a hero’s grave.
In the east the morning comes,
Hear the rattle of the drums

Far away.
Now no time for grief’s pursuing,
Other work is for the doing,
Here to–day.
He is sleeping, let him rest
With the flag across his breast.

2.2. Basic versification

            In this versification section  the writer studied how to analysis the structure and verse of peom . besides , can be found the specific analysis of technical framword and pattern . from the poem above the writer verify as basic versification as below :

-          Rhythm 

Rhythm of poetry  created by repeated two similar sound in poem . every stanza of poem above has found many rhythm such as ; there is a woman left to mourn , but the heart that beat as they beat .

-          Accent

This part will differ in every part of the sentence of poem about the words that is to be stressed and is not to be stressed .

In the east the morning comes,
Hear the rollin’ of the drums

On the hill.
But the heart that beat as they beat
In the battle’s raging day heat
Leitch still.
Unto him the night has come,
Though they roll the morning drum.
What is in the bugle’s blast?
It is: “Victory at last!

Note : the underlined word is stress words but un – underlined words is not stress words . so the accent part just take a part of poem as an example .

-          Rhyme

It can be devided into many part . if analyze the poetry above so can be as below :

a.       Masculine and feminine rhyme

These are the example :

In the east the morning comes,
Hear the rollin’ of the drums

b.      Internal rhyme

It is just written at the end rhyme . means that are found at the ends of the lines .

Example : There’s a woman left to mourn

c.       Rhyme scheme

Its used to describe the pattern of rhyme in poems . we will know in each stanza find “a” the next “b” and “c” . just the example :

There the flag goes draped before him;
Now they pile the grave sod o’er him

And he answers to his name
In the higher ranks of fame.

d.      Alliteration

In this case should mentioned rhyme briefly . for example initial rhyme in poem .

Such as : But her heart beats high and higher

2.3. Critical analysis of poem “The Dirge of a soldier” by : George H.Boker

            Reading from the poem above so can be found many cases that must be clearly with analysis of poetry using objective approach . so we could get the essensial in the analysis of poetry . the critic must be able to describe the properties of poem .   

a.       Abstract .

In the process we choose various specific qualities to present one large concept . ideas in poetry in term of specific qualities .

b.      Allegory

c.       Alliteration

In this section just to describe about the similar sound of sentence in each stanza which are near one to another words .  

d.      Ambiguity

From the poem above so can be faund the ambiguity words like “Now no time for grief’s pursuing” . it need explore to know the real meaning of the sentence . the ambiguity words in the lyric of the poetry can not be understanble  .

e.       Atmosphere

The section explain the higher words that full of work of art . we need deep understanding about the words . and it can not be consumed easily .