Randall Jarrell’s poem “The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner” and Cyril Tourneur’s poem “Epitaph on a Soldier” conveys contradicting realities associated with soldiers. When comparing the two poems, it is clear that both poets have vastly different views on the subject. Jarrel, in a harsh manner, highlights the miserable and tragic lives of soldiers appeared in their fear and trepidation. On the other hand, Tourneur portrays a different side of soldiers life visible in their honor and eminence with admiration. Poets express contrasting views, Jarrel representing the darker picture of the war causing pain to soldiers, while Tourneur captures the glorious side of a war.
By adopting contrasting symbolism allows poets adding literal meaning to their personal viewpoints of war. Jarrell, in his poem, apprehends the harshness of the war revealing consequences through symbolism by assessing the miseries of the soldier. Allusion becomes visible when the poet writes, “six miles from earth, loosed from its dream of life” (3). He displays bitter tone revealing the miserable fate of the soldiers, in turn conveying the panic associated with the practical consequences of war. Satire becomes most visible when the poet writes, “I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters” (4). A state represents the prospects of a warrior while froze reflects the trepidation by creating necessary settings sufficient for assessing the meaning of war. In addition to bad fortune, the symbolism transmits the feelings of confusion by including the visual depiction of how soldiers survive with hopelessness because they know their ultimate destination is grave.
The symbolism adds more clarity and makes the message readable. Compared to Jarrell, the symbolism used by Tourneur represents different perspectives. Symbolism is apparent throughout Jarrell’s poem. Black flack symbolizes the bad fortune of the soldiers eliminating every sign of hope and comfort. Nightmare fighters represent another symbol of the warriors who engage themselves in endless battles and see no end to it. Throughout their lives, they keep on fighting reflecting their miserable state. ‘Washed me out’ symbolizes the end of soldier’s life depicting that they only moment that provides relief is of death. With his death, the fights, pain, and terror come to an end.
He designs a perfect symbol of bravery when he says, “ready still to drop into his grave”(4). Poet conveys sensational tone demonstrating the lighter side of the war by communicating the feelings of passion and dignity that the soldiers experience in wars. These hints transmit the meaning of pride, liberty, and glory by building a compelling idea of the soldier’s life filled with amazedness. Symbolism adds more vividness to the poem when ‘prepared to die’ symbolizes courage and bravery which reveals contradictory views by rejecting the idea of fear explained by Jarrell. Bravest blest decease symbolizes the strength of the warriors that differentiates him from other humans. Comparison of the symbolism exhibits Jarrell creating weaker soldiers compared to Tourneur’s strong men. The symbolism in Jarrell’s poem increases a sense of fear when poet describes the soldier’s death, while in contradiction to Tourneur’s excitements.
Both poems utilize poetic diction to build an ambient echo supporting the purpose of war with different views. Adoption of appropriate diction allows Jarrell to convey the frightening state of young men taking part in the war. The poet exhibits the effective choice of words that keeps which serves multiple purposes related to the young warriors. Poet relates childbirth with the ultimate death of the soldier. Diction becomes most evident in the line, “the nightmare fighters” (4). Diction expresses soldier’s cured while inside ball turret safely. Jarrell exhibits satire when he highlights the negative impacts of war on soldiers and their lives. Through explicit tone, the poet emphasizes on the miseries of the soldiers while transmitting the meaning of never-ending struggles for the soldier. In epitaph, the author adopts a formal diction while associating death of soldiers with dignity and honor.
A virtue of the poem expresses the nobility while peace builds relevance with tranquillity and calmness. Effective choice of words conveys the message of greater virtue that soldiers attain due to their efforts and sacrifices. The diction becomes more visible as the poet mentions, “who died a young man yet departed old” (2). The word died a young man expresses the central thought. It also makes clear that the young warriors never protest for a living because they have accepted the miseries and ready to die. The tone expresses the bravery, courage, and passion of the soldiers. Effective diction allows poets to transmit the deeper meaning in an efficacious manner. Least artificial diction supports Jarrell’s satire and Tourneur’s simplistic tone.
Jarrell employs figurative language to exhibit his pain while Tourneur displays ease. The poems adopt different figurative languages with Jarrell focusing on the adversities while Tourneur emphasizing on the glorious side of soldier’s life. A common element of the poem includes metaphors. The inclusion of metaphors makes the poem more understandable. Metaphors appear throughout the poem, and the most visible metaphor; mother’s sleep that poet includes to build relevance with death. Poet’s language reflects the victimized state of the gunner revealing the threatening circumstances of his life. Disappointing tone appears, “when I died, they washed me out of the turret with a hose”(5). The sadistic tone becomes visible when the line identifies the final destination of soldiers.
The meaning becomes clear when poet expresses the only relief in the life of a soldier is dead. The tone remains one of the convincing tools in Jarrell’s poem thus adding more clarity. The figurative language constructed by Tourneur exhibits extreme differences while the metaphor expresses different meaning. In Epitaph, the poet emphasizes on tactile scenes to support his viewpoints. The poet eliminates the idea of fatalities associated with the battles presenting opposing views. He transmits the idea of peace when he writes, “he died in the war and yet he died in peace”(10). Poet visualizes the role of war and how it influences the soldiers. The poem portrays deaths as glorious and peaceful. Compared to Jarrell’s poem, Epitaph ignores the darker side of soldier’s life including violence, rage, and fear. Tourneur also incorporates metaphors in the poem to enhance the vividness. Ultimate death reflects the final destination of a warrior is grave and he knew that. Through metaphors, the poet expresses the deeper meaning of the poem leading to contradictory outcomes. Jarrell creates figurative language to get rid of his pain while Tourneur relates it to proclaim pride.
The syntax expresses an immense starting point when Jarrell conveys a complex meaning of war in contrast with the traditional ideas of Tourneur’s glory. The inclusion of syntax allows poets to concentrate on different aspects of the war in an orderly manner. Syntax remains one of the striking tools in Jarrell’s poem by conveying the theme in a rhythmic manner. Through the appropriate use of words, the poet supports his perspectives. The rhythm, allows Jarrell to draw attention when he creates an effective tone apparent in, “and I hunched in its belly till my wet fur froze”(2). He conveys the meaning of soldier’s life which changes throughout when he leaves mother’s belly.
The moment he leaves the belly, his misfortune starts following him to his death. Poet employs satire to reveal the harsh realities. Meaning of discomfort becomes apparent through hopelessness. The syntax appears in Epitaph, “and in all strength of youth that man can have”(3). By adding more lucidity to the poems, both poets convey different meanings. Syntax permits Tourneur to generate certain feelings associated with particular events and is apparent in, “and living so though young deprived of breadth”(7). With the formal tone, poet states that the soldiers live a life different from other young people. The meaning is clear that the soldiers lack a normal life reflecting their miseries. Both poets incorporate syntaxes to create reverse echo and reveal different facts related to the war. Syntaxes, the in-depth meaning of the poems, strong sentences allow Jarrell to argue against conventional viewpoint of Tourneur.
I believe that the poems show relevance to the present world as we compare the aggressive nature of humans with calmness. Humans encounter difficulties throughout their lives reflecting the same idea conveyed by Jarrell. They are caught in the trap of miseries influencing their lives. Jarrell focuses on the proposition that humans are unable to escape the darker side of the world. Their pain lasts only when they die, departing from the world. Contrary to Jarrell I think Tourneur tries to promote positivism among people. He instructs them to handle complex situations with courage because they are strong. He tries to convince the people of the current world to remain courageous because life is full of sacrifices but that leads to greater virtue. His poem builds stamina to face the dangers. I believe Jarrell threatens the people about the troubles, putting them in a situation of hopelessness while Tourneur replaces that despair with hope. Contradictory views express both poets intentions for promoting certain beliefs; lowliness against splendor thus changing the conventions of life.
