About the Poet Robert Southey Robert Southey was an English Poet of the Romantic School and Poet laureate from 1813 until death in 1843. He was born in Wine Street, Bristol England on 12 August 1774. He was one of the Lake Poets along with William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. He wrote a number of poems, plays, romances, letters and biographies. His famous poems are After Blenheim, The Inchcape Rock. Other works include - The three act play- The Fall of Robespierre, biographies include the life and works of John Bunyan, William Cowper, Oliver Cromwell and Horation Nelson.
After Blenheim Summary
Through a conversation between an old farmer, Kaspar and his grandchildren, Wilhelmine and Peterkin, the poet gradually reveals the scene of a former battlefield. One of the kids has found something 'large and round', takes it to Kaspar and asks what it is. The grandfather who has found many such objects while ploughing the fields replies that it is a skull of a soldier who died in te Battle of Blenheim. The poem After Blenheim makes us ponder on the purpose and reult of a war and even questions its validity. He also narrates to his grandchildren that a lot of people including he and his parents were forced to flee from the village as their houses were set on fire. The war caused huge devastation and thousands of casualities but Old Kaspar seems to have an unconcerned attitude towards the battle of Blenheim and says that 'it was a famous victory' and 'things like that must be.'
His gruesome descriptions followed by his casual sayings create an effect of irony. It is ironic that it was a great war, but no one knows why. Here Kaspar and the common people praise the Duke and the Prince for having defeated the French and bringing glories to the nation. A confused Wilhelmine exclaimed that it (war) was a 'wicked' thing and wondered how her grandfather could sing praises of such a bloody war. Peterkin then anticipated the very purpose of war and what it led to. What good did it do ? The old man didnot have any answers to such questions. All he knew was that it was a famous victory. The only thing inevitable in a war is destruction of life and property. Victory cannot bring back all the lives which were lost during the war. Hence, the poet questions the purpose and need of war. Thus, the poem 'After Blenhein' successfully conveys his message - war is futile and should be avoided.
After Blenheim Rhyme Scheme
abcbdd is the rhyme scheme for every stanza except the second stanza which is abcbbb.
After Blenheim Figures of Speech
"With Wonder - waiting eyes" - Alliteration
"And by him sported on the green" - Metonymy