Lessons of war
... ” Discuss Few war poems were written during World War Two, but Henry Reed’s “Lessons Of War” were claimed to be the best of the war. ... Two such poems are the English war poems “Naming of Parts” (“Parts”) and “Judging Distances” (“Distances”) by English poet Henry Reed. These poems illuminate a juxtaposition of nature against war and the lacking of emotions in soldiers. ... Henry Reed uses characterisation in “Parts” to illuminate how war disrupts natural balance and the juxtaposition between harmony and war. Rather than constructing the characters in the poem, Henry Reed uses the drill sergeant and recruit as symbols of war and nature. ... The split stanzas clearly allow the reader to see the comparison of the juxtaposition of war to harmony. “Parts” similarly uses characterisation to present this juxtaposition In “Distances” Henry Reed uses characterisation to illuminate the juxtaposition of harmony and war. The drill sergeant and recruit again not described, but represent war and nature. ... No emotion is used by the drill sergeant which presents the cold, harsh environment of war. ... The Diction used can also illuminate and present this same juxtaposition The diction used in “Parts” by Henry Reed illuminates the juxtaposition of harmony against war. ... The naming of the parts of the rifle brings the reader back to the harsh reality of war. They talk of the parts of a weapon, which in war, are used to kill life.