Attack (Sassoon poem) Essay Questions

How does Sassoon emphasize the horrors of war?

As with many of Sassoon's poems, "Attack" emphasizes the horrors of warfare by giving unprecedented detailed accounts of what battle was really like. In this poem, Sassoon depicts a chaotic and violent scene where men navigate the dangers of the battlefield. He describes how the soldiers "jostle and climb to meet the bristling fire," leaving the trenches "while time ticks blank and busy on their wrists" (Lines 8 and 11). Not only does Sassoon emphasize the dangers of the battlefield, but he also shows us how traumatizing it was for the men. This is demonstrated when their hope flounders in mud (Line 13).

How is nature depicted in this poem?

At the beginning of the poem, Sassoon describes a beautiful scene at dawn: "At dawn the ridge emerges massed and dun / In the wild purple of the glow'ring sun" (Lines 1-2). The beauty of the image in these lines is then interrupted by smoke (evidence of war technologies), which represents how the war polluted the environment. Overall, nature is depicted as a form of innocence, destroyed by the corruption and violence of war.

How does Sassoon characterize the First World War in this poem?

Sassoon is mostly known for his war poetry, depicting life in Britain and in the trenches during the First World War. Significantly, Sassoon became anti-war as a result of his experiences, and he emphasized the negative aspects of war in his poetry to support this sentiment. This made the British public aware of the realities of warfare. Sassoon argued that war would not bring about meaningful change, and would instead only psychologically damage people.

In "Attack," the chaotic violence of the battlefield is recounted. The soldiers' fear is almost palpable, and the personification of their dying hope leaves a lasting impression on the reader. The final plea at the end of the poem lets go of any patriotic or honorable pretense as the speaker begs a higher power to make the violence end.