Essay Questions

Is anguish emerging as the central theme in the 'Memorial: A Version of Homer's Iliad’ by Alice Oswald?

The more extensive section of Oswald's narration talks about the death of soldiers on the battlefield. Most of these dead soldiers are leaving behind widows and orphans. Most widows and orphans cannot withstand the loss of their loved ones, which leaves them anguished. Unfortunately, the government has not put in place a support system that can take care of the dead soldiers' widows and orphans. Nothing can be done to bring back the loved ones once they are killed at the battlefields, implying that families left behind cannot bear the loss.

How does the author illustrate that no one is immortal?

The satire of the perfect fighter illustrates that everyone will die. For instance, the author depicts Echepolus as a seamless fighter who does everything to lead from the front. He leads his men to dangerous battles, and he always wins. Echepolus is feared by even the perilous fighters, but at last, he dies. Therefore, regardless of his experience with war, power, and fame, Echepolus capitulates to death.

What does Oswald mean when saying, “In a daze of loneliness, their conversation unfinished?”

Oswald is painting a picture of what happens at war. Soldiers are friends on the battlefields, and they fight in groups to motivate each other. However, sometimes some of these soldiers can be killed in a spike of a second while conversing. Unfortunately, these conversations are unfinished when the soldiers are killed abruptly. The author finds this regretful because the surviving soldiers find the experience traumatizing and unforgettable.