Summary Of The Dead By Sebastian Faulks
BIRDSONG:
Critical Analysis: Language:
Throughout the novel, Sebastian Faulks makes use of poetic language and tools to create atmosphere and give his descriptions more power and imagination. He also uses symbolic language to subliminally inform or remind the reader of certain points of interest. An example of this can be seen right at the beginning of the novel in the description of the house in which the Azaire family live. Faulks tells us that it is a ‘strong, formal’ building, behind which hide ‘unseen footsteps’. These descriptions afford the house similar qualities to its owners, namely strength and mystery, but also imply hidden intrigues. This immediately telegraphs that something secretive may be about to happen within the walls …show more content…
These include a reference, in Part Two, to Douglas ‘pouring himself away’, as Stephen remembers the soldier’s bloody death in the trenches. This statement is reminiscent of two First World War poems. Firstly, in Disabled, Wilfred Owen mentions that the maimed subject of his poem had ‘poured [his blood] down shell-holes’. Secondly, Rupert Brooke’s The Dead (i), tells us of men who have ‘poured out the red/Sweet wine of youth’. Both poets and Faulks are reminding their readers that these men did not choose to pour away their blood, but have done so metaphorically, in that the war has forced them to waste their …show more content…
Normally more important characters would have a greater description afforded to their deaths, but in Birdsong, this is not always the case. Ellis’s death for example, is only referred to briefly with the information that he had been ‘killed by machine-gun fire’. Ellis plays quite an important role, emphasising to the reader how war-weary both Weir and Wraysford have become, and yet his death is glossed-over. Earlier, the wounds and eventual deaths of Douglas, Wilkinson and Reeves are described in great detail, with full information provided as to how they received their injuries. Weir’s death is treated differently again, in that the description here is more poetic, almost as though it is happening in slow-motion. There is some significance in this, as Weir’s last encounter with Stephen had resulted with his friend angrily pushing him face-down in the mud. This description allows the reader to understand the importance of this action, as it is mirrored in his
Critical Analysis: Language:
Throughout the novel, Sebastian Faulks makes use of poetic language and tools to create atmosphere and give his descriptions more power and imagination. He also uses symbolic language to subliminally inform or remind the reader of certain points of interest. An example of this can be seen right at the beginning of the novel in the description of the house in which the Azaire family live. Faulks tells us that it is a ‘strong, formal’ building, behind which hide ‘unseen footsteps’. These descriptions afford the house similar qualities to its owners, namely strength and mystery, but also imply hidden intrigues. This immediately telegraphs that something secretive may be about to happen within the walls …show more content…
These include a reference, in Part Two, to Douglas ‘pouring himself away’, as Stephen remembers the soldier’s bloody death in the trenches. This statement is reminiscent of two First World War poems. Firstly, in Disabled, Wilfred Owen mentions that the maimed subject of his poem had ‘poured [his blood] down shell-holes’. Secondly, Rupert Brooke’s The Dead (i), tells us of men who have ‘poured out the red/Sweet wine of youth’. Both poets and Faulks are reminding their readers that these men did not choose to pour away their blood, but have done so metaphorically, in that the war has forced them to waste their …show more content…
Normally more important characters would have a greater description afforded to their deaths, but in Birdsong, this is not always the case. Ellis’s death for example, is only referred to briefly with the information that he had been ‘killed by machine-gun fire’. Ellis plays quite an important role, emphasising to the reader how war-weary both Weir and Wraysford have become, and yet his death is glossed-over. Earlier, the wounds and eventual deaths of Douglas, Wilkinson and Reeves are described in great detail, with full information provided as to how they received their injuries. Weir’s death is treated differently again, in that the description here is more poetic, almost as though it is happening in slow-motion. There is some significance in this, as Weir’s last encounter with Stephen had resulted with his friend angrily pushing him face-down in the mud. This description allows the reader to understand the importance of this action, as it is mirrored in his