English Literature AS

1. Theme:
Positives of War
AS English literature

2. Prose
Links to the theme of ‘Positives of War’ :
Birdsong (P.g 153-4)
Return of the Soldier (last page)

3. Prose
Birdsong (P.g 153-4)
Captain Weir’s speech portrays the positives of war
from the viewpoint of a soldier how it empowers
him and gives him purpose.
“I joined up in nineteen-twelve. You were right. I liked
having a role. And I liked the comradeship. It was as
simple as that. I had no friends before, and
suddenly had, if not the friendship then at least the
company of hundreds of men my age. When i was
commissioned I found that some of them even
looked up to me. It was a grand feeling.”

4. Prose
Return of the Soldier(last page)
Written from a Woman’s perspective the quote
“he’s Cured” shows how war can end
positively. Even though this is a fiction novel it
highlights that not always war had to end on a
sad note and that there was hope and life at
the end.

5. Drama
Links to the theme of ‘Positives of War’ :
Journey’s End ( page 72)
Oh what a lovely war – ( page 84 and 66 )

6. Drama
Journey’s End ( page 72)
“Osborne : Not much (pause ) personally , I like
cocoa for breakfast
Raleigh: (laughing) I'm sorry !”
Sherriff has shown the positives of war through
the comradeship of the men in a humorous way.
Making light of a dark situation shows the
strenght of the soldiers

7. Drama
Oh what a lovely war – ( page 84 and 66 )
Pages 84 and 66 sum up the positives that war gave
women. Mentioning characters such as Emily
Pankhurst - one of the most famous a feminist who
fought for the vote for women.
This passage also highlights the skills and jobs the
war produced for women. It shows how it may
have been a awful time, but it gave women
independence and a chance to prove themselves.

8. Poems
Links to the theme of ‘Positives of War’ :
Peace by Rupert Brooke ( Up the Line to Death
pg. 11)
The Call by Jessie Pope

9. Poems
The Call By Jessie Pope
This poem is optimistic and sees war as a proud
duty to your country, that will make you a better
man. “Earn the Empire’s thanks” Pope shows
how war should be celebrated as the soldiers
will be rewarded afterwards. Also showing what
a honour it will be to serve in the war as it will
be the “Empire” thanking you .

10. Poems
Peace by Rupert Brooke ( Up the Line to Death
pg. 11)
The main theme of this poem is Glorious war. It
also shows the positives of war from a religious
perspective. For example “ as swimmers into
cleansing leap” could be interpreted as the men
leaping into baptism , cleansed by the glory of
war.

11. THE END