This document discusses how various English literary works from the time period link to the theme of "Positives of War". It analyzes passages from the novel Birdsong and Return of the Soldier that portray the comradery soldiers experienced and the sense of purpose and friendship war provided. A passage from the play Journey's End is described as showing the strength of soldiers in maintaining humor in dark times. The document also discusses poems like The Call which saw war as a proud duty and Peace which portrayed war in a religiously glorious light.

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