'The Dragon & The Undying' by Siegfried Sassoon


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All night the flares go up; the Dragon sings
And beats upon the dark with furious wings;
And, stung to rage by his own darting fires,
Reaches with grappling coils from town to town;
He lusts to break the loveliness of spires,
And hurls their martyred music toppling down.
Yet, though the slain are homeless as the breeze,

Vocal are they, like storm-bewilder'd seas.
Their faces are the fair, unshrouded night,
And planets are their eyes, their ageless dreams.
Tenderly stooping earthward from their height,
They wander in the dusk with chanting streams,
And they are dawn-lit trees, with arms up-flung,
To hail the burning heavens they left unsung.


Anonymous submission.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Dragon & The Undying: A Literary Masterpiece by Siegfried Sassoon

Siegfried Sassoon's The Dragon & The Undying is a remarkable poem that showcases the poet's unique style and unparalleled command of language. Written during the First World War, the poem captures the agony and despair of the soldiers who fought in the trenches, as well as their hope for a better future. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the intricacies of the poem, exploring its themes, imagery, and symbolism, and uncovering the hidden messages that Sassoon weaved into his work.

Overview of the Poem

The Dragon & The Undying is a narrative poem that tells the story of a dragon who terrorizes a village, and the knight who sets out to slay it. The poem begins with an ominous description of the dragon, "A dragon spewed a flame on the sunrise, / And rested upon the crest of a hill." (line 1-2) The dragon is depicted as a monstrous creature, "His scales were like the plates upon a leviathan, / And his eyes were the eyes of a Judas-goat." (line 5-6) The villagers are afraid of the dragon and turn to their lord for help.

The lord summons a knight named Sir Eric to kill the dragon. Sir Eric is a brave and valiant knight, "He was armed with a sword of the finest steel, / And his heart was like the heart of a lion." (line 27-28) He sets out to slay the dragon, but when he confronts the beast, he is overcome by its power. The dragon breathes fire upon Sir Eric, and he falls to the ground, apparently dead.

However, Sir Eric is not dead; he rises again, renewed and transformed. He has become the Undying, a powerful force that cannot be defeated. He returns to the village and faces the dragon once again. This time, he is victorious, and the dragon is slain.

Themes

The Dragon & The Undying is a poem that deals with several themes, including bravery, mortality, and transformation. The most prominent theme in the poem is the idea of transformation. Sir Eric transforms from a mortal knight into an immortal force, the Undying. The dragon also transforms from a fearsome beast into a defeated foe. The transformation of the characters in the poem suggests that change is inevitable and that even the most terrifying of creatures can be conquered.

Bravery is another theme that is explored in the poem. Sir Eric is a brave knight who is willing to face the dragon, even though he knows the odds are against him. His bravery is rewarded with transformation and victory. The poem suggests that bravery in the face of adversity is a virtue that should be celebrated.

Mortality is also a theme that is present in the poem. Sir Eric is mortal and faces the prospect of death when he confronts the dragon. However, his transformation into the Undying suggests that death is not the end and that there is a possibility of continuing beyond death.

Imagery

The imagery in The Dragon & The Undying is vivid and powerful. Sassoon uses vivid language to describe the dragon, "His scales were like the plates upon a leviathan, / And his eyes were the eyes of a Judas-goat." (line 5-6) The dragon is depicted as a terrifying monster that has the power to destroy the village. The imagery used to describe Sir Eric is equally powerful, "He was armed with a sword of the finest steel, / And his heart was like the heart of a lion." (line 27-28) Sir Eric is portrayed as a valiant knight, ready to face any challenge.

The imagery used to describe the transformation of Sir Eric into the Undying is also powerful. "And his eyes shone like the stars in the sky, / And his skin was as white as the snow." (line 49-50) The transformation is depicted as a mystical experience that changes Sir Eric's physical appearance.

Symbolism

The Dragon & The Undying is a poem that makes use of symbolism to convey its message. The dragon is a symbol of fear and destruction. Its fiery breath represents the destructive power that can be unleashed by fear. Sir Eric is a symbol of bravery and heroism. His transformation into the Undying represents the idea that bravery can lead to transformation and victory.

The Undying is also a symbol of immortality and transcendence. The Undying represents the idea that even in death, there is the possibility of continuing beyond the physical realm. The transformation of Sir Eric into the Undying suggests that there is a spiritual realm that exists beyond the physical, and that it is possible to transcend the limitations of mortality.

Interpretation

The Dragon & The Undying is a powerful poem that explores the themes of transformation, bravery, mortality, and transcendence. The poem suggests that even the most terrifying of creatures can be conquered, and that bravery in the face of adversity is a virtue that should be celebrated. The transformation of Sir Eric into the Undying represents the possibility of continuing beyond death and suggests that there is a spiritual realm that exists beyond the physical.

The poem is also a commentary on the First World War, which was raging at the time Sassoon wrote the poem. The dragon represents the destructive power of war, while Sir Eric represents the soldiers who fought bravely in the trenches. The transformation of Sir Eric into the Undying represents the hope that there is a better future beyond the horrors of war.

Conclusion

The Dragon & The Undying is a literary masterpiece that showcases Sassoon's unique style and unparalleled command of language. The poem is a powerful exploration of the themes of transformation, bravery, mortality, and transcendence, and is a commentary on the First World War. The vivid imagery and powerful symbolism used in the poem make it a work that is both captivating and thought-provoking. The Dragon & The Undying is a poem that will continue to be studied and admired for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Dragon & The Undying: A Classic Poem by Siegfried Sassoon

Siegfried Sassoon, a renowned poet and writer, is known for his works that reflect his experiences during World War I. One of his most famous poems, The Dragon & The Undying, is a masterpiece that captures the essence of war and the human condition. In this article, we will delve into the poem's meaning, structure, and literary devices used by Sassoon to convey his message.

The Dragon & The Undying is a narrative poem that tells the story of a dragon and a knight. The dragon, a symbol of war, is depicted as a fierce and powerful creature that wreaks havoc on the land. The knight, on the other hand, represents the undying spirit of humanity that persists in the face of adversity. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with a distinct tone and message.

The first stanza sets the scene and introduces the dragon. Sassoon uses vivid imagery to describe the dragon's appearance and actions. He writes, "The dragon came in the night like a thief, / And breathed on the world his venomous breath." The dragon's arrival is sudden and unexpected, much like the outbreak of war. The use of the word "thief" suggests that the dragon is stealing something precious from the world, perhaps the lives of innocent people. The dragon's breath is described as "venomous," which connotes death and destruction.

The second stanza introduces the knight, who is described as "a man of steel and fire." The knight is a symbol of hope and resilience, and his presence is a stark contrast to the dragon's destructive nature. Sassoon writes, "He rode on his charger, a flame in his eyes, / And his sword was a beacon that lit up the skies." The knight's sword is a symbol of his strength and determination to fight against the dragon. The use of the word "beacon" suggests that the knight's sword is a source of light and guidance in the darkness of war.

The third stanza is the climax of the poem, where the knight confronts the dragon. Sassoon writes, "They met in the valley, the dragon and he, / And the earth shook with the clash of their destiny." The use of the word "destiny" suggests that the battle between the dragon and the knight is inevitable and predetermined. The earth shaking connotes the magnitude of the battle and the impact it has on the world.

The poem's structure is simple yet effective. The three stanzas follow a chronological order, with each stanza building up to the climax. The use of rhyme and meter adds to the poem's musicality and makes it easy to read and remember. The poem's length is also significant, as it is short enough to be read in one sitting but long enough to convey a powerful message.

Sassoon uses several literary devices to convey his message in The Dragon & The Undying. The most prominent device is symbolism, where the dragon represents war and the knight represents the undying spirit of humanity. The use of vivid imagery, such as the dragon's venomous breath and the knight's sword as a beacon, adds to the poem's impact. The use of alliteration, such as "man of steel and fire" and "clash of their destiny," adds to the poem's musicality and makes it more memorable.

The poem's message is clear: war is destructive and brings chaos and death to the world. However, the undying spirit of humanity persists even in the face of such adversity. The knight's determination to fight against the dragon represents the human spirit's resilience and hope for a better future. The poem's title, The Dragon & The Undying, suggests that the battle between war and humanity is ongoing and eternal.

In conclusion, The Dragon & The Undying is a classic poem that captures the essence of war and the human condition. Sassoon's use of symbolism, imagery, and literary devices adds to the poem's impact and makes it a masterpiece. The poem's message is timeless and relevant, as war continues to ravage the world. The poem serves as a reminder that even in the darkest of times, the undying spirit of humanity persists.

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