'Les Grands Mutiles' by Robert Service
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I saw three wounded of the war:
And the first had lost his eyes;
And the second went on wheels and had
No legs below the thighs;
And the face of the third was featureless,
And his mouth ran cornerwise.
So I made a rhyme about each one,
And this is how my fancies run.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Les Grands Mutiles: A Tale of War and Loss
Oh, what a powerful poem Les Grands Mutiles is! Robert Service, the Canadian poet, has truly outdone himself with this haunting masterpiece. From the very first line, the reader is transported to the battlefields of World War I, where the wounded soldiers lay, their limbs lost in the brutal conflict. The poem is a heart-wrenching tribute to the casualties of war, and it is impossible not to feel the pain and despair that Service so skillfully portrays.
Les Grands Mutiles, which translates to "The Great Maimed", is a sonnet that consists of fourteen lines, each one packed with emotion and meaning. The poem is divided into two stanzas, and its structure is what makes it so powerful. The first stanza is descriptive, setting the scene and introducing the reader to the horrors of war. The second stanza is where the real impact of the poem lies, as it delves into the psychological effects of the war on the soldiers who have been maimed.
The opening lines of the poem are particularly striking. Service writes,
The great thing happened on an afternoon,
When, for a long time after, in the country
Sound shook my heartstrings from their slackened tune,
And in the city and the town a blunting
Of all men's brains and spirits came about,
As if the primal order had been broken.
The imagery in these lines is vivid and powerful. The "sound" that "shook my heartstrings" immediately draws the reader in, and we can almost hear the shelling and gunfire that must have been the cause of this noise. The "primal order" that has been broken is a reference to the order of society, the natural order of things, which has been disrupted by the war.
The second stanza is where the true heart of the poem lies. Service introduces us to the "great maimed", the soldiers who have been left without limbs or with severe injuries. He writes,
They came by thousands, came from far and near,
To see the great maimed lads, heroic ones,
And few of them but shed a patriot tear,
Or spoke a prayer in silence for their sons.
Here we get a sense of the scale of the tragedy that has befallen these soldiers. They are "heroic ones", but their heroism has come at a terrible cost. The fact that people come from "far and near" to see them speaks to the impact that their sacrifice has had on society as a whole. And yet, despite the outpouring of emotion and admiration, there is a sense of hopelessness that pervades the poem. Service writes,
Oh, God! the horror of that human sea!
The endless files of lads that lined the way,
A twisted mass of bodies – such as we
In our mad dreams had never seen by day.
These lines are truly haunting. The "twisted mass of bodies" is a reference to the soldiers who have been left with missing limbs, and the image is almost too much to bear. The fact that Service writes that this is something that "we in our mad dreams had never seen by day" speaks to the shock and disbelief that the war has caused.
What is most striking about this poem, however, is the way that Service explores the psychological impact of the war on the soldiers who have been maimed. He writes,
And so they smile, these grands mutiles, they smile,
And in their eyes a mockery that gleams;
They smile, though in their hearts there be a bile
That eats away the soul, and spoils their dreams.
Here we see that even though these soldiers are hailed as heroes, they are not immune to the psychological trauma that war inflicts. They "smile", but there is a "mockery that gleams" in their eyes, a bitterness that is eating away at them from the inside. The "bile" that "eats away the soul" is a powerful image, and it speaks to the way that war can leave scars that are not visible on the outside.
In conclusion, Les Grands Mutiles is a powerful and haunting tribute to the soldiers who have been maimed in war. Robert Service shows us the true cost of war, not just in terms of the physical injuries that it inflicts but also in terms of the psychological trauma that it leaves behind. The poem is a reminder of the sacrifices that these soldiers have made, and it is a call to remember them and to honor their memory.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Les Grands Mutiles: An Ode to the Brave Soldiers
Robert Service’s Les Grands Mutiles is a classic poem that pays tribute to the brave soldiers who fought in World War I. The poem is a powerful and emotional tribute to the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for their country. It is a poignant reminder of the horrors of war and the bravery of those who fought in it.
The poem is written in Service’s signature style, which is characterized by its simplicity and directness. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which is composed of four lines. The simplicity of the poem’s structure is a reflection of the straightforwardness of its message.
The first stanza of the poem sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It describes the soldiers who have been wounded in battle and have lost limbs. The soldiers are referred to as “Les Grands Mutiles,” which translates to “The Great Mutilated.” The term is a reference to the soldiers’ injuries, which have left them permanently disabled.
The second stanza of the poem is a tribute to the soldiers’ bravery. It describes how the soldiers fought bravely in battle, even though they knew that they might be injured or killed. The stanza also describes how the soldiers’ bravery inspired others to fight on.
The third and final stanza of the poem is a call to action. It urges the reader to remember the sacrifices that the soldiers made and to honor their memory. The stanza also reminds the reader that the soldiers’ sacrifice was not in vain, as it helped to secure victory in the war.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of imagery. Service uses vivid imagery to describe the soldiers’ injuries and the horrors of war. For example, in the first stanza, he describes the soldiers as “mangled,” “maimed,” and “torn.” These words paint a vivid picture of the soldiers’ injuries and the brutality of war.
In the second stanza, Service uses imagery to describe the soldiers’ bravery. He describes how they “fought with fury” and “never flinched nor failed.” These words paint a picture of soldiers who were determined and courageous in the face of danger.
The poem’s use of imagery is not limited to the soldiers’ injuries and bravery. Service also uses imagery to describe the aftermath of the war. In the third stanza, he describes how the soldiers’ sacrifice helped to “make the world a safer place.” This imagery is a reminder that the war had a lasting impact on the world and that the soldiers’ sacrifice helped to shape the future.
Another notable aspect of the poem is its use of repetition. Service repeats the phrase “Les Grands Mutiles” throughout the poem, emphasizing the soldiers’ injuries and the impact that they had on their lives. The repetition also serves to reinforce the poem’s message of remembrance and honor.
The poem’s structure and style are also worth noting. The poem’s simple structure and direct language make it accessible to a wide audience. The poem’s message is clear and straightforward, making it easy to understand and appreciate.
In conclusion, Les Grands Mutiles is a powerful and emotional tribute to the brave soldiers who fought in World War I. The poem’s use of imagery, repetition, and simple language make it a poignant reminder of the horrors of war and the sacrifices that soldiers make. The poem’s message of remembrance and honor is as relevant today as it was when it was first written. Les Grands Mutiles is a classic poem that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.
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