Analyzing May Wedderburn Cannan's August 1914

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The poem “August 1914” by May Wedderburn Cannan displays a concerned tone toward individuals anxious for loss.As the poem commences, the author uses formal diction of prayers to show the level of concern. She says, “And a girl knelt down to pray:” (L. 4), “Keep Thou safe through the day.” (L. 6). Which means she’s praying for a loved one to be safe.As the poem progresses, Cannan utilizes personification to sustain a tone of concern. She explains, “And a bullet sand by the parapet” (L. 11), and, “To drive in the new-turned clay.” (L. 12). This means she is afraid for the bullets to do the same thing to her loved one as it did to the clay.Near the closing stanza, she uses symbolism and formal diction to tie into the concerning tone. Cannan explicits,

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