Bruce Dawe Essay

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Bruce Dawe’s poems ‘Homecoming’ and ‘Weapons Training’ showcase striking similarities and differences through the portrayal of his critique of the cruelty and brutality of war. Analysing the tone, form, themes, and language of these two poems presents a number of comparable and contrasting arguments regarding the wider societal effects on individuals. In "Homecoming," the didactic message revolves around the devastating effects of war, emphasising the loss and psychological damage experienced by families and society. Conversely, "Weapons Training" presents a didactic message regarding the dehumanising consequences of military training, demonstrating how the process diminishes individuality and humanity in the preparation for war. By comparing and contrasting both poems, a deeper …show more content…

In both of Dawe's poems, "Homecoming" and "Weapons Training," there are significant similarities in the portrayal of the harsh realities of war. Bruce Dawe utilises the form of free verse poetry to explore the dehumanisation of soldiers. Through the form of free verse, Dawe effectively conveys the raw emotions and stark truths surrounding war, creating a powerful reflection on the human cost of conflict. This can be outlined in “Homecoming” through the line, “Curly-heads, kinky-hairs, crew-cuts”. Bruce utilises alliteration to categorise the soldiers based on their hair, highlighting their individuality even in the face of tragedy. This exhibits a tone of dehumanisation by categorising soldiers based on physical attributes, portraying a sense of detachment and objectification towards the individuals involved. Alliteration is employed to shed light on the loss of identity in the military environment, underlining the effect of war on erasing soldiers' unique traits. The language chosen objectifies the soldiers by accentuating the brutal reality that those engaged in war must endure. Similarly, this can be further recognised in

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