Who Is John Le Gay Brereton's For Valour?

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At the request of The Australian Journal of Poetry, young people have analysed how poetry is representative of World war One’s socio-cultural and historical contexts in preparation for centenary celebrations. John Le Gay Brereton’s poem “For Valour” invites readers to read and respond to subject matter that explores Australian society during World War One, which reveals the poet’s attitudes, values and ideas. Poetic devices produce an educated tone and an angry, ominous and pitiful mood which conveys John Le Gay Brereton’s strong anti-militarist attitude. The purpose of the poem, to present a truthful account of World War One, is achieved through imagery, oxymoron and juxtaposition. Symbolism presents the poet’s belief that war is a futile …show more content…

Brereton identified himself as a “brother of birds and trees” and was recognised by the University of Sydney as a non-conformist as “he defied the universal male fashion of the time by never wearing a hat,” (Australian Poetry Library, "John Le Gay Brereton (1871 – 1933)," 2015). In Stanza three, the Lines two, four and five “Life lifts from her heroic brow,” “And laughs to sniff the morning air, And bids a thousand bonfires flare,” personify life itself. This accentuates Brereton’s reverence for nature and life. These egalitarian values are the basis of his anti-militarist attitude. The structure of his poem, AABCCB, in conjunction with the use of alliteration, “Tattered town”, “Daffing death” and “Sombre splendours”, creates an angry and ominous mood and an educated tone. The mood reflects Brereton’s anger toward the proposed necessity of war, thus reveals Brereton’s anti-militarist attitude. The educated tone is the consequence of his literature studies at the University of Sydney, where he was granted the promotion of head librarian in 1915. This same year “For Valour” was published. Personification, poetic structure and the use of alliteration convey Brereton’s value of equality and anti-war

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