Home-Based Learning Assignment: Task 2

Analysis

Point of View

Firstly, we can deduce from the poem that it is from the perspective of the poet himself because of the fact that he utilizes many first-person pronouns, such as "I" and "We". Additionally, the poem is dramatized and narrated through the rapid inflow of emotions, as if the persona was having a first-hand experience, thus leading me to this conclusion. An example in the poem was

"My heart is pumping adrenalin through all of my veins
I run as fast as I can through the lead rain
The noise is tremendous, terror I can’t define
The only reason I survived that day was divine
I kept pulling the trigger and reloading and pulling some more
You do what you have to do, with that I will say no more"

It was as though the events listed above were happening simultaneously, accentuated by the absence of full stops, rendering the poem a fast-paced one which stirs up anxiety so as to immerse readers in a surreal environment to aid the poet in conveying his purpose of writing this poem, which could be to warn others about the terrors and trauma one suffers as a result.

Situation and Setting

This poem is apparently set in a battlefield, during the course of the Afghan War so as to demonstrate the terror of conflicts. In this setting, the poet places very strong emphasis on the use of contrast in the setting so as to reiterate how conflicts alter the outlook towards ideas or things. One such example was the contradicting statements on how the Hindu Kush were "majestic mountains so steep, so high they kiss the skies" and then referring it to "hell close to God". The terms "majestic" and "hell" are conflicting terms since "majestic" often brings up images of grand and peaceful architectures of nature whereas "hell" is a symbol for suffering and death, thus emphasizing on the fact that the Afghan War had changed these grandiose mountains into places proliferating with death and despair, reiterating the poet's purpose of highlighting the negative impacts of war.

Language and Diction

In this poem, language and diction are used to instill fear, terror and panic in readers. One prominent literary device the poet used was religious imagery such as the use of the statement "Washed in the blood, and baptized by fire", referring to the Christian practice of baptism, usually referred to as part of the initiation ceremony. This religious imagery was probably used to accentuate the fact that once somebody fights in these wars, they are enter a state of terror and are "welcomed" into the world of war, whereas the words "blood" and "fire" represents two elements which are related to death and destruction, both which are common during wartime, thus demonstrating the fact that once somebody enters a war, he forever "loses their(his) innocence", emphasizing on the poet's motives on the terrors of war.

Personal Response

This poem certainly evokes another perspective of the world we all live in, that is the cruel and horrific side of war, the reason why peace has been omnipresent, such that we take it for granted. It immerses us in this insane surreal environment, as if we were on the battlefront, fighting for the lives of our people, trying to relinquish these maniacal extremists who fight to die from the face of the earth and at the same time, experiencing the extreme panic which devours the minds of these lost soldiers and the images of military casualties, who are so easily disregarded, as if they were merely carcasses of animals, meant to be tossed away after they have been utilized. It clearly accentuates the trepidation and distress soldiers experience during wars, a stark contrast to the urban lives we lead.

Home-Based Learning Assignment: Task 1

Background Information

About the Author:
Steve Carlsen was born and lives in Dowagiac Michigan. He joined the United States Army in October 2000 and went to Infantry Basic Training, and Airborne School in Ft. Benning Georgia. He then reported to D Company 1st battalion 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment. 82nd Airborne Division in Ft. Bragg North Carolina. He deployed to Kosovo in November 2001 as part of peace keeping operations. He was deployed to Afghanistan in of December 2002 where he participated in combat operations. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 2003. He currently attends Southwestern Michigan College where his professor, Dr Michael Collins challenged him to write about his experiences.

References:
http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/2010warpoetry.html

About the Afghanistan War:
The Afghanistan War came about as a result of the September 11 attacks. The war involved the armed forces of the United States, United Kingdom, as well as the Afghan United Front, all of whom launched Operation Enduring Freedom, with the goal of dismantling Al-Qaeda and ending the use of Afghanistan as a base. It also aimed to remove the Taliban regime form power and create a democratic state. The protracted war claimed the lives of many, with the total number of military reaching 11,758 and civilian casualties approximated to be from 14,000 to 34,000.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Afghanistan_%282001%E2%80%93present%29