‘The Man He Killed’
Pre-1914 Poetry
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Introducing pre-1914 poems
In your exam, you are required to discuss two pre-1914
poems and compare these to the two modern poets you
have studied. Before you begin, discuss the questions below
in small groups.
Do you know any ‘old’ poetry? How many ‘old’ poets can
you name?
What do you expect pre-1914 poetry to be like?
What kind of people do you imagine read these poems?
What do you think the point of studying older poetry
might be?
Can you imagine any comparisons between pre-1914
poetry and the modern poems that you’ve studied?
How might they be the same or different?
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‘The Man He Killed’
Listen to Thomas Hardy’s ‘The Man He Killed’
and then read the poem.
What are your first thoughts
about the poem?
Do you like it?
Summarize each stanza of the poem
in your own words.
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Glossary
nipperkin
ranged
infantry
foe
‘list
traps
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a drink
placed in opposition
foot soldiers
enemy
enlist – sign up for the armed forces
possessions (specifically horse traps)
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After reading ‘The Man He Killed’
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Close analysis of ‘The Man He Killed’
‘Had he and I but met
By some old ancient inn,
We should have sat us down to wet
Right many a nipperkin!
How
A
Slang
simple
is is
language
used
rhythm
to used
(3/3/4/3)
present
here
the
and
tonarrator
present
rhyme scheme
as
thefriendly
narrator
(ABAB)
and
as
likable.
help us
quite
He
toseems
understand
a simple,
to enjoy
uncomplicated
the having
man’s uneducated
a good
person?
time.good
How
nature.
else
The
is this
rhymes
simple
aren’t
butcomplicated,
jolly effect created?
reflecting the
simple honesty of the character.
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Close analysis of ‘The Man He Killed’
‘But ranged as infantry,
And staring face to face,
I shot at him as he at me,
And killed him in his place.
Howthis
do information
we know that
the narrator
in acharacter
life-orDoes
affect
your viewwas
of the
death situation
he killed
and hiswhen
actions?
How?the man?
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Close analysis of ‘The Man He Killed’
‘I shot him dead because –
Because he was my foe,
Just so: my foe of course he was;
That’s clear enough; although
Why
dodo
you
think
the
narrator
then
goesand
on to
use the
Why
you
think
the
narrator
pauses
repeats
phrases ‘Just so’…’of
course’
and ‘that’s clear
‘Because’
twice?
enough’? Is he trying to convince himself that what he
did was right?
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Close analysis of ‘The Man He Killed’
‘He thought he’d ‘list, perhaps,
Off-hand like – just as I –
Was out of work – had sold his traps –
No other reason why.
What do we learn here about why the narrator
became a soldier?
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Close analysis of ‘The Man He Killed’
‘Yes; quaint and curious war is!
You shoot a fellow down
You'd treat, if met where any bar is,
Or help to half-a-crown.’
Why do you think the poet has written the poem in
speech marks? Where do you imagine the poem is
being delivered, and to whom?
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After reading ‘The Man He Killed’
Answer the following questions in detail. Use quotations
whenever appropriate to prove or illustrate your points.
1. What are your impressions of the narrator of the poem?
2. How do you think he feels about having killed?
3. How does Hardy’s use of rhythm affect the impact of the
poem?
4. Hardy wrote ‘The Man He Killed’ in 1902. What war do
you think the narrator may have been fighting in?
5. What do you think is meant by ‘quaint and curious war
is’? Do you agree with this view?
6. Why do you think Hardy wrote the poem?
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Poems to compare with ‘The Man He Killed’
Choose another poem to compare with ‘The Man He
Killed’.
Brainstorm similarities and differences between the two
poems. Remember to consider language and structure, as
well as meaning.
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