The poem 'After Blenheim' criticises the blind patriotism and false feelings of pride and glory which provoke to wage the fierceful battle at the cost of death and destruction. Discuss.
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Answer:
The poem begins with the serene and peaceful scene of a summer evening. The old man Kaspar, after finishing his day’s work, was sitting in front of his cottage. His little granddaughter was playing beside him on the green grass. As the little girl was playing, she saw her brother Peterkin rolling something large smooth and round. Peterkin had discovered this thing beside the river. Peterkin seemed to be very curious to know about the discovered thing. As he was innocent, he could not know what it was. Hence he took it to his grandfather who was peacefully observing his surroundings.
Peterkin showed the thing to his grandfather. The old man took that round thing from the boy who was left in anticipation. After making a brief look at it, he found it to be a skull of some person who must have died in the battle fought at Blenheim. The old man called the battle ‘a great victory’. He added that the Battle of Blenheim led to death of thousands of soliders whose corpses were lying deep scattered in the field. Further, Kaspar related how he had found many such objects while ploughing the field. He again referred to the battle as a great victory. The ‘great victory’ refers to the triumph in the battle. Kaspar believed that the soldiers sacrificed their life for the country and did not die in vain. Their death served the purpose of victory in the battle.
When the little children heard about the fierceness of the battle, they became somewhat restless and seemed to be very eager to know more about this battle. For them the battle seemed to bring thrill and excitement along with certain amazement. Little Wilhelmine was curious to know about the war and the reason behind it that it reflected in her eyes gleaming for a wonder to unfold.