"The Man He Killed" was written by the British Victorian poet and novelist Thomas Hardy, and first published in 1902. A dramatic monologue, the poem's speaker recounts having to kill a man in war with whom he had found himself "face to face." Talking casually throughout, the speaker discusses how this man could easily have been his friend, someone he might have, under different circumstances, had a drink with in an "ancient inn." Struggling to find a good reason for shooting the man, the speaker says it was "just so"—it was just what happens during war. The poem thus highlights the senselessness and wasteful tragedy of human conflict, and is specifically thought to have been inspired by the events of the Boer War in South Africa. Effect of war is the major theme of this poem. The poem is about the soldier killing another man because they are fighting on opposite fronts in the war. Ironically, the speaker fails to justify his action. He simply states that the deceased was his foe.

Explanation:

3 0

2 years ago

How does the setting of the story affect the way the narrator views the civilian?

Leya [2.2K]

Hey there! Sometimes setting can be in another country, or even world, which may effect their ethnicity. Also, time can effect a person. It changes the way they dress, eat, sleep, and live everyday life. Like for instance, say you had a man who lived in america in the 2010s era. You would assume he would be of american ethnicity or have at least a bit of civilian in them, and they would usually dress in a t-shirt and jeans, with a nice pair of shoes. Now say you had someone from Arabia in the 1900s. He would be of Arabian ethnicity, and he would more than likely be wearing a sort of robe to keep the sand off of his body. Also, place can effect the animals they interact with. Say, for instance, the Arabian man had a stead. More than likely it would be a Camel. If the american had a stead, it would more likely be a donkey, horse, or mule. Also, because of the animals they interact with being different, they would also eat different food. Say for instance, the American. More than likely, he would eat Pork, Beef, or even Bacon. But if you had someone from Ireland or Scotland they would more than likely eat Lamb Chops, or even Liver. This sometimes effects the lifespan of the characters, depending on how healthy the food is. See, setting is a lot more important in stories than people think. These are only some of the many ways setting effects the way the narrator views the civilian. Hope this helped!

Thanks!

~Steve

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3 years ago