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After Blenheim
After Blenheim
-ROBERT SOUTHY
1. Who was the old man? Who else was with him? Where were they?
2. What time of the day was it? What was Wilhelmine doing? Who found the skull?
3. Where was the skull found? Who did the skull belong to?
4. Where did old Kaspar say they could find many skulls?
Extract II
1. Whose ‘wonder-waiting eyes’ are referred to in the extract? Why did this person look up with
such eyes?
2. What response does old Kaspar give to the question asked of him by the children? What does the
3. What victory is referred to in the extract? Who was responsible for the victory?
Extract III
1. Which country is referred to in the extract? What is meant by ‘was wasted far and wide’?
4. What is meant by ‘a childing mother’? Who all were affect by the war?
Extract IV
1. Why do you think the sight was shocking even when the battle was won?
2. What ‘thing’ according to Wilhelmine was wicked? Do you agree with her comment? Give
3. What question does little Peterkin ask his grandfather at the end?
5. What according to you is the relevance of the poem in contemporary times? Give reasons to
Extract VI
4. Name the two countries that fought each other in the battle. Which army won? What reason does
the old man give for the victory?
5. Point out the refrain in the poem. What effect does the refrain have on the reader? What do you
think is the poet’s attitude to war?
Extract VII
1. Why did Kaspar praise the Duke of Marlbrough and Prince Eugene?
2. What was the wicked thing?Why was it wicked?
3. Who was Wihelmine?Why was she horrified by the account of war given by her grandfather?
4. There are two pauses in the line "Nay…….Nay……my little girl" quoth he. What do these
pauses show?
5. Why did Kaspar stick to his stand that it was a famous victory?
Extract VIII
Analytical Questions
1. What does the tone of Kaspar's words suggest?
2. Why does the poet use a skull?
3. What words show that there were many such skulls to be found there?
4. Quote the lines that show the children weree curious about the battle and its outcome?
5. Did the children wonder about the reason for the war?
6. What does Kaspar's attitude signify?
7. Kaspar describes the horrors of war but how can his attitude be described?
8. How does Kaspar justify the thousands of death in the war?
9. How does the poet describe the scene on the field after the battle?
10. How do the skulls symbolize the theme in 'The Battle of Blenheim'?
Reflective Questions
1. Does this poem have any contemprory relevance?
2. Can it be argued that this is an anti-war poem?
3. Why does the poet use repetition in the poem?
4. Discuss the themes in the poem?
5. In the battle of Blenheim why are Whilhelmine's words "twas a very wicked thing" ironic?
6. Comment on the contrasted viewpoints in the poem?
7. Do you agree with his justification of the war. Why / Why not?