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Read the following poem and then answer the questions that follow.

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 nipper kin!

But ranged as infantry, And staring face to face,
I shot at him as he at me, And killed him in his place.

I shot him dead because — Because he was my foe, Just so, my foe of course he was; That’s clear enough; although.

He thought he’d ‘list, perhaps off-hand like —just like I — Was out of work — had sold his traps — No other reason why.

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.”

Thomas Hardy (1840-1923)

(a) Briefly explain what the poem is about.
(b) Identify and explain any two stylistic devices used in this poem.
(c) What do we learn about the persona from this poem?
(d) Describe the tone of this poem.
(e) What is the message of this poem?
(f) Explain the meaning of the word ‘quaint’ as used in the po

Answer Text:
(a) The poem is about a soldier who killed a man in battle/war.
The soldier is trying to figure out why he killed the man.
He gives a reason but even he himself is not satisfied by his answer.
Had he met the man under different circumstances they would have become friends or shared a drink.
The man joined the army because he was jobless.

(b) Rhyme- The poem has a regular rhyme scheme e.g. ab ab in stanza one, words met/wet: inn/nipper kin. Rhyme makes the poem musical.
Alliteration e.g. had, he; help, half; was, work; had, his
Makes the poem musical / calls attention to the words used.
Use of repetition “. ... Because -Because”.
It brings out the personas puzzlement — he can’t quite explain why the man he killed was his enemy.
Irony. The fact that the persona kills a man he does not hate — a man he could have easily befriended under different circumstances.
Also it is ironical that he joined a war whose course he does not believe in.

(c)  He is from a working class — he speaks a simple and colloquial language e.g. ‘nipper kin’.
 He was out of work/had sold the tools of his trade.
 He is friendly the type who enjoys socializing with others / He would gladly lend a friend some money.
 He is horrified by the act of taking away a human life.
 He is empathetic — he steps into the shoes of the man he killed.
 He is critical-disapproves war.
 Conscience stricken/regretfu1/remorseful-regrets shooting a man he has no personal problem with.

(d) The tone is critical about war / disapproving / ironic / condemnatory / reflective. The persona ls puzzled by the irrationality / senselessness of war. This is demonstrated when the persona says that he shot a man whom if met where bar is he would have treated well or help to half-a crown.

(e) The message of the poem is to make us appreciate the folly of war which makes men kill people whom they would under different circumstances befriend.

(f) Quaint — strange / odd