what do you think is the theme of this poem?

Question

THE MAN HE KILLED

by Thomas Hardy

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! -

'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 as 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.' -

Answer 1

You blew up everything!!!

You took off the poem structure... and it's very important to Analise it!

But reading as it is... it's about rage, vengeance and war!

Have a nice day

Answer 2

The poem is about war, and how strange things become..

Under normal circumstances, the chance meeting of a stranger might lead to a pint of beer in the local inn and a nice conversation..but now because of the war, that same chance meeting ends in death.. "because he was my foe".

The poet describes how the other man was probably like him ..out of work, thought he'd enlist, not for any particular reason, but rather for something to do..
The reality of war unknown until face to face.

Answer 3

The theme of this poem is about people and war. We go to war with people all the time that if we had been introduced to them outside of a wartime setting, we would likely invite them in to have drinks and conversation. It expresses that while we are at war, we often think of our wartime foes as monsters, when really they are just people, people like you or me, and once you start to think of them that way you are meant to reflect on that, just as he does from the first lines on through the poem.

Answer 4

i personally think it is about the anguish and regret about having to kill a stranger, who could equally, under different circumstances have been a drinking buddy or even a friend. its difficult to show emotions as a man and i think maybe this is a way of explaining that, after contemplation, behind the anger and duty of war and self survival, men are aware of their role on the planet, but maybe this helps us to identify and deal with our emotions. hope it dont sound like im talking rubbish, but thats the power of poetry, its all in the interpretation and the interpreter
War its powerful and painful

Answer 5

I just answered a question with a little bit of this in it. Was it you asking? Why ask again? Like I said before the Foolishness of war fighting for anothers cause, pits friend against friend.

Answer 6

War and Vengeance

Answer 7

He had nothing against the guy that he shot. he did it because it was his job. He is trying to come to terms with what he has done. In a different setting the two of them could have been friends.

Answer 8

the futility of war and vengeance