Weapons Training
The Poetry of Bruce Dawe
Weapons Training
The poem "Weapons training" composed by Bruce Dawe, explores the realities of war. The poem is situated in the period of the Viet-Nam war to prepare recruits for war. Dawe, uses a wide variety of techniques to further convey the harsh realities of war. The poem is a forceful text that is design to shock the audience and to bring out an emotional response.
Bruce Dawe, writes poems on his own experiences in his life, living during many periods of conflicts. In each of his poems he writes about issues that concern him. Dawe had serves as a pilot for the RAAF for several years and he understands what the young soldiers would feel. For that reason he has composes several pieces of poems about war. One in particular is "Weapons training". He believes that innocent young boys should not be conscripted to war, being used as waste-able fighter, nor kill other young boys. For unjust reason on greed, religion or differences.
Throughout this poem, Dawe extensively uses imperative commands. There are many reasons as to why he does this. We know that the poem is linked to the Vietnam War and that the speaker is addressing the young recruits. This context is one of the army and we know that there it is governed by rules and regulations. Choice is something that is removed from the recruits and the drill sergeant makes them understand this. “And when I say eyes right I want to hear those eyeballs click…”At no time does he actually expect a response from them he simply wants them to obey and understand that they have entered into a new world that is very different from the one they have known.
The imperatives are also used to degrade the recruits and provide a very clear warning of the dangers of war. An example of this is, "What are you laughing at you in the back with the unsightly fat between your elephant ears". Again the intention here is to intimate him, making him feeling really small and powerless. Also Bruce Dawe uses another
Weapons Training
The poem "Weapons training" composed by Bruce Dawe, explores the realities of war. The poem is situated in the period of the Viet-Nam war to prepare recruits for war. Dawe, uses a wide variety of techniques to further convey the harsh realities of war. The poem is a forceful text that is design to shock the audience and to bring out an emotional response.
Bruce Dawe, writes poems on his own experiences in his life, living during many periods of conflicts. In each of his poems he writes about issues that concern him. Dawe had serves as a pilot for the RAAF for several years and he understands what the young soldiers would feel. For that reason he has composes several pieces of poems about war. One in particular is "Weapons training". He believes that innocent young boys should not be conscripted to war, being used as waste-able fighter, nor kill other young boys. For unjust reason on greed, religion or differences.
Throughout this poem, Dawe extensively uses imperative commands. There are many reasons as to why he does this. We know that the poem is linked to the Vietnam War and that the speaker is addressing the young recruits. This context is one of the army and we know that there it is governed by rules and regulations. Choice is something that is removed from the recruits and the drill sergeant makes them understand this. “And when I say eyes right I want to hear those eyeballs click…”At no time does he actually expect a response from them he simply wants them to obey and understand that they have entered into a new world that is very different from the one they have known.
The imperatives are also used to degrade the recruits and provide a very clear warning of the dangers of war. An example of this is, "What are you laughing at you in the back with the unsightly fat between your elephant ears". Again the intention here is to intimate him, making him feeling really small and powerless. Also Bruce Dawe uses another