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Rain

Rain. Edward Thomas 1878 – 1917. Laura Botha Freddy Rouget. Rain 1916

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Rain

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  1. Rain Edward Thomas 1878 – 1917 Laura Botha Freddy Rouget

  2. Rain 1916 Rain, midnight rain, nothing but the wild rain On this bleak hut, and solitude, and me Remembering again that I shall die And neither hear the rain nor give it thanks For washing me cleaner than I have been Since I was born into this solitude. Blessed are the dead that the rain rains upon: But here I pray that none whom once I loved Is dying tonight or lying still awake Solitary, listening to the rain, Either in pain or thus in sympathy Helpless among the living and the dead, Like a cold water among broken reeds, Myriads of broken reeds all still and stiff, Like me who have no love which this wild rain Has not dissolved except the love of death, If love it be for what is perfect and Cannot, the tempest tells me, disappoint.

  3. Biography • Was born 3 March 1878 in London • Philip Edward Thomas • Was both a poet and a journalist • Considered a war poet, though few • of his poems deal with the theme • directly. • Enlisted in 1915 and was killed in action in 1917 • He thought that poetry was the highest form of literature • He was always determined to live life by the pen • Worked as a book critic for the Daily Chronicle • Not only wrote poems, but also a novel and some works of non-fiction • Published some poetry under the name “Edward Eastaway”

  4. Overview • The predominant image and the most obvious one is rain, which has unfortunately become quite cliché when trying to portray feelings of sorrow and loneliness. However, the poet manages to use the image very skilfully in bringing across his feelings, without overdoing it. • There is an underlying sense of despair as the speaker battles with the feeling that his death is inevitable. You also get the feeling that not only is his death inevitable, but it is also imminent. • The outside storm seems to reflect his inner turmoil as he anticipates his own death, possibly on the battle field. • The poem is also very rhythmic, which gives the feeling of continuously falling rain. • There are no stanzas and only two sentences, which makes the poem flow quite fluidly. • Each line has 5 feet (except 9 and 14) which helps to give the poem its rhythm.

  5. Analysis • Rain, midnight rain, nothing but the wild rain • “midnight” - gives time of day and is dark. “wild” – storm rather than light drizzle. • repetition of rain – sounds like continuous rain that is unstoppable and inescapable (all around the writer) • On this bleak hut, and solitude, and me • Raining on him – so he’s outside. But where? • Rains on everything • Remembering again that I shall die • Brings death into it for the first time • “Remembering again” – shows that he’s thought of it before (maybe a lot)

  6. And neither hear the rain nor give it thanks • Uses rain to explore the experience of death – no sound • Melancholy – will miss the rain • For washing me cleaner than I have been • Possible image of baptism • Strays slightly from the literal of “washing” • Since I was born into this solitude. • Full stop – end of first sentence or line of thought • “solitude” brought back (line 2) • Blessed are the dead that the rain rains upon: • “Blessed are the…” – beatitudes style (Christian reference again) • Repetition of “rain” sounds like rain falling • Rain directly on the bodies of the dead – war?

  7. But here I pray that none whom once I loved / Is dying to-night or lying still awake / Solitary, listening to the rain • “Pray” aging Christian reference • “once” – no longer, written himself (or them) off. • He is solitary and listening to the rain and hopes no-one else is doing the same • He is being kept awake by the rain – inescapable (as is death – possible relation) • Either in pain or thus in sympathy • “Pain” wounds (war?) • Either in pain or sympathising – no alternative – effects everyone. • Helpless among the living and the dead, • No control over the situation (can’t make the ‘rain’ stop) • Stuck at war and can’t escape

  8. Like a cold water among broken reeds, • “Broken reeds” – dead soldiers • The water can’t fix or aid them at all – feeling of uselessness • Myriads of broken reeds all still and stiff, • “still and stiff” again dead bodies • “myriads” – countless “reeds” • the magnitude suggests war • Like me who have no love which this wild rain / has not dissolved except the love of death • He is more afraid of anticipating death than actually dying • “Dissolved” – washing or taking away • Been in the rain a long time in order for the rain to have “dissolved” • Taking away his fear of death • Possibly when the rain stops, death will come

  9. If love it be for what is perfect and / Cannot, the tempest tells me, disappoint. • Tempest – violent storm • Huge storm all around • Sense of internal storm • The storm is talking to him • Death is certain and might come when the storm ends – death won’t disappoint • The poem never actually mentions war, but afterwards it seems quite apparent. The images of death as well as the lack of shelter for the speaker relates the sense of a soldier at war.

  10. Task Two of the lines have more feet than the others? Which lines are they and what effect do they have on the poem?

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