Faulks´ Birdsong Analysis - 839 Words

Within ‘Birdsong’ Faulks uses the character of Stephen as his voice, through which he propounds his horror and perplexity at what is unfolding during the War. Faulks also introduces the idea of a new reality which is experienced by the men in the trenches. Faulks chooses to explore curiosity as a coping mechanism within ‘Birdsong’ through the character of Stephen. Only curiosity is keeping Stephen alive as he states that he would ‘walk into enemy lines and let (himself) be killed’ if he didn’t possess that curiosity. Stephen tells Weir what he is ‘curious to see what’s going to happen’ suggesting that he wants to see how the War will end. Faulks presents Stephen as a character who has a detached curiosity concerning the War; in the same way that he is detached when discussing men’s dead bodies. Faulks’ decision to do this allows us to understand that many men did not like being in the War; they often did not carry on because they felt it was their duty to King and Country. Rather, they (like the character of Stephen) wanted to know ‘what it means’ and why they had to endure what they did. Stephen’s claim that he is ‘deeply curious to see how mu ch further it can be taken’ quashes false notations of pride in fighting, rather it expresses the horror at what they are being forced to do. Faulks, through Stephen, considers how the War could progress. The war section of ‘Birdsong’ is set half way through the War, meaning that it is still to get worse. Stephen speculates the menShow MoreRelated Love Presented in Poems by Wilfred Owen Essay2489 Words   |  10 PagesPresented in Poems by Wilfred Owen Explore how the theme of love is presented in Birdsong and a selection of poems by Wilfred Owen. Loving attitudes, though perhaps not as prominent as themes such as violence and pride, are intimately observed and explored in Sebastian Faulks Birdsong and in many of Wilfred Owens War poems. Each aspect of love, as seen through the eyes of this First World War soldier and Faulks characters, is as interesting as it is diverse, allowing an impervious insight