The discussion over youth\/the loss of innocence reminded me of the poem \u201cTo an Athlete Dying Young\u201d by AE Housman. The poem is not about World War 1, but it certainly has similar attitudes that can be applied to those who had fought in the war. Dr. Scanlon mentioned the line \u201cthey will not grow old\u201d from \u201cFor the Fallen\u201d by Laurence Binyon, and I think “To an Athlete Dying Young” provides an interesting contrast to the promise of remembrance that \u201cFor the Fallen\u201d offers. Housman\u2019s narrator does not commend those that die as much as he implores for all to be able to die the same way\u2013while still glorious, without the struggle that will await them if they are so unlucky as to return home. I wonder if Paul has this same desire, especially considering how he and those his age are unsure of their future upon returning home. I wonder if Paul and Kat\u2019s consideration of the mercy kill on the recruit was done out of some sort of admiration for the young man who represented their own youth and insecurity but, despite it all, was still able to fight and die. That young man will be remembered as someone who died for his country (like in \u201cFor the Fallen\u201d) but what will Paul be remembered for? Perhaps he will be celebrated when he returns home, but then what? His kills? His wounds? His memories? Is it not more desirable, at that point, to die in battle?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The discussion over youth\/the loss of innocence reminded me of the poem \u201cTo an Athlete Dying Young\u201d by AE Housman. The poem is not about World War 1, but it certainly has similar attitudes that can be applied to those … Continue reading
https:\/\/www.poetryfoundation.org\/poems\/46452\/to-an-athlete-dying-young<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"