SUICIDE IN THE TRENCHES

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SUICIDE IN THE TRENCHES

• Siegfried Sassoon
• 1886-1967

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I knew a simple soldier boy Who grinned at life
in empty joy, Slept soundly through the lonesome
dark, And whistled early with the lark
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1. Write down three things the soldier boy did
(lines1-4).

• He grins at life
• Sleeps soundly through the night
• Whistles with the morning songbird

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In winter trenches, cowed and glum With crumps
and lice and lack of rum, He put a bullet through
his brain. No one spoke of him again.
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2. What is the meaning of cowed?

• Sitting in fear,

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3. What is the meaning of glum?

• Extremely unhappy

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4. What is the meaning of crumps?

• Sound of exploding bomb

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5. What else did the young soldier suffer from?

• Lice
• Lack of rum

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You smug-faced crowds with kindling eye Who cheer
when soldier lads march by Sneak home and pray
youll never know The hell where youth and
laughter go.
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6. What is the meaning of smug-faced?

• Satisfied expression

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7. What is war like for this poet?

• Hell