Kenneth Slessor Beach Burial

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Imagine, watching as humans greedily destroy nature just to satisfy their selfish desires. Imagine, hiding in the bushes while watching your fallen comrades being treated as if they were just another casualty in the war. As if their identities and sacrifice were insignificant and unnecessary because they died... The loss of identity and the human destruction of nature is highlighted in Kenneth Slessor’s poems Beach Burial and North Country. It is through these poems that Slessor uses a range of poetic techniques to bring images alive, permitting us to visualise scenes in our mind, which is why studying his poems would allow students to develop their understanding of poetic techniques and powerful ideas. Beach Burial, an elegy in honour of all the soldiers that have died in war presents ideas on the loss of identity through various poetic techniques. Throughout the poem, Slessor depicts how the fallen soldiers are treated …show more content…

Therefore, by studying Slessor’s poems, students are able to gain knowledge of vigorous and potent messages and ideas through array of poetic techniques. Loss of identity is also conveyed in the quotes "Unknown seaman" and "Dead seamen". The term "Unknown seaman" is utilised to show us that once the soldiers die, their sacrifice becomes wasteful and worthless as they become unnamed and forgotten. The change in adjective from 'unknown' to 'dead' also demonstrates the anonymity of the soldiers which enhances the idea that with war there is always death. The loss of identity of the soldiers becomes evident in the term 'dead' as it does not make reference to any race or the soldiers allegiance. Therefore, the ideas that Slessor conveys in Beach Burial, enables students to develop their understanding of poetic techniques and powerful messages and

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