Canadian Airman Flanders Field
...hing of this can be enjoyed by those who are buried in these fields: “Scarce heard among the guns below”(l. 5). In the second stanza, the speaker reinforces the great contrast not only by the capitalized noun ‘Dead', which implies a capital sacrifice, but he also wants to make the living aware of the fact that those who are lifeless now, were once able to enjoy nature and the affection of others, too: “We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, loved and were loved”(ll.7-8). But now they lie sightless and lifeless in Flanders fields. In the last stanza, however, the speaker emphatically pleads to the living to not simply go on living, but to take up the courage to continue fighting the enemy: ”Take up the quarrel with the foe/To you from failing hands we throw/the torch...” (ll.10-12). The living are earnestly requested not to let go of freedom by being afraid of the enemy. They should promise to hold their heads high and fight for liberty, which is the highest good. Only if this is done the dead will sleep peacefully in Flanders fields: “The torch; be yours to hold it high./If ye break faith with us who die/We shall not sleep” (ll.ll.12-14). The primary theme of the poem is 'triumph over death'. Some literary devices used are: personification (the dead speaker), alliteration: Flanders-fields-fly-felt-foe-f...