The Hero--by Siegfried Sassoon 1886-1967, written in 1917

'Jack fell as he'd have wished,' the mother said,
And folded up the letter that she'd read.
'The Colonel writes so nicely.' Something broke
In the tired voice that quavered to a choke.
She half looked up. 'We mothers are so proud
Of our dead soldiers.' Then her face was bowed.

Quietly the Brother Officer went out.
He'd told the poor old dear some gallant lies
That she would nourish all her days, no doubt
For while he coughed and mumbled, her weak eyes
Had shone with gentle triumph, brimmed with joy,
Because he'd been so brave, her glorious boy.

He thought how 'Jack', cold-footed, useless swine,
Had panicked down the trench that night the mine
Went up at Wicked Corner; how he'd tried
To get sent home, and how, at last, he died,
Blown to small bits. And no one seemed to care
Except that lonely woman with white hair.

                                                             Textual Analysis

1. What did the colonel write?

The colonel in his letter praised Jack as a daring and dauntless soldier. He had also cited a remark Jack always said to have uttered in the battle that he wished to die the death of a soldier.

The colonel had written the eulogy in the form of a letter to Jack’s mother. The letter as intended embalmed the agonised mother and helped her bear the pain of her son’s untimely death.

2. How can you say that the colonel was successful in his attempt to soothe a bereaved mother? Why did her voice quaver to a choke?

From the poem one can notice that the mother didn’t break into a fit of sobs. Instead, she softly admired the colonel for his selection of words. The words had a magical effect on the mother because it held her up from breaking into despair.

Her voice quavered to a choke because she had come to know about her son’s painful death. Being a mother, it was difficult not to react at such a fateful misfortune that suddenly befell her / overhung her.

3. Why did the mother say ‘We, mother, are so proud of our dead soldier’?

Going by the practice in the army, when a soldier dies his family is informed about his death and his glorious service and sacrifice. It is a common practice during war intended to give the family a respite of sort.

In this poem it is seen that Jack’s mother received similar information with a note on his exemplary courage. Such notes made the mothers a little bit proud of their sons who, they supposed, laid down their lives for a noble cause.

4. Who was Brother Officer? Why did he tell gallant lies?

The Brother Officer was the immediate superior under whose command Jack was enlisted.

He was entrusted to carry the news of Jack’s death to his mother. The note that he carried and the words of admiration that he uttered in regard to Jack were blatant lies.

Being a soldier endowed with natural human qualities, it demanded a great deal of courage to speak a string of lies to an old bereaved mother. Perhaps it was too much for his conscience to act against his will. So the poet used the transferred epithet ‘gallant lies’. 

5. Who is The Hero in this poem? Why did the poet use the term Hero as a title?

‘The Hero’ is a certain Jack who served in the army during the First World War and eventually died.

Sassoon has used the title ‘Hero’ to heighten the sense of bitter irony and to convey the intensity of hypocrisy which glorify otherwise an ignominious death, thus making mockery of human life and dignity.

6. Why did Brother Officer’ mumble and coughed’ while speaking?

The officer was entrusted to carry the news of Jack’s death to his mother. The colonel had a note of admiration extolling Jack’s exemplary courage and eventual death. The Officer was also expected to add some of his own adulations that would testify the colonel’s letter.

However, when the officer faced the old and helpless mother, the lies he uttered hung too heavy on his soldier heart. He was acting against his conscience and so faltered.

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