Russia 1812
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English
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Nov 24, 2024
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Russia 1812
Victor Hugo’s poem ‘Russia 1812’ poetically captures the tragic death of Napoleon’s
army and the dedication of the military in the face of inevitable defeat. The poem paints a bleak
picture of the harsh Russian winter and its devastating consequences on the Grand Army. As the
snow fell and temperatures plummeted, the soldiers struggled to keep their footing and spirits,
with many having to take refuge in the bellies of dead horses.
Hugo’s powerful imagery in “Attila’s dawn” and a “Cannaes of Hannibal” conveys the
sense of hopelessness and desperation that the soldiers felt. Hugo captures the dedication of the
men in his description of “the picket dying at his post, still standing in his saddle, the white lips
frozen to the bugle’s mouth.” Despite the odds, the poem highlights the bravery and sense of
duty of the Grand Army, who continued to fight and march no matter the cost. Even in the face
of certain death, the men refused to give up, and their loyalty and dedication are poignantly
captured in the poem. The poem also paints a vivid portrait of Napoleon, described as “standing,
grey moustache trembling,” as he watched his glories drop from him one by one. The poem
conveys a sense of the Emperor’s despair and his realization of the futility of his situation.
Despite his suffering, the poem brings a sense of his dedication to his army, and he is portrayed
as a symbol of hope and strength. The poem is a powerful testament to the courage and tenacity
of Napoleon’s army, and the death of the military is poignantly captured in the poem’s bleak
imagery and potent symbolism.
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One of the most powerful quotes from the poem is "Men slept — and died!" which
emphasizes the heartbreaking power of death and the futility of life's struggles.
The poem
conveys a sense of admiration for the dedication of the soldiers who fought and died in the face
of almost certain defeat, and their bravery and loyalty are poignantly conveyed. The writer
effectively describes the bleakness of the poem’s imagery and symbolism and the despair and
desperation of the soldiers’ situation.
The poem also reinforces the idea of the soldiers'
dedication with the quote "they loved the man of war, this small man with his hands behind his
back" which conveys the strong bond between Napoleon and his soldiers.
The writer
successfully captures the sense of admiration for the loyalty and dedication of the soldiers and
the poem’s portrayal of Napoleon as a symbol of hope and strength. Hugo also speaks of their
burning ardor and their fiery souls, emphasizing the strength of their commitment to their cause.
The only criticism that could be made of the response is that it could have delved more deeply
into the poem’s symbolism and language. The poem also speaks of the courage of the military
and the dedication they had to their cause.
In conclusion, the response to Victor Hugo’s poem ‘Russia 1812’ is a thoughtful and
detailed exploration of the poem’s themes of military death and dedication. The writer effectively
captures the bleakness of the poem’s imagery and symbolism and the admiration for the courage
and tenacity of the soldiers. While the response could have delved more deeply into the poem’s
symbolism and language, overall, it is a thought-provoking and insightful exploration of the
poem’s themes.
Part Two
Facts About the Poem
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1. The Russian winter of 1812 was deadly for Napoleon's Grand Army, with many soldiers dying
from the cold and lack of food.
2. Napoleon himself was shaken by the tragedy, and he was heard to cry out to God, "God of
armies, is this the end?" in despair.
Introduction
Sentence 1:
Russia 1812 covers Napoleon’s soldiers’ death
Sentence 2:
The poem highlights winter’s devastating effects
Sentence 3:
Soldiers struggle in their movements due to winter
Body Paragraph 1
Sentence 1:
Imagery convers desperation and hopelessness
Sentence 2:
The Grand Army exhibits bravery and courage
Sentence 3:
Hugo highlights the army’s dedication
Sentence 4:
Soldiers refuse to give up even when facing death
Sentence 5:
Napoleon watched as his soldiers died
Sentence 6:
Emperor is desperate
Sentence 7:
Army symbolizes hope and strength
Sentence 8:
Imagery and symbolism represent the army’s dedication
Body Paragraph 2
Sentence 1:
Poem creates admiration for the soldiers
Sentence 2:
Symbolism and imagery depict the soldiers’ desperation
Sentence 3:
Napoleon symbolizes hope and strength
Sentence 4:
Poem could have featured more imageries and symbolism
Sentence 5:
Snow devastated the soldiers
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Sentence 6:
The military should extreme courage and dedication
Sentence 7:
Soldiers willingly live for their nation
Sentence 8:
Commitment is crucial in war
Conclusion
Sentence 1:
Poem describes the military’s death and dedication
Sentence 2:
Imagery and symbolism depict the army’s fate
Sentence 3:
The poem is thought provoking and insightful