Overview
This lecture examines Edward Thomas’s poem "Rain," exploring its context, structure, themes, and literary techniques, with a focus on existential ambivalence and the effects of war.
Context and Background
- "Rain" was written in 1916 and published posthumously in 1917.
- Inspired in part by Robert Frost’s poem "The Road Not Taken."
- Thomas enlisted in World War I in 1915 and died in 1917, despite being able to avoid service.
- Previously known for prose; wrote poetry only from late 1914 until his death, producing 142 poems.
- Did not consider himself a war poet; his work focuses on the English countryside and existential themes.
Structure and Form
- The poem consists of a single stanza with 18 lines, mainly in iambic pentameter.
- Features variations in line length, metrical substitutions, and use of caesura for rhythm.
- Contains extensive enjambment, creating a relentless, obsessive tone.
- Written in blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter) with some internal rhyme, para-rhyme, repetition, and sound devices.
Themes and Motifs
- Explores solitude, mortality, love, death, and the human condition.
- Rain serves as both a literal and metaphorical motif—for war, psychological turmoil, and existential anxiety.
- The poem is introspective, with the speaker reflecting on isolation and the temporary nature of life.
- War is an underlying presence, implied through imagery and tone but not directly referenced.
Literary Devices
- Use of repetition, polysyndeton, and circular structure to evoke obsessive thoughts.
- Allusions to religious texts, e.g., the Beatitudes, to frame death as a possible blessing.
- Similes and metaphors compare dead soldiers to "broken reeds," emphasizing loss and desolation.
- Sound devices (alliteration, assonance) reinforce the persistent nature of rain and thought.
Interpretation of Key Lines
- The rain makes the speaker aware of being alive and thus his own mortality.
- Recognition that death may bring relief from pain and solitude.
- Implied regret and compassion for others affected by war and isolation.
- The poem ends by contemplating death's finality and its undemanding perfection.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Iambic Pentameter — a line of verse with five iambs (unstressed-stressed syllables).
- Blank Verse — unrhymed poetry written in regular metrical lines, usually iambic pentameter.
- Enjambment — continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line.
- Polysyndeton — repeated use of conjunctions for effect.
- Pararhyme — partial rhyme with varying vowel sounds but similar consonants (e.g., bean/born).
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the poem "Rain" in full, paying attention to structure and language choices.
- Consider how Thomas’s personal history and the context of WWI influence the poem’s themes.