Siegfried Sassoon, a renowned 20th-century British poet, occupies a significant place in the history of English literature, particularly within the realms of war poetry. His literary works not only reflect the trauma and emotional turmoil of the First World War but also offer a critical perspective on the consequences of conflict. As a poet and soldier, Sassoon’s unique experience allowed him to express the disillusionment, horror, and courage that defined the wartime generation. This article will explore Sassoon’s life, his poetry, and how he compared to other poets of his time, especially within the broader context of 20th-century British poetry.
Early Life and Influences
Siegfried Sassoon was born on September 8, 1886, in Kent, England, to a Jewish family of Anglo-Irish descent. His early life was shaped by the privileges of an upper-class upbringing, which included a private education and leisure-filled childhood. However, his life took a dramatic turn when he entered the army during World War I. This period in his life would have a profound impact on his writing.
Sassoon’s education at Marlborough College and later at Cambridge exposed him to the literary traditions of the 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly the works of the Victorian poets and the emerging modernist movement. His early poems, written before the war, were heavily influenced by the aestheticism of poets like A.E. Housman and the romantic ideals that permeated much of the British poetry of the late 19th century.
However, Sassoon’s life changed dramatically with the onset of World War I. Like many young men of his generation, he enlisted and fought on the front lines. His war experience would later become the catalyst for some of his most significant works, challenging the romanticized notions of war that were popular in British poetry at the time.
The Great War and its Influence on Sassoon’s Poetry
The First World War was a pivotal moment in both world history and British literature. It shattered the Victorian ideals of heroism and honor that had dominated the national psyche for decades. Poets like Sassoon, who had witnessed the brutal realities of trench warfare, were at the forefront of a new wave of war poetry that sought to depict the horrors of the battlefield in a more realistic and often shocking light.
Sassoon’s poetry from this period is defined by its stark realism and emotional intensity. His early war poems, such as The Soldier (1914), initially reflect a sense of patriotic fervor, but they soon give way to a more bitter and cynical tone as the realities of the war set in. Sassoon’s change in perspective is perhaps best illustrated in his famous Counter-Attack (1917), where he describes the harrowing experiences of soldiers during battle. Unlike the poets of the previous generation, who often glorified war, Sassoon’s works focus on the brutal suffering and pointless loss of life that occurred in the trenches.
In They, a poem written in 1917, Sassoon critiques the way the public and military authorities glorified war, contrasting the reality of soldiers’ experiences with the sanitized rhetoric of war propaganda. Through the voices of disillusioned soldiers, Sassoon condemns the idea of war as a noble cause and expresses the despair felt by those who had survived the horrors of combat.
Sassoon’s poetry from World War I exemplifies his rejection of the idealized notions of heroism and patriotism that were often depicted in the works of earlier poets. He also highlights the emotional and psychological scars of war, a theme that would continue to shape his writing throughout his career. This shift in tone and focus marks Sassoon as a key figure in the development of modern British war poetry, alongside contemporaries such as Wilfred Owen, Rupert Brooke, and Isaac Rosenberg.
Sassoon and the Modernist Movement
Sassoon’s approach to poetry, while deeply rooted in the traditions of British poetry, also displays an affinity for modernist techniques and concerns. Modernism, a movement that emerged in the early 20th century, sought to break with traditional forms of literature and embrace innovation, fragmentation, and a focus on the inner workings of the human mind. Sassoon’s war poems, with their stark imagery, psychological depth, and rejection of conventional forms of narrative, align with many of the tenets of modernist poetry.
However, unlike some of his modernist contemporaries, Sassoon did not entirely abandon traditional poetic forms. His use of rhyme, meter, and structure in poems like The Rear-Guard (1917) reflects his understanding of classical poetic techniques, even as he employed them to convey the fragmentation and disillusionment caused by war. While poets like T.S. Eliot and Ezra Pound were experimenting with free verse and fragmented narrative styles, Sassoon retained a more structured approach to his verse, though always with an eye toward the emotional and psychological weight of his subject matter.
Sassoon vs. Other Poets of the Time
While Sassoon is often associated with war poetry, it is important to place him within the larger context of 20th-century British poetry. Sassoon’s relationship with other poets of his time provides insight into his literary significance and the development of British poetry in the wake of World War I.
One of the most notable poets of the time was Wilfred Owen, who, like Sassoon, is known for his visceral depictions of war. Owen, a close friend of Sassoon, shared many of the same themes, including the futility of war and the psychological trauma experienced by soldiers. However, Owen’s style was often more experimental and avant-garde than Sassoon’s. In poems like Dulce et Decorum Est (1917), Owen employs a highly original use of language and form to underscore the brutality of war, while Sassoon’s poems often rely on more traditional forms and a direct, conversational tone.
Rupert Brooke, another contemporary of Sassoon, represents a stark contrast to the war poets like Owen and Sassoon. While Brooke’s poems, such as The Soldier (1914), reflect an idealized view of war and sacrifice, Sassoon’s work directly critiques these notions. Brooke, who died early in the war, is often viewed as embodying the romanticized vision of war, whereas Sassoon and Owen were among the poets who emerged later, after the horrors of battle had dispelled any illusions of glory.
Sassoon’s relationship with other writers, especially Owen, was not just professional but also personal. Sassoon was instrumental in helping Owen refine his poetry, and their friendship is often considered one of the most important literary collaborations of the period. Despite their differences in style—Owen being more experimental and Sassoon maintaining a more traditional approach—the two shared a mutual respect and a common mission to expose the truth about the war.
Post-War Poetry and Legacy
After the war, Sassoon’s poetry shifted in tone and subject matter. He moved away from the direct portrayal of war and began exploring themes of social and political critique. His post-war works, such as The War Poems (1920) and Poems and Ballads (1928), reflect his growing sense of alienation from the society that had sent so many young men to their deaths. In these poems, Sassoon explores the trauma of the war and the ways in which the world had changed irrevocably.
Sassoon’s later work was also marked by a sense of spiritual questioning. In his Memoirs of an Infantry Officer (1930), he reflects on his personal journey and the disillusionment he felt after the war. This shift toward introspection and a search for meaning would become a central theme in his later poetry and prose.
Despite his departure from the frontlines of poetic warfare, Sassoon’s influence remained strong. His unique blend of traditional form and modernist sensibility paved the way for later generations of poets who would grapple with the legacies of war and the changes brought about by the twentieth century. Writers such as Ted Hughes, who also wrote about the human condition in times of conflict, can trace elements of their own poetic voice back to Sassoon’s work.
Conclusion
Siegfried Sassoon stands as one of the foremost 20th-century British poets. His poetry, deeply influenced by his experiences in the First World War, rejects the heroic glorification of battle in favor of a gritty, often uncomfortable realism that exposes the horror of war. His ability to capture the psychological and emotional toll of conflict placed him at the forefront of modern British war poetry.
Sassoon’s contribution to 20th-century British poetry is immeasurable. While he shared a common theme with poets like Wilfred Owen, his style and approach to the subject matter set him apart. His work continues to be an essential part of the British literary canon, offering both a historical record of war’s impact and a powerful meditation on human suffering, disillusionment, and resilience.
As a poet, Siegfried Sassoon was not only a witness to the horrors of war but also a voice for those who experienced them. His works remain poignant and relevant, capturing the emotional depth of a generation that endured the traumatic effects of war.
