Robert Southey’s poem, “After Blenheim”, is an anti-war poem, showing the absurd intricacies surrounding the war which a common people are unaware of. For the common people, war is glorified as they consider it to be bold and an act of bravery and are only bothered by the victory. Old Kaspar says that the skull, found by his grandson, belonged to that of a brave soldier who died fighting in a way. To him the death of the soldier is not remorseful but the fact that he died for a great victory is more commendable. The poet critics the voice of Old Kaspar by making him oblivious to the real horrors of the war. He is unaware of how gruesome battles are and “many thousand men’s lives” are trivial considered to the victory that they have attained. He is ignorant to the actual consequences of the war and celebrates hollow nationalism by celebrating the “great victory.” Old Kaspar goes on to say that the reason of the war is not known to him but he knows one thing for sure that it was a “famous victory.” This shows how hollow nationalism is for common folk like Old Kaspar. He knows who won the war but doesn’t know the hardship and the bloodshed behind the war. He values war as the result of glory. The poet criticizes this form of glorification by making ironical statement like “great victory” and so on.

Summary of After Blenheim Poem

Peter and Wilhelmine are the grandchildren of Old Kaspar. Old Kaspar is basking in the Sun after his day’s work and watching his granddaughter, Wilhelmine play in the garden. He is relaxing “before his cottage door” and the atmosphere of a quiet, peaceful and pastoral view is created.

Summary of After Blenheim Poem

The phrase “man’s inhumanity to man” was coined by the poet Robert Burns and it is reflected in the antiwar poem, “After Blenheim.” The skull discovered by Peterkin and Old Kasper’s confession that he had found several skulls while furrowing, reflects to the harsh cruelties of the war, even after the war has ended. Old Kaspar said that the skulls belonged to that of many brave soldiers who died fighting in a way. To him the death of the soldier is not remorseful but the fact that he died for a great victory is more commendable. He dismissed war and his horrors by saying how important it is for victory to be achieved. He thought war was easily fought and the lives lost in the battle were trivial. Peterkin questioned him what “good came” at the end of the war to which Old Kaspar responded by saying he doesn’t know but all he knew and all he cared was that it was a famous victory. He lived and survived under an illusion which was why till the very end he kept on saying that all that matters was the great victory, which was the mentality of the common folk during those times as they kept on glorifying war.

Summary of After Blenheim Poem

The title of the poem is justified as “After Bleinheim” because it refers to the Battle of Blenheim. The poet places two generations together at a conversation where one generation glorifies war whereas the other generation considers it to be horrific. The poem presents the viewpoint of war from the perspective common person’s view. The poem revolves around the war and the brutalities caused by the war.

Summary of After Blenheim Poem