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Point of view

The poem is trying to convey the message that children are used as soldiers to fight for the country and no freedom is given to them. Children are trained at a very young age and are sent into the warfield to die fighting. This can be seen from "Who someone will teach to fight", "From this life they can not flee" and "And these children are not free". Besides that, the peom is also trying to show that war bring chaos and life are stolen away. This can be seen by the word "darkness" and also from "Or will a war consume them" .

Situatation and Setting

Children are trained as soldiers at a very young age and are sent into the battlefield where they might die. This can be seen from "Who someone will teach to fight". The peom also give the image of war is cruel and that the children could not enjoy any freedom. This can be seen from "Could we give them half a chance" and "Or will war consume them.

Language and Diction

Repetition was used in the peom to emphasize that war is cruel. The word "Could we" was repeat and this shows that the children had a resticted freedom and are not given a chance to live a normal life, like reading books and dancing. Besides that, the poet also used personification. "Or will the war consume them", the war was personified like a human, consuming the soldiers. This emphasizes on the cruelness and evil behind each war. The peot also used and the word "darkness" to emphasize on the surrounding of the war.

Personal Responce

In my opinion, I think that the children in the peom are pityful as they are not ableto enjoy the freedom one's have during childhood, instead they had to take on hard trainings just to fight in the battefiled and probably died fighting. It helped me to realise that, our freedom here is extremely well comparing to the world in the peom and it helped me to realise that I have to treasure the freedom I have now.

The Soldier by Rupert Brooke

The National Service Training Program or Program Latihan Khidmat Negara (PLKN), is Malaysia's national service program. It is not compulsory for all citizens of Malaysia. 18-year-old youths are selectively drafted for the program. The three-month program, which started in December 2003, began as ways to encourage friendships between youths of different races. The objective of the PLKN are some of the below ...

• Develop a young generation who are patriotic and with love and devotion for their country
• Enhance unity among the multi-racial communities in the country
• Instill a spirit of caring and volunteerism among society
• Produce an active, intelligent and confident generation
• Develop positive characteristics among the younger generation through good values
• Develop a generation that is obedient and loyal to the government

In my opinion, I think that the PLKN is a good way in developing soldiers and also a good generation. The duration of the program is only a short three months and with the selectively drafted, some students can excel more in their studies. Even though the youths that are selected for the program are away for three months, they can be more independent and improve their self further, for example learning how to communicate with others. Some suggestions for PLKN ...

• Make the program termly, each term selecting a smaller number of youths
• If possible, let everyone have a chance to experience the program

For the question whether I am patriotic towards my country, Malaysia. In my opinion, I think that Malaysia is heading towards a bright future. The new Malaysia is improving on its mistakes that were made in the past and together as one, finding solutions, improving and solving. I am delighted to be a Malaysian. The tourist attractions in Malaysia are amazing. The different types of food, different cultural, living in peace and harmony.

Malaysia was my birthplace and it will always be.

Go Malaysia!Satu Malaysia ! Malaysia Boleh !