Analysis Of Naming Of Parts By Henry Reed

“Naming of Parts” By Henry Reed

“Naming of parts” by Henry Reed was written during World War 2. Reed uses a variety of literary devices to successfully portray the poem's environment of “War”. The poem is about a soldier who is going through training, learning the components of a rifle. However, the soldier is not taught about the ramifications of using a rifle. The poet uses contrast, tone, and imagery in order to present war as an inescapable reality for soldiers.

The overall use of contrast helps to support the environment of the poem which is war. The main focus of the poem is to contrast the practical and very boring “parts” of a rifle with the graceful and beautiful aspects of life. “And this you can see is the bolt. The purpose of this Is to open the breech, as you see. We can slide it Rapidly backwards and forwards: we call this Easing the spring. And rapidly backwards and forwards. The early bees are assaulting and fumbling the flowers:They call it easing the Spring.” As you can see the stanza starts off very practical and informative, but as you read on it suddenly changes, it may seem completely irrelevant but it isn’t. The poet cleverly disguises the

Through contrast, Reed was able to provide the reader with an insight of what the soldier was thinking and feeling during certain situations. Moreover, Reed additionally uses tone which helps us as the reader to obtain a better understanding of the poet's attitude towards war. Lastly, the poet uses imagery so that the situations of the poem are able to be visualized. In summation, Henry Reed seemingly proposes that war is violent, and planned out. Not only that, Reed also suggests that war can be an inescapable reality for soldiers through the use of contrast. When all these devices and compiled together they create an overall effect and impression for the