“The Happy Warrior,” displays diction and irony to highlight the realistic attitude on war by Sir Herbert Read. Throughout his poem, Sir Herbert Read uses a gruesome word choice to get across the message about the horrors of war. Early in the poem, “painful sobs” (1), came over the fighting soldier. The horrid thought of agonizing pain lies with reader as they read the rest of the poem in an appalling disgust. Additionally, the word, “shriek” (5), describes a ghastly scream instead of using a word such as cry or yell. Accordingly, the author turns around the horrendous diction by stating, “This is the happy warrior” (11). The ironical phrase exemplifies the sickening sense that only a warrior could enjoy. Sir Herbert Read’s poem, “The