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The Man He Killed By Thomas Hardy

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Recommended: Guest of the nation Frank O'connor

The poem “The Man He Killed” by Thomas Hardy and short story “Guests of the Nation” by Frank O’Connor share the idea that duty triumphs friendship. Friendship is a powerful thing, but not powerful enough. Both pieces of literature show the soldiers’ unwavering loyalty to their country. The ending in both pieces resemble each other but differ in their journeys. Both authors use imagery and diction to get their main point across.
Thomas Hardy’s poem “The Man He Killed,” uses diction and imagery to expose the complications of war. Hardy describes the relationship between the soldier and his foe by stating “Had he and I met… Right many a nipperkin!” This stanza uses imagery by describing his openness to the idea of a friendly drink. Line six seems …show more content…

This story involves Englishmen being held captive by Irishmen that end up becoming friends. O’Connor uses imagery by saying “We had our tea… and we all sat into cards.” This is an example of an activity that friends would participate in. Throughout the short story the author uses diction to convey friendship. An example of this is the repetitive use of “chum.”
Unlike the short story, the soldier in the poem is under a different circumstance. “Had he and I but met…Right many a nipperkin!” The diction implies they might have been able to sit down and enjoy a drink together if they did not meet under the circumstance of duty. The short story explains the privilege the Irishmen have becoming friends with the English prisoners. “They’re my chums and I stand by them.” The imagery used in this sentence shows the loyalty shown despite what they are going through.
The poem “The Man He Killed” by Thomas Hardy and short story “Guests of the Nation” by Frank O’Connor share the idea that duty triumphs friendship. Imagery and diction are crucial in the poem to illustrate the complications of war. The short story uses imagery and diction to portray the challenging decision that must be made between duty and friendship. Both authors lay out interesting stories with courses that do not go the same direction but have the same

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