Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
The question refers to A.E. Housman’s poem “To an Athlete Dying Young,” published in his collection *A Shropshire Lad* (1896). The poem elegizes a young athlete who dies at the peak of his physical prowess, before the inevitable decline of age and the disillusionment of life can touch him. The speaker’s celebration of ‘men like them’ isn’t a simple glorification of athletic achievement, but a complex meditation on the nature of glory, loss, and the bittersweet beauty of a life cut short. The purpose of this celebration is multifaceted, encompassing envy, admiration, and a recognition of a unique form of triumph over life’s inherent disappointments.
Understanding the Context of Celebration
The poem’s context is crucial to understanding the speaker’s purpose. The athlete has died after winning a race, still in his youth and surrounded by the adulation of his community. This immediate, vibrant glory is contrasted with the inevitable decay that awaits all others. The speaker isn’t celebrating athleticism in isolation, but the *circumstances* of this athlete’s death – a death that has preserved him in a state of perpetual victory.
Qualities of ‘Men Like Them’
The ‘men like them’ are not simply athletes; they represent a specific type of individual who achieves a complete and untarnished glory. Several key qualities contribute to this:
- Youthful Perfection: The athlete dies at the height of his physical and social acclaim. He hasn’t experienced the compromises, failures, and disappointments that erode glory over time.
- Untouched by Disillusionment: The poem explicitly contrasts the athlete’s fate with the “early lads” who “never see one half the world.” The athlete is spared the knowledge of life’s complexities and the loss of youthful ideals.
- Complete Victory: His victory is absolute and final. He doesn’t face the possibility of being surpassed or forgotten. His glory is frozen in time.
- Community Adoration: The poem emphasizes the public nature of his triumph. He is celebrated by his community, and his death solidifies his legendary status.
The Speaker’s Purpose: A Multifaceted Response
The speaker’s purpose in celebrating ‘men like them’ is not monolithic. It’s a complex blend of emotions:
Envy and Resignation
The speaker expresses a subtle envy for the athlete’s fate. He acknowledges that the athlete has escaped the “weariness, the fever, and the fret” of life. This suggests a sense of resignation on the speaker’s part, a recognition that he and others will inevitably experience the hardships the athlete has avoided. The line “Now you will not swell the rout / Of lads that wore their honours out” highlights this envy.
Recognition of a Unique Triumph
The speaker recognizes that the athlete has achieved a unique form of triumph – a triumph over the very process of living. By dying young, he has avoided the inevitable decline that diminishes all earthly glories. This isn’t necessarily a celebration of death itself, but a recognition that in this particular case, death has *preserved* glory.
A Commentary on the Nature of Glory
The poem uses the athlete’s death to comment on the fleeting and often illusory nature of glory. The speaker suggests that true glory may lie not in prolonged achievement, but in a single, perfect moment. The athlete’s death transforms his victory into a timeless legend, a more potent form of glory than any he could have achieved through a long and successful career.
Poetic Devices and Their Contribution
Housman employs several poetic devices to reinforce the speaker’s purpose:
- Imagery: The vivid imagery of the race and the athlete’s physical prowess creates a sense of vitality and energy, contrasting sharply with the stillness of death.
- Tone: The poem’s elegiac tone is both mournful and celebratory, reflecting the speaker’s complex emotions.
- Symbolism: The laurel wreath symbolizes victory and glory, but also the transience of earthly achievements.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the speaker’s celebration of ‘men like them’ in “To an Athlete Dying Young” is a nuanced and poignant response to the athlete’s untimely death. It’s a celebration born of envy, admiration, and a profound meditation on the nature of glory, loss, and the bittersweet beauty of a life cut short. The poem doesn’t simply glorify athletic achievement; it uses the athlete’s fate to explore the complexities of human existence and the enduring power of memory. The speaker’s purpose is to acknowledge a unique form of triumph – a triumph over the inevitable disappointments of life – and to contemplate the fleeting nature of earthly glory.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.