Class 11 English Lesson: 12 The Gift in Wartime : References beyond the text

 

References beyond the text

a.      One way to get relief from grief is to write or talk about it. In your opinion, how might the speaker in this poem have benefited from saying what she did? Explain.

One way to get relief from grief is to write or talk about it. Grief is caused by loss. In an emotional situation, a person can get relief by talking with a dear one. We can share our pain with others by writing poems, stories, etc., or sharing our experiences with others. The speaker in this poem has also chosen the same path. She has become able to reduce her pain and suffering by talking with her dead husband.

Happiness and pain are an inevitable part of human life. In our lives, we must experience both sides of life. We must find a way to cope with the grief and move on with our lives. The speaker is talking to her husband, who was killed in the war. She offers him red roses and her wedding gown at his grave. Her youth has ended with his death. His badge, bravery medals, and the blood from his dress make her sad. Her eyes are full like summer clouds. Her life has changed from spring to winter. She wants to prove her deep love and respect for her husband by showing her sacrifice. In this way, the speaker can cope with her deep pain by talking with her dead husband.

b.     Write an essay on the effects of war.

Effects of War

The effects of war are widely spread and can be long-term or short-term. Soldiers experience war differently than civilians, although both suffer in times of war, and women and children suffer unspeakable atrocities in particular. In the past decade, up to two million of those killed in armed conflicts were children. The widespread trauma caused by these atrocities and the suffering of the civilian population is another legacy of these conflicts, the following creates extensive emotional and psychological stress. Present-day internal wars generally take a larger toll on civilians than state wars. This is due to the increasing trend where combatants have made targeting civilians a strategic objective.

A state conflict is an armed conflict that occurs with the use of armed force between two parties, of which one is the government of a state. “The three problems posed by intra‐state conflict are the willingness of UN members, particularly the strongest member, to intervene; the structural ability of the UN to respond; and whether the traditional principles of peacekeeping should be applied to the intra‐state conflict”. The effects of war also include the mass destruction of cities and have long-lasting effects on a country’s economy. Armed conflict has important indirect negative consequences on infrastructure, public health provision, and social order. These indirect consequences are often overlooked and unappreciated.

 

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