Question

How does the poem "vigil strange i kept on the field one night" convey the idea that soldiers accept that death is a part of war? Select the two correct answers.

1) The poem describes the soldiers' willingness to stay on the field despite the dangers.
2) The poem portrays the soldiers' acceptance of death as a natural part of their duty.
3) The poem emphasizes the soldiers' fear and reluctance to face death.
4) The poem suggests that the soldiers believe death is avoidable in war.

Answer 1

Walt Whitman's "Vigil Strange I Kept on the Field One Night" illustrates that soldiers accept death as part of war by describing their willingness to remain on the battlefield with fallen comrades and portraying death as a natural element of their duty.

Step-by-step explanation:

The poem "Vigil Strange I Kept on the Field One Night" by Walt Whitman conveys the acceptance of death as an inherent aspect of war through its somber and reflective tone, as well as through the actions and sentiments of the soldier who remains with his fallen comrade through the night. The correct answers that best represent how the poem conveys the idea that soldiers accept death as a part of war are:

• The poem describes the soldiers' willingness to stay on the field despite the dangers.
• The poem portrays the soldiers' acceptance of death as a natural part of their duty.

The imagery of staying vigilant beside a deceased fellow soldier underscores the deep camaraderie and the grim reality of war. This vigil serves as a poignant acknowledgement that death is an inescapable companion in battle, embraced by the living as much as by the fallen. In holding to this solemn duty, the poem expresses a quiet dignity and acceptance of the fatal costs of war without glorifying it.