Final answer:
The theme of Carol Ann Duffy's “Christmas Truce” touches on the spontaneous ceasefire that allowed enemies to show goodwill during WWI, symbolizing the humanity and desire for peace that persists even in war.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theme of the poem “Christmas Truce” by Carol Ann Duffy revolves around the brief and extraordinary cessation of hostilities during World War I on Christmas in 1914, when British and German soldiers exchanged goodwill and camaraderie in no-man's land. This unexpected truce is symbolic of the enduring human spirit and the capacity for peace, even in the darkest times of conflict.
The poem captures a moment where the shared experience of Christmas and the soldiers' mutual yearning for peace temporarily overcame the horrors of war. Here, Duffy may be highlighting the absurdity of war and the contrast between the humanity of the soldiers and the inhumanity of the conflict.
Such historic events are reflected in various forms of art, including poetry, where other poets like Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, Rupert Brooke, and William Butler Yeats have depicted the brutal realities of war in their work. Carol Ann Duffy's poem is another contribution to the cannon, emphasizing peace, humanity, and solidarity in the context of the war.