Final answer:
"Channel Firing" by Thomas Hardy predicts World War I, grounded in themes of conflict reflective of its 1914 publication, the same year the war began. The poem captures the era's tension and prefigures the global upheaval that follows.
Step-by-step explanation:
"Channel Firing" by Thomas Hardy predicts the major historical event of World War I. Written in 1914, the poem reflects on themes of war, death, and the cyclical nature of conflict, which resonated deeply with the sociopolitical climate of the time. The grim reality of war discussed in the poem prefigures the devastation and turmoil that would come to pass with the outbreak of World War I later that same year.
Notably, the first half of the 20th century was marked by significant global conflicts and changes, including World War I, which involved major powers like France, Britain, and the United States against Germany, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Ottoman Empire. The period between World War I and World War II was characterized by continued geopolitical tensions, highlighted by the rise of Adolf Hitler and the subsequent outbreak of World War II.
Hardy's poem captures the essence and the apprehension of an era on the brink of a world-changing event and serves as both a reflection on human nature and a premonitory message about the imminent war. His portrayal of restless spirits disturbed by the sounds of gunnery drills underscores the pervasive sense of impending doom that preceded the First World War.