Question

Read Stephen Crane's "Do Not Weep, Maiden, for War Is Kind." How does the free–verse form contribute to the theme of this poem?

A.
The restrained use of meter and rhyme brings out the speaker's struggle to find a balance between the glorious nature and destructive effects of war.

B.
The lack of conformance to any poetic structure allows the speaker to narrate a story of love and loss against the background of war.

C.
The absence of rhyme and meter brings out the meaningless nature of war that destroys lives and causes grief to innocent people.

D.
The unconventional use of stanzas and refrains brings out the conflict between the need for war and the destruction caused by war.

Answer 1

C.

The absence of rhyme and meter brings out the meaningless nature of war that destroys lives and causes grief to innocent people.

Step-by-step explanation:

"War is kind" is sarcastic.

The poem doesn't portray any "glorious" natures of war.

The speaker doesn't seem to view war as necessary.

Answer 2

Free-Verse poem contributes to the theme of the poem as:

Option C: The absence of rhyme and meter brings out the meaningless nature of war that destroys lives and causes grief to innocent people.

Step-by-step explanation:

The mentioned poem by 'Stephen Crane' highlights the brutality of war. It portrays the pain of separation by the the loved ones of the soldiers who die in the war.

He doesn't focus on the heroism of the soldiers instead talks about the psychological suffering of the people because of war.

Free verse poem is the one which doesn't have a specific rhyme and meter. It can have breaks in the stanzas. Absence of rhyme and meter highlight how meaningless a war which only destroys lives and brings sadness all over. Thus, free verse poem contributes to the theme of the poem.