Since forever war has been seen as a devilish, deadly, and sad thing; it is hard to see it as anything else. The thought of war being a fun game played by young men has never been a thought to have crossed any mind, however for Jessie Pope and his poem Who’s for the Game? it described war as just that. Despite every newspaper, word spoken, or photo taken Jessie Pope insists to convince men that war is enjoyable. “Who would much rather come back with a crutch Than lie low and be out of the fun?” (Pope) She tells the people through Who’s for the Game that war is worth being physically hurt since it will hurt more staying home and missing the fun. “Lie low” truly captures how Jessie Pope was trying to guilt the men into going to war and believing her way of viewing war. She firstly represents war as a fun place full of memories then uses a guilt tactic to make the men question their manhood if they didn't agree. Furthermore, Jessie Pope uses a metaphor along with direct adressment to really attach the reader: “Your country is up to her neck in a fight, And she’s looking and calling for you” (Pope). This metaphor turning the country into a “her” really would have pulled the reader closer to realizing war may truly be what Pope said, fun. Men at this time ‘protected’ women from danger and by turning the country into a women it would have made the men feel the need to protect and feel proud doing it. Moreover, “Come along, lads –” (Pope) directly addresses the reader but not as “you” but as a lad, a friend. This would make the reader feel more welcomed; Jessie Pope would have done this for the reader to believe that war wasn't a bunch of random men fighting together , but a group of friends having a good time. This line also continues on to the next two lines to make one sentence. This would be to make it faster paced than the rest of the poem to show excitement to have his lads come fight with him. Notably, Who’s for a Game? has an alternate rhyming scheme. This could be to inplace a marching tune into the reader's mind alongside with reading happy and excitable words about war. This would put happy thoughts into the reader's mind every time they think of the marching putting a bright picture about war. Jessie Pope didn't just think that war was a happy, fun, and enjoyable place but he was going to convince everyone else too through this poem.
Work Cited
Pope, Jessie. “Who's for the Game? by Jessie Pope - Famous poems, famous poets.” All Poetry, https://allpoetry.com/Who%27s-for-the-Game-. Accessed 12 September 2022.
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