“Survivors” by Siegfried Sassoon: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “Survivors” by Siegfried Sassoon

“Survivors” by Siegfried Sassoon, first appeared in 1917 in his collection The Old Huntsman Explores psychological trauma experienced by soldiers returning from the trenches of World War I. It starkly contrasts the soldiers’ pre-war innocence with their post-war disillusionment and shellshock. Sassoon employs vivid imagery and a bitter tone to expose the physical and mental scars of war. The poem is notable for its direct language, unflinching portrayal of trauma, and implicit criticism of those who romanticize or glorify warfare.

Text: “Survivors” by Siegfried Sassoon

No doubt they’ll soon get well; the shock and strain 
  Have caused their stammering, disconnected talk. 
Of course they’re ‘longing to go out again,’— 
  These boys with old, scared faces, learning to walk. 
They’ll soon forget their haunted nights; their cowed 
  Subjection to the ghosts of friends who died,— 
Their dreams that drip with murder; and they’ll be proud 
  Of glorious war that shatter’d all their pride… 
Men who went out to battle, grim and glad; 
Children, with eyes that hate you, broken and mad.

Annotations: “Survivors” by Siegfried Sassoon

Line	Annotation
1	“No doubt they’ll soon get well; the shock and strain” – The poem opens with an ironic tone, suggesting that the soldiers will quickly recover from the trauma of war, though this is unlikely. The “shock and strain” refers to the psychological damage caused by their experiences.
2	“Have caused their stammering, disconnected talk.” – The trauma manifests in the soldiers’ speech, indicating severe psychological effects such as stammering and disjointed conversation.
3	“Of course they’re ‘longing to go out again,’—” – The use of quotation marks around ‘longing to go out again’ highlights the irony and disbelief that the soldiers would desire to return to the battlefield.
4	“These boys with old, scared faces, learning to walk.” – The soldiers are described as “boys” with “old, scared faces,” emphasizing their lost youth and innocence. “Learning to walk” suggests they are like infants, having to relearn basic skills after their trauma.
5	“They’ll soon forget their haunted nights; their cowed” – Another ironic statement implying that the soldiers will easily forget their “haunted nights,” or nightmares, and the fear (“cowed”) they experienced.
6	“Subjection to the ghosts of friends who died,—” – The soldiers are haunted by the memories (“ghosts”) of their fallen comrades, indicating deep survivor’s guilt and trauma.
7	“Their dreams that drip with murder; and they’ll be proud” – Their dreams are filled with violent images (“drip with murder”), contradicting the notion that they will feel “proud” of their wartime experiences.
8	“Of glorious war that shatter’d all their pride…” – The idea of a “glorious war” is mocked, as the war has destroyed their sense of pride and left them broken.
9	“Men who went out to battle, grim and glad;” – The soldiers are referred to as “Men” who were once “grim and glad” to fight, indicating a sense of duty and initial bravery.
10	“Children, with eyes that hate you, broken and mad.” – By the end of the poem, these men are reduced to “Children” with “eyes that hate you,” reflecting their anger and psychological damage. The words “broken and mad” emphasize their complete mental and emotional breakdown.

Literary And Poetic Devices: “Survivors” by Siegfried Sassoon

Literary/Poetic Device	Example (Line)	Explanation	Function
Alliteration	“No doubt,” “shock and strain,” “soon forget,” “grim and glad”	Repetition of initial consonant sounds	Creates rhythm, emphasizes words, and enhances musicality.
Anaphora	“Of course they’re,” “They’ll soon forget their”	Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses	Emphasizes the repeated phrase and creates a sense of parallelism.
Antithesis	“grim and glad”	Juxtaposition of contrasting ideas	Highlights the contradictory nature of the soldiers’ experiences.
Assonance	“strain” and “again,” “cowed” and “proud”	Repetition of vowel sounds within words	Creates internal rhyme and enhances musicality.
Caesura	“Of course they’re ‘longing to go out again,’—”	A pause or break within a line of poetry	Creates a pause for emphasis and reflection.
Consonance	“shock” and “talk,” “nights” and “friends”	Repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words	Creates a sense of internal rhyme and reinforces meaning.
Diction	“stammering,” “disconnected,” “haunted,” “shattered”	Word choice	Creates a specific tone and atmosphere, conveys the psychological state of the soldiers.
Enjambment	“Have caused their stammering, disconnected talk. Of course they’re ‘longing to go out again,’—”	The continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line	Creates a sense of flow and urgency.
Imagery	“old, scared faces,” “dreams that drip with murder”	Vivid descriptions that appeal to the senses	Evokes emotions and creates a visual representation of the soldiers’ trauma.
Irony	“Of glorious war that shatter’d all their pride…”	The expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite	Highlights the devastating consequences of war and its ironic destruction of the soldiers’ pride.
Metaphor	“Children, with eyes that hate you, broken and mad”	A comparison without using like or as	Emphasizes the soldiers’ loss of innocence and their transformation into traumatized individuals.
Oxymoron	“glorious war”	A figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction	Highlights the paradoxical nature of war, which is often glorified despite its horrific consequences.
Paradox	“Men who went out to battle, grim and glad; Children, with eyes that hate you, broken and mad.”	A statement that seems contradictory but may actually be true	Emphasizes the complex and contradictory nature of the soldiers’ experiences.
Personification	“dreams that drip with murder”	Attributing human qualities to inanimate objects	Intensifies the horror of the soldiers’ dreams and their psychological trauma.
Repetition	“Of course they’re,” “They’ll soon forget their,” “Men who went out to battle,” “Children, with eyes that hate you”	Repeating words or phrases	Emphasizes key ideas and creates a sense of rhythm and structure.
Rhetorical Question	(Implied) “No doubt they’ll soon get well?”	A question asked merely for effect with no answer expected	Challenges the reader to consider the reality of the soldiers’ trauma.
Simile	“These boys with old, scared faces, learning to walk”	A comparison using “like” or “as”	Creates a vivid image of the soldiers’ vulnerability and their struggle to recover.
Symbolism	“old, scared faces,” “haunted nights,” “dreams that drip with murder”	The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities	Conveys the psychological scars of war and the soldiers’ enduring trauma.
Tone	Bitter, ironic, disillusioned	The author’s attitude toward the subject	Conveys Sassoon’s anger and frustration at the glorification of war and the neglect of its victims.

Themes: “Survivors” by Siegfried Sassoon

• Psychological Trauma of War: Siegfried Sassoon’s “Survivors” vividly illustrates the severe psychological trauma experienced by soldiers during and after the war. The poem opens with an ironic assurance that the soldiers will “soon get well,” yet this is belied by the stark imagery of “shock and strain” that have left them with “stammering, disconnected talk.” This portrayal of immediate mental distress is compounded by the haunting line, “Their dreams that drip with murder,” which suggests that the violent and horrific experiences of the battlefield relentlessly invade their subconscious, turning their sleep into a theater of nightmares. The poem thus captures the profound and lasting psychological impact of war, revealing a torment that goes beyond physical wounds.
• Loss of Innocence: Another prominent theme in “Survivors” is the loss of innocence among young soldiers. Sassoon poignantly describes these war-worn men as “boys with old, scared faces,” a powerful juxtaposition that underscores how the brutal realities of war have prematurely aged them. This imagery highlights their stolen youth and the fear etched onto their faces, belying their chronological age. By the end of the poem, these men are further diminished to “children, with eyes that hate you, broken and mad,” suggesting a tragic regression caused by their experiences. This line not only emphasizes their psychological breakdown but also reflects their deep-seated anger and disillusionment, painting a stark picture of lost innocence and enduring trauma.
• Irony and Disillusionment: Irony and disillusionment permeate “Survivors,” challenging the romanticized perceptions of war. Sassoon’s use of quotation marks around “longing to go out again” underscores his sarcastic disbelief that any soldier would desire to return to the battlefield. The bitter irony continues with the assertion that these soldiers will “soon forget their haunted nights,” as if such profound trauma could ever be so easily dismissed. Furthermore, the poem’s closing reflection on “glorious war that shatter’d all their pride” critiques the traditional notion of war as noble and heroic. Instead, Sassoon reveals a harsh reality where the soldiers’ experiences have obliterated any sense of pride, leaving them disillusioned and broken.
• Survivor’s Guilt and Haunting Memories: Sassoon delves deeply into the theme of survivor’s guilt and haunting memories in “Survivors.” The line “Their cowed subjection to the ghosts of friends who died” speaks to the persistent and oppressive guilt felt by the soldiers who survived while their comrades perished. This spectral imagery suggests that these ghosts are ever-present, embodying the soldiers’ guilt and helplessness. Additionally, “Their dreams that drip with murder” underscores the persistent and violent nature of their memories, indicating that the trauma of witnessing death and violence continues to torment them. These elements combine to portray a state of perpetual psychological distress, where the past is inescapable, and the memories of war remain ever vivid and haunting.

Literary Theories and “Survivors” by Siegfried Sassoon

Literary Theory	Application to “Survivors”	References and Critiques
Psychoanalytic Criticism	The poem can be interpreted as a representation of the psychological trauma experienced by soldiers. The “stammering, disconnected talk” and “haunted nights” point to symptoms of shellshock (now known as PTSD). The “dreams that drip with murder” suggest repressed guilt and violence.	References: Freud’s theories on trauma and the unconscious. Critique: A psychoanalytic reading may overlook the poem’s social and political dimensions.
Historical Criticism	The poem reflects the disillusionment and social upheaval following World War I. It challenges the glorification of war and highlights the physical and psychological damage inflicted on soldiers. The poem can be seen as a response to the pro-war propaganda prevalent at the time.	References: Historical context of World War I and its impact on society. Critique: A purely historical reading may neglect the poem’s aesthetic and emotional qualities.
Marxist Criticism	The poem can be interpreted as a critique of the exploitation of the working class by the ruling class. The soldiers, predominantly from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, are sent to fight and die in a war that serves the interests of the ruling elite. The poem highlights the inequality and injustice inherent in the capitalist system.	References: Marx’s theories on class struggle and exploitation. Critique: A Marxist reading may reduce the poem to a political statement and overlook its individual and psychological dimensions.

Critical Questions about “Survivors” by Siegfried Sassoon

• How does Sassoon use irony to convey his message about the effects of war?
• Sassoon employs irony throughout “Survivors” to underscore the devastating effects of war on soldiers, challenging any romanticized notions of warfare. The poem begins with the seemingly hopeful assertion, “No doubt they’ll soon get well; the shock and strain,” yet the ensuing description of “stammering, disconnected talk” starkly contrasts this optimistic statement, highlighting the severe and lasting psychological trauma inflicted by war. Additionally, the line “Of course they’re ‘longing to go out again,’” is steeped in sarcasm, as the true horror of their experiences is revealed through their “old, scared faces” and haunted dreams. This irony serves to criticize the notion that soldiers can easily recover and willingly return to battle, exposing the grim reality of their suffering and disillusionment.
• In what ways does Sassoon depict the loss of innocence among soldiers?
• The loss of innocence is a central theme in “Survivors,” depicted through vivid and poignant imagery. Sassoon describes the soldiers as “boys with old, scared faces,” a striking juxtaposition that conveys how the brutal realities of war have prematurely aged them and stripped them of their youth. This loss is further emphasized in the final lines, where the soldiers are referred to as “Children, with eyes that hate you, broken and mad,” highlighting their psychological breakdown and deep-seated anger. These descriptions reflect the profound transformation from innocent youth to damaged and disillusioned men, revealing the true cost of war on their mental and emotional well-being.
• How does Sassoon address the theme of survivor’s guilt in the poem?
• Survivor’s guilt is a poignant theme in “Survivors,” explored through the depiction of the soldiers’ haunted memories and psychological torment. The line “Their cowed subjection to the ghosts of friends who died” illustrates how the surviving soldiers are constantly haunted by the memories of their fallen comrades, feeling both guilt and helplessness. This spectral imagery suggests that these ghosts are ever-present, embodying the soldiers’ inability to escape the trauma of loss. Additionally, the description of “dreams that drip with murder” indicates that their nightmares are filled with violent images, further highlighting the persistent and tormenting nature of their guilt. Sassoon thus reveals the deep and lasting impact of survivor’s guilt on the soldiers’ psyches.
• What commentary does Sassoon provide on the glorification of war?
• Sassoon’s “Survivors” offers a stark commentary on the glorification of war, challenging the traditional narrative of war as noble and heroic. The line “Of glorious war that shatter’d all their pride” is particularly significant, as it juxtaposes the idea of war’s supposed glory with the reality of its destructive impact on the soldiers’ sense of self-worth. Instead of emerging as proud heroes, the soldiers are left broken and disillusioned, with their pride shattered by the brutal experiences they endured. This critique is further reinforced by the depiction of soldiers as “children” who are “broken and mad,” emphasizing the devastating psychological toll of war. Through this poem, Sassoon exposes the grim realities of warfare and denounces its idealization, highlighting the profound and lasting damage inflicted on those who survive it.

• “Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen: Similarity: Both poems use vivid and graphic imagery to convey the horrors of war and challenge the romanticized perception of military conflict. Owen’s depiction of a gas attack and its aftermath resonates with Sassoon’s portrayal of traumatized soldiers, highlighting the brutal reality faced by those on the front lines.
• “Anthem for Doomed Youth” by Wilfred Owen: Similarity: Owen’s poem, like Sassoon’s, reflects on the tragic fate of young soldiers, emphasizing the senseless loss and the absence of traditional mourning rites. Both poets use irony and poignant imagery to critique the glorification of war and to mourn the loss of innocent lives.
• “The Soldier” by Rupert Brooke: Similarity: While Brooke’s tone is more patriotic, the underlying theme of the impact of war on the individual connects with Sassoon’s work. Both poems provide contrasting perspectives on the notion of dying for one’s country, with Sassoon focusing on the grim reality and Brooke on the idealistic sacrifice.
• “Break of Day in the Trenches” by Isaac Rosenberg: Similarity: Rosenberg’s poem, like Sassoon’s, captures the daily horror and disillusionment of soldiers in the trenches during World War I. Both poems use stark imagery and a conversational tone to convey the grim reality of war and its dehumanizing effects on soldiers.
• “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae: Similarity: McCrae’s poem reflects on the aftermath of war and the memory of fallen soldiers, themes that resonate with Sassoon’s exploration of survivor’s guilt and the haunting memories of lost comrades. Both poems evoke a sense of mourning and remembrance, though McCrae’s carries a call to action while Sassoon’s is steeped in sorrow and disillusionment.

Suggested Readings: “Survivors” by Siegfried Sassoon

Representative Quotations of “Survivors” by Siegfried Sassoon

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Perspective
“No doubt they’ll soon get well; the shock and strain Have caused their stammering, disconnected talk.”	The poem opens with a cynical observation about the superficial expectation that soldiers will quickly recover from the trauma of war.	Psychoanalytic Criticism: This highlights the societal denial and repression of psychological trauma, reflecting Freud’s theories on the unconscious and defense mechanisms.
“Of course they’re ‘longing to go out again,’— These boys with old, scared faces, learning to walk.”	This ironic statement emphasizes the disconnect between the soldiers’ outward expressions of eagerness to return to battle and their inner turmoil and fear.	Historical Criticism: This reveals the pressure on soldiers to conform to societal expectations of heroism and masculinity in the context of World War I.
“They’ll soon forget their haunted nights; their cowed Subjection to the ghosts of friends who died,—”	This line suggests the impossibility of forgetting the horrors of war and the enduring trauma that haunts survivors.	Psychoanalytic Criticism: This points to the lasting impact of trauma on memory and the unconscious, aligning with Freud’s concept of the “repetition compulsion.”
“Their dreams that drip with murder; and they’ll be proud Of glorious war that shatter’d all their pride…”	This juxtaposition of gruesome dreams and misplaced pride exposes the paradoxical nature of war’s impact on the human psyche.	Marxist Criticism: This can be interpreted as a critique of the manipulation of soldiers’ pride by the ruling class to perpetuate war and maintain their power.
“Men who went out to battle, grim and glad; Children, with eyes that hate you, broken and mad.”	This stark contrast between the soldiers’ initial enthusiasm and their ultimate brokenness encapsulates the devastating consequences of war.	Psychoanalytic Criticism: This reflects the loss of innocence and the shattering of illusions, echoing Freud’s theories on disillusionment and the death drive.