Lawrence Binyon - "For the fallen" Options

[salesie]

I agree, Harry, that Binyon could not possibly have recognised his 4th stanza's greatness when writing it - my point being that it would not have stood out in his mind as much as it does in ours, otherwise he would not have hung any other stanzas on it, or he would at least have made it the last, or perhaps even the first, stanza. In my opinion, although he may have written these four lines first, he seems to have "demoted" them in his final layout.

Which, in my opinion, makes For The Fallen similar but different to the masterpiece of Owen's. This sounds a bit like an oxymoron so I'll try to explain.

Similar in that, as you so rightly point out, no poet or novelist or artist or sculptor etc. sets out with the sure-fire knowledge that they're about to create a masterpiece, they set out to express themselves in the best way they can. They feel a need to create and this need has many heads - from expressing an emotional, deeply personal, experience through a gambit of others needs right up to the need to earn a living (not all artists and writers have the privilege of being able to ply their "trade" for emotional satisfaction alone), and all artists, including Binyon and Owen, have this in common; they do their best and it is the recipient of their work, the viewer or the reader, who dictates the greatness of their work or not.

The differences:

1) Binyon, at the time, was an established and well-known poet, and, as Gwyn pointed out earlier, "was one of a group of professional writers and poets engaged by the government from September to write inspirational pieces to orchestrate the popular mood and mindset." Owen was not an established poet, he'd never had anything published and had been a private tutor to a family in Bordeaux 1913-15 before enlisting in the Artists Rifles.

3) Owen had little confidence in his work, and was mentored by Sassoon, whom he regarded with awe, when both convalesced from shell-shock at Craiglockhart Hospital - and, of course, Owen never lived to see any of his work published, let alone its literary merit. Binyon was a competent and confident writer, who lived to see the greatness of his four-line fourth stanza.

2) Binyon was fulfilling his role as an "agent" of the government when writing his early pieces, including For The Fallen, which were, as Gwyn also pointed out, pretty standard, rather mechanical, stuff for the day. Owen, on the other hand, wrote purely from deeply emotional (for him) personal experience.

4) Owen's work achieved some popularity when first published shortly after the war's end, but it was the 1960's, and the rise of the peace movements, that saw a great surge in popularity for Owen's poetry. And, it has to be said, that Owen's thoughts as expressed in his work, despite its literary merit, was never wholly representative of those who fought, and the 1960s surge in popularity reflected a modern political mood more than anything else, in line, of course, with the rise in popularity of the "Lions led by Donkeys brigade." Binyon's four immortal lines never really lost any of its popularity or impact, except for a small dip in interest in remembrance around the same time as the rise of Owen's work along with the "ee-aw Brigade's" influence.

To summarise, Harry.

Neither Binyon nor Owen had the sure-fire knowledge that their work would achieve great public acclaim when writing their pieces, but the differences do throw up another similarity; whatever the reason for the author putting pen to paper, whether writing from personal experience or simply fulfilling a role, greatness is always possible.

And, although like you I regard "Dulce et Decorum Est" as a masterpiece in expressing deep felt personal experience, I regard Binyon's four-line stanza as one of history's greatest works of art. Owen's work is famous for sure, but, in my opinion, Binyon's ever so simplistic four-lines transcend fame itself; they are not the feelings expressed by one man that many can sympathise with and/or use for political ends, Binyon's four-lines express the feelings of a whole nation, whether for or anti-war, those four-lines have gone beyond fame and entered deeply into our nation's culture and thus achieved immortality.


Cheers-salesie.

[Dragon]

I would like to know whether Binyon's memoirs or papers, or his biographer, cast any light on his thought processes when he wrote 'For The Fallen'.

[squirrel]

Have followed this thread with interest..........

While the lines from Binyon's fourth stanza "have gone beyond fame and entered deeply into our nation's culture and thus achieved immortality" , as Salesie so rightly and eloquently says, I personally much admire the last stanza except for the awful wording at the start of the third line.

[Beau Geste]

[quote name='salesie' date='Nov 5 2009, 05:42 PM' post='1298734']


Hello Salesie

1) Binyon, at the time, was an established and well-known poet, and, as Gwyn pointed out earlier, [i]"was one of a group of professional writers and poets engaged by the government from September to write inspirational pieces to orchestrate the popular mood and mindset." Owen was not an established poet, he'd never had anything published and had been a private tutor to a family in Bordeaux 1913-15 before enlisting in the Artists Rifles.


Yes, they were different in that respect. Owen's greatness developed later and much more slowly. It was as if his talent lay deeply hidden even from himself and only emerged after what appears to have been a great deal of effort on his part. You mention, in your excellent analysis, his period with Sassoon at Craiglockhart where he sought out "the great man" and made it very obvious that he was seeking guidance as well as approval. I've always thought it interesting that having learnt from the master he went on to eclipse him with some of the finest war poetry ever written.

Not only did Owen lack "confidence in his work" he appeared to lack confidence in just about everything he did. Perhaps that had something to do with the nature of his close relationship with his mother or, more likely, his sexual orientation. Self doubt stayed with him throughout his life and he always seemed to be striving to prove himself and to achieve the acceptance of others no matter what he did.

2) Owen never lived to see any of his work published, let alone its literary merit. Binyon was a competent and confident writer, who lived to see the greatness of his four-line fourth stanza.

Yes, it was a great pity that Owen died at Ors before he had realised that he had achieved something great, something that, in my opinion anyway, no other war poet came near to achieving. We've mentioned "Dulce et Decorum Est" but his "Anthem For Doomed Youth", "The Sentry" and others deserved the recognition they received and continue to receive today.

I have just glanced through the book "First World War Poems" chosen by the then Poet Laureat Andrew Motion and published in 2003. It was interesting to see that thirteen of Owen's poems are included and none by Laurence Binyon. I know that it was one man's choice but Owen's popularity today is enormous and seems to be growing.

3) It has to be said, that Owen's thoughts as expressed in his work was never wholly representative of those who fought.

I agree completely. Both Sassoon and Owen worked to their own agenda and, as you say, it never matched the attitudes and feelings of many of those who fought in The great War. You mention the sixties. What about today with the growing public reaction against the war in Afghanistan. Perhaps Owen's time is coming around again.

4) greatness is always possible.

Theoretically yes, but few will ever get even near achieving it. Binyon did so with his 4th stanza from "For the Fallen", Owen did the same in the shape of several of his completed war poems. If there's a major difference, that surely is it. Dare I say that it's almost as if Binyon stumbled on greatness while Owen refined his talents and produced art of the highest order.

5) In my opinion, Binyon's ever so simplistic four-lines transcend fame itself; they are not the feelings expressed by one man that many can sympathise with and/or use for political ends, Binyon's four-lines express the feelings of a whole nation, whether for or anti-war, those four-lines have gone beyond fame and entered deeply into our nation's culture and thus achieved immortality.

Beautifully expressed and I hope I don't appear to be contradicting what I've said in 4 above when I say I agree completely and those will be the thoughts in my mind when I recite the 4th stanza on Sunday at the village Remembrance Service.


Best wishes,

Harry