The poem by John Peter vividly portrays the horrors of war, depicting destruction, suffering, and loss. It highlights the helplessness of victims and the cruelty of aggressors. Despite the devastation, the poem ends on a hopeful note, emphasizing resilience and the potential for greatness to emerge from ashes. In this article, we will help you write the Explanation of the poem with Quotations.
Quotations for the Poem “A Tale of Two Cities”
Following are the quotations that you can use in the explanation of the poem, “A Tale of Two Cities”
- “War does not determine who is right – only who is left.” – Bertrand Russell
- “The first casualty of war is innocence.” – Rudyard Kipling
- “In war, there are no unwounded soldiers.” – José Narosky
- “Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind.” – John F. Kennedy
- “War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.” – George Orwell
- “Only the dead have seen the end of war.” – Plato
- “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, if the women don’t get you, the whiskey must.” – Proverb
- “The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all.” – Walt Disney (Mulan)
- “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” – Khalil Gibran
- “What does not kill us makes us stronger.” – Friedrich Nietzsche
Explanation of the Poem with Quotations
The poem by John Peter describes the devastation caused by war, where everything is destroyed, and people are left helpless. It criticizes the aggressors for their cruelty and disregard for human rights. Despite the destruction, it conveys hope, emphasizing that greatness can rise from the ashes of suffering.
First Stanza Explanation
In the storms of the shrills
Of arms, smoke, and the drills
All were scarred, burnt, and afraid
Powerless and helpless were they made.
These lines portray the destruction and fear caused by war. The mention of “storms of the shrills” refers to the loud sounds of weapons and cries of suffering. Smoke and drills symbolize gunfire, bombings, and military actions. The people are deeply affected, both physically and emotionally, as they are left wounded and terrified by the violence surrounding them.
“In war, there are no unwounded soldiers.” – José Narosky
This stanza also highlights the helplessness of the victims. They have no control over their fate as war destroys everything around them. It shows how war reduces people to a state of fear and weakness, leaving them powerless in the face of destruction.
“The first casualty of war is innocence.” – Rudyard Kipling
Second Stanza Explanation
Woeful were all the hills
Wasteful were all the grills
None to share their moans
None to lessen their groans.
These lines describe the aftermath of war, showing how destruction has left everything lifeless. The “woeful hills” suggest that even nature seems to mourn the devastation. The phrase “wasteful were all the grills” implies that resources, homes, and lives have been destroyed, leaving behind nothing but ruins. The suffering of the victims is intensified as they are left alone in their pain, with no one to console them.
“WAR LEAVES EVERYTHING BROKEN—BODIES, HEARTS, AND HOMES.” – UNKNOWN
The stanza also emphasizes loneliness and grief. The words “none to share their moans” and “none to lessen their groans” show that the victims are abandoned in their suffering. Their cries for help go unheard, highlighting the cruelty of war.
“WAR DOES NOT DETERMINE WHO IS RIGHT – ONLY WHO IS LEFT.” – BERTRAND RUSSELL
Third Stanza Explanation:
The flowers, flavours all smashed
Burnt, crushed, and all dashed
And all passed through the grind
Leaving there nothing behind.
This stanza portrays the complete destruction caused by war, where even the beauty of nature is obliterated. The imagery of “flowers, flavours all smashed” signifies how life and its pleasures are destroyed. The words “burnt, crushed, and all dashed” emphasize the severity of the devastation, leaving nothing behind. The phrase “nothing behind” suggests that war leaves emptiness, erasing all that was once vibrant and full of life.
“ONLY THE DEAD HAVE SEEN THE END OF WAR.” – PLATO
It also reflects the loss of everything meaningful. War doesn’t just destroy physical objects; it wipes out joy, beauty, and hope. The line “all passed through the grind” signifies that nothing escapes the harsh and relentless force of destruction. War leaves nothing but a void, a reminder of the devastation.
“THE WOUNDS OF WAR CANNOT BE HEALED WITHIN A GENERATION.” – UNKNOWN
Fourth Stanza Explanation:
No eye could look
The explosion that took
The lives of two glories
In the moments of furies.
This stanza highlights the tragic loss of life during wartime, where an explosion takes the lives of two important figures. The line “No eye could look” suggests the horror and shock of witnessing such an event, where even the strongest are left speechless. The phrase “the lives of two glories” signifies the loss of individuals who may have been noble or influential, further emphasizing the profound impact of the tragedy.
“MANKIND MUST PUT AN END TO WAR BEFORE WAR PUTS AN END TO MANKIND.” – JOHN F. KENNEDY
The stanza also shows the chaos and fury of war, where lives are taken in an instant. “Moments of furies” conveys the swift and uncontrollable nature of the destruction, leaving no time for reflection or understanding. The suddenness of the loss demonstrates how war takes lives without mercy, leaving only sorrow in its wake.
“ONLY THE DEAD HAVE SEEN THE END OF WAR.” – PLATO
Fifth Stanza Explanation:
All was done by a nation
Who in her wild passion
Cared not for the human rights
Nor saved them from deadly fights.
This stanza criticizes the aggressor nation responsible for the destruction. The phrase “a nation who in her wild passion” suggests that the nation acted recklessly, driven by uncontrolled emotion or desire. The lack of concern for human rights is highlighted by “Cared not for the human rights,” showing that the violence was perpetrated without regard for the suffering of innocent people. The line “Nor saved them from deadly fights” reveals the nation’s role in exacerbating the conflict, leaving people vulnerable to the horrors of war.
“THE GREATEST VICTIM OF WAR IS HUMANITY ITSELF.” – UNKNOWN
The stanza emphasizes the moral failure of the aggressor nation, suggesting that their actions were not driven by necessity, but by unchecked passion and power. This disregard for human life and rights further deepens the tragedy, as war is waged with no consideration for the innocent lives lost.
“IN WAR, THERE ARE NO WINNERS, ONLY SURVIVORS.” – UNKNOWN
Sixth Stanza Explanation:
But how much great were they
Who bore the pains of black day:
“Ashes are not merely the waste
They can really create the great.”
The final stanza reflects on the resilience of those who endured the horrors of war. Despite the suffering, the poem acknowledges that those who survived the devastation possess strength and greatness. The line “But how much great were they / Who bore the pains of black day” suggests that the true heroes are those who lived through these dark moments, showing courage in the face of adversity.
“OUT OF SUFFERING HAVE EMERGED THE STRONGEST SOULS; THE MOST MASSIVE CHARACTERS ARE SEARED WITH SCARS.” – KHALIL GIBRAN
The stanza concludes with a message of hope. “Ashes are not merely the waste / They can really create the great” suggests that from destruction, new growth and strength can emerge. It emphasizes that even after the most horrific experiences, there is the potential for greatness to rise, much like a phoenix from the ashes.
“WHAT DOES NOT KILL US MAKES US STRONGER.” – FRIEDRICH NIETZSCHE
Text of the Poem
In the storms of the shrills
Of arms, smoke and the drills
All were scarred, burnt and afraid
Powerless and helpless were they made.
Woeful were all the hills
Wasteful were all the grills
None to share their moans
None to lessen their groans.
The flowers, flavours all smashed
Burnt, crushed and all dashed
And all passed through the grind
Leaving there nothing behind.
No eye could look
The explosion that took
The lives oftwo glories
In the moments of furies.
All was done by a nation
Who in her wild passion
Cared not for the human rights
Nor saved them from deadly fights.
But how much great were they
Who bore the pains ofblack day:
“Ashes are not merely the waste
They can really create the great.”
Theme of the Poem “A Tale of two Cities”
The people of the two cities of Japan passed through the most cruel period of their
lives when the atomic bombs burst, and destroyed the glory oftheir culture and civilization.
They suffered all the pains and pangs patiently and boldly,and did not lose heart. They, with their great will and determination, again rose to the heights as an economic power from the ashes.
