After Blenheim Summary by Robert Southey.

The poem depicts the famous battle of Blenheim which was fought in Blenheim, a small village in Bavaria. It badly criticises the blind patriotism and false feelings of proud and glory which provoke to wage the fierceful battle at the cost of death and destruction. It moralises that the English, under the command of the Duke of Marlborough achieved a grand victory, but in true sense it was not a great and grand victory, it was a huge destruction of humanity. The war brought only death and destruction on great scale.

The poem begins with the serene and peaceful scene of a summer evening. The old man Kaspar, after finishing his day’s work, was sitting in front of his cottage. His little granddaughter was playing beside him on the green grass. As the little girl was playing, she saw her brother Peterkin rolling something large smooth and round. Peterkin had discovered this thing beside the river. Peterkin seemed to be very curious to know about the discovered thing. As he was innocent, he could not know what it was. Hence he took it to his grandfather who was peacefully observing his surroundings.

Peterkin showed the thing to his grandfather. The old man took that round thing from the boy who was left in anticipation. After making a brief look at it, he found it to be a skull of some person who must have died in the battle fought at Blenheim. The old man called the battle ‘a great victory’. He added that the Battle of Blenheim led to death of thousands of soliders whose corpses were lying deep scattered in the field. Further, Kaspar related how he had found many such objects while ploughing the field. He again referred to the battle as a great victory. The ‘great victory’ refers to the triumph in the battle. Kaspar believed that the soldiers sacrificed their life for the country and did not die in vain. Their death served the purpose of victory in the battle.

When the little children heard about the fierceness of the battle, they became somewhat restless and seemed to be very eager to know more about this battle. For them the battle seemed to bring thrill and excitement along with certain amazement. Little Wilhelmine was curious to know about the war and the reason behind it that it reflected in her eyes gleaming for a wonder to unfold.

Seeing the great curiosity of the children to know the answer of their questions, the old man was somewhat puzzled and tried to satisfy their curiosity by saying that he only knew that the English defeated the French badly. Actually the old man did not know the reason behind the war, nor did he try to find it. He remembered what he had heard from the people. He only repeated what the people generally said that it was glorious victory. It was clear that the response of the old man was only conventional and not his own.

Continuing to speak, the old man recalls some of the sights of the war. He begins by remembering his father who lived in a small village of Blenheim near a river. The French wrecked havoc in the village and burnt homes of several innocent people to the ground. As a result, the villagers were forced to migrate in search of shelter. The young Kaspar along with his parents fled to a different place but could not find a home because of the impending war. They had to walk around to get a place to relax.

The war caused widespread ruin and destruction in every part of the country. A large number of men, women and children were killed in this huge destruction. Ironically, Kaspar, stated that such things often take place at every battle where there is great victory. Those who had witnessed the aftermath of the war would say that it was a shocking sight at the battlefield where thousands of dead bodies lay rotting in the sun. But, such things, according to old Kaspar often take place when a glorious victory welcomes.

However, the people praised the Duke of Marlborough and the Prince Eugene for having a grand victory. But the little girl Wilhelmine could not stop herself without saying that the war was nothing but a wicked thing. She also wondered how her grandfather could sing praises of such a bloody war. Again, Kaspar quotes that it was a ‘famous victory’. It is obvious that the oldman is hiding all the destruction and agony caused by the war by repeating these two words. He seems to be afraid of breaking the romantic ideals of war so carefully brought up in his mind.

Clinging to the words that victory is always praised whereas the defeat is condemned, many people praised the Duke for having won the war and Kaspar recalls this with some delight. Peterkin then anticipated on the very purpose of war and what it led to. But the old man did not have any answers to such questions. All he knew was that it was a famous victory.

The Cold Within Poem Summary Introduction

The poem entitled After Blenheim by Robert Southey is an antiwar poem that centres around one of the major battles of eighteenth century-the Battle of Blenheim. The poem was written in 1796 in the form of a ballad. It offers deep insights on war and its consquences. The Battle of Blenheim which was fought in 1704 in Blenheim between the English and the Austrians on the one side and the French on the other side. The battle resulted in a grand victory of the English under the Duke of Marlborough. In this fierceful battle, a large number of people were killed. It brought a great destruction.

Through the conversation between an old farmer, Kaspar and his grand children, Wilhelmine and Peterkin, the poet gradually reveals the scene of a farmer battlefield. One of the kids has found something ‘large and round’ which his grandfather explains is a skull, one of many to be found nearby. Similar instances run through the poem to support the main ideas-tragic end of war and the vulnerability of human life. The poem makes us ponder on the purpose and result of a war and even questions its validity.

The war caused huge devastation and thousands of casualties. But old Kaspar seems to have an unconcerned attitude, towards this as he claims that ‘it was a famous victory’ and ‘things like that must be’. His gruesome descriptions, followed by his casual sayings create an affect of irony. It is ironic that it was a great war but no one knows why.

The Cold Within Summary Stanzawise Word-Meanings, Paraphrase and Explanation

1. It was a…………………….Wilhelmine.
Word-meanings : Was done = was finished, was completed. Before = infront of. By him = near him. Sported = was playing. On the green = in the field full of green grass. Sported = was playing. On the green = in the field full of green grass.

Paraphrase : It was a serene and peaceful evening of summer. An old man named Kaspar who was a farmer by profession was sitting infront of the door of his cottage in the mild rays of the setting sun. He seemed to be tired after day’s work, so he was having relax in a peaceful atmosphere. His grand children were playing. His grand daughter Wilhelmine was playing in the field of green grass. She was playing near the old man, Kaspar. His grandson Peterkin was playing by the stream.

Reference to Context : These lines making the background of the conversation between the old man Kaspar and his grandchildren, have been extracted from the poem After Blenheim, written by Robert Southey.
Here the poet describes the scene of the summer evening and introduces an old man who was having rest in such a peaceful atmosphere of evening after day’s work.

Explanation : The poet begins by picturising a vivid scene of a summer evening. It is the time when most people return from work, especially the farmers return to their houses from their farms or fields after their day’s work. Due to working in their fields throughout the day (from morining till evening), the farmers are badly tired and want to relax themselves in peaceful atmosphere of evening. An old man named Kaspar who was a farmer returned from his field after day’s tiring work, wanted to have some rest. He was sitting before the door of his cottage and was enjoying the mild and gentle rays of the setting sun. His little granddaughter Wilhelmine was playing near him in the green lawn.

Critical Comments :

  1. The situation described here is commonplace, familiar. Nothing is spectacular.
  2. The poet has used an imagery of summer evening which is full of serenity but there is little tinge of gloominess.
  3. Kaspar has been presented as a representation of the ordinary common people who believe in the claims of authority.

2. She saw…………………….and round.
Word-meanings : Beside = near. Rivulet = small river. In…………found = while playing Peterkin discovered something round in shape. He……………found = Peterkin brought the thing to his grandfather in order to satisfy his curiosity about that strange thing.

Paraphrase : As Wilhelmine was playing, she saw her brother rolling something large, smooth and round which he had found beside the river while playing there. Peterkin had never seen such thing, so he seemed to be curious to know about that thing. His extreme curiosity brought him back to home with that thing. In order to satisfy his curiosity, he wanted to ask his grandfather about that thing.

Reference to the Context : These lines showing the signs left by the fierceful battle which was fought near the village of Blenheim so many years ago, have been extracted from the poem entitled After Blenheim, written by Robert Southey.

Here the poet clearly indicates that the wars are true epitome of devastation. The wars bring nothing except utter destruction. At the cost of glorious victory, thousands of people are killed and besides it there is a great loss of property. The damage done by the war cannot be fulfilled even after so many years. The same thing takes place in the battle which was fought near the village of Blenheim between the English and the French. The fierceness of the battle could be known from the fact that even today after so many years, the remains of war were found. The little boy also found the skull while playing near the small river.

Explanation : The old man named Kaspar seemed to be much tired, after the day’s work of farming as he was getting relax in the mild rays of the setting sun sitting before the door of his cottage. His grand children were enjoying their games. His granddaughter Wilhelmine was playing in the green grass of lawn while his grandson was playing a little far near the small stream. In mean¬while, Wilhelmine saw her brother rolling something large, smooth and round. She could not know what it was. Peterkin found this thing beside the river. As he had never seen such strange thing before, he seemed to be very curious to know about it. He wanted to ask about this thing, so he brought it to his grandfather.

Critical Comments :

  1. Here the poet indicates that children are curious by nature, hence they want to know about that everything which is strange and unknown to them.
  2. Actually the thing which the little boy found was the skull of a dead man that clearly depicts the devastation brought by the war fought between the English and the French.
  3. These lines show how a war leaves the marks of waste.
  4. The poet describes the terrible massacre in the war. There was considerable stereotype of corpses in the war.

3. Old Kaspar……………the great victory.
Word-meanings : Expectant = expecting some satisfactory reply from the old man. Shook his head = shook his head as if remembered some sorrowful event. Natural sigh = exhaling noisily when one is reminded of some woeful thing. Poor fellow’s skull = the skull of a soldier who had died in the war. Great victory = grand or glorious victory. It refers to the battle in which the English defeated the French.

Paraphrase : The old man who was having rest in peaceful atmosphere of evening, saw that his grandson was coming to him with something round in shape. The little boy stood before the old man and asked him about the thing which he was holding in his hand. The old man took the thing from the little boy and began to observe it minutely. When the old man was observing the thing, the little boy stood aside expecting some reply from his grandfather as the little boy seemed to be very curious to know about it.

After seeing the thing from every angle, he shook his head in the ways as if he was reminded of some sorrowful and heart-moving incident. Inhaling his breath heavily and noisily as if he recalled some bitter experience, he told the little boy that this skull belonged to a soldier who had died in the Battle of Blenheim. In other words, the soldier had become the prey of the great victory. He called the battle of Blenheim, a great vicotry. Being a Bavarian who sided with the English, he was proud of the victory won by the English.

Reference to the Context : These lines showing the curious nature of the children who always seem to be eager to know about the strange things, have been extracted from the poem entitled After Blenheim, written by Robert Southey.

Here the poet describes the curiosity of the little boy who wanted to know about the thing which he found near the small stream. The poet also shows the conventional attitude of the old man Kaspar who clings to patriotism and heroism.

Explanation : The old man’s grandson Peterkin brought the thing which he discovered near the stream, to him so that he could satisfy his curiosity by knowing about the thing from his grandfather. The old man took that thing from the boy and began to examine it. The boy stood aside near the old man and was under hope of a reply from his grandfather. Wilhelmine also came to the old man. Now both the children were curious to know about that thing. After taking a brief look at it, the old man shook his head with a sigh and found it to be a skull of some innocent soldier who had died in the war in the Battle of Blenheim. The old man called the battle a great victory. As he was a Bavarian, he took side of the English. He felt proud of the victory won by the English.

Critical Comments :

  1. Here the poet describes a scene several years later after the battle was fought here.
  2. Here we come to know cruelty and barbarism of the war as the innocent people and soldiers were killed mercilessly and their corpses were left without being buried.
  3. The old generation sees the war with the conventional attitude.
  4. Though the old man expresses his sorrow while observing the skull and calls it ‘poor fellow’s skull’, he clings to old belief of heroism.

4. I find ……………great victory.
Word-meanings : In the garden = in the field where different kinds of crops are grown. I garden = he had often found such skulls in his field. There’s about = a large number of skulls are buried in the ground here and there. To plough = to prepare and use land for growing plants for food. The ploughshare = the sharp and pointed edge of the plough that cuts the soil. Were slain = were killed. The great victory = glorious victory.

Paraphrase: The old man Kaspar was still holding the skull and continued saying that such skulls and many other things related to battle were lying buried in the field. The number of these things were so many that they were often found. As the battle of Blenheim led to death of thousands of soldiers, a large number of corpses lay deep scattered in the field. While ploughing the field or land, the skulls often came out with the blade of his plough. While making conversation with his grandchildren about the battle, he told them that the battle in which thousands men were killed was known for its glorious victory. Kaspar believed that the soldiers sacrificed their lives for the country and did not die in vain. Their death served the purpose of victory in the battle.

Reference to the Context: These lines showing the devastating nature of the war and old people’s belief in patriotism and heroism, have been extracted from the poem entitled After Blenheim, written by Robert Southey.
Here the poet points out that the war is the worst form of human behaviour. It brings nothing except great devastation and massacre. The skull Peterkin finds, as well as those that Kaspar regularly unearths while ploughing, are mute testimony to the truth of this observation.

Explanation : The old man Kaspar after observing the skull closely, declared with sorrowful feeling that the skull belonged to some innocent soldier who had become the prey of the glorious victory which the English achieved over the French. He told the children that the battle of Blenheim led to the death of thousands of soldiers whose corpses lay deep scattered in the field. Those who died in the battle whether they were soldiers or common citizens could not be buried with proper rituals. Their corpses were left unclaimed. After so many years of the battle, whenever he ploughed his field, many skulls were dug out of the earth. He again referred to the battle as a ‘great victory’, as he considered it something natural and to be proud of.

Critical Comments :

  1. The ‘great victory’ refers to the triumph in the battle which also happens to be an example of sheer patriotism.
  2. Even after so many deaths in the battle, the old man glorifies the war by calling it great victory. Under the great impact of conventional belief, he ignores the destructive nature of the war.
  3. The old men like Kaspar are deeply rooted with the conventional belief of patriotism which means to lay down one’s life for the service of the country without knowing the purpose.

5. Now tell us…………………….other for.
Word-meanings : What………..about = the children felt restless to know more about the battle. With………..eyes = with keen eyes. Now………..war = the children were curious to know more about the war. And what………..for = they seemed to be highly interested in knowing the purpose of fighting the war.

Paraphrase : Both the little children were near the old man and were hearing about the fierceful battle which was fought between the English and French. In this battle a large number of people were killed. It brought a great destruction and massacre. In this battle the English got victory over the French. Hearing about the battle, the children were restless to know more about the battle which the old man called a great victory of the English over the French. For the children, the battle seemed to bring thrill and excitement along with certain amazement.

The little Peterkin got anxious to know all about the incident. He asked the grandfather to tell him the purpose of the war, while little Wilhelmine looked up at her grandfather with anticipation. She also seemed to be so curious to know about the war and the reason behind it that it reflected in her eyes gleaming for a wonder to unfold.

Reference to the context: These lines presenting great difference between the view points of the old and the new generation, have been extracted from the poem entitled After Blenheim, written by Robert Southey.

The little children want to know the purpose and importance of waging the war and making a huge devastation through the war, but the old man remains failure to tell them the cause of waging the war.

Explanation : As the old man told the little children that in the Battle of Blenheim thousands of people were killed at the cost of great victory, the children seemed to curious to know more about the battle. The description of the battle thrilled and excited them along with certain amazement. Peterkin wanted to know further and therefore he asked his grandfather to tell what the war was all about.

Wilhelmine also looked up with keen eyes. They wanted to know who fought whom and for what purpose. But as the old man had been glorifying the war by saying that it was a great victory and he firmly believed in patriotism and herosim, he could give no answer to the little children.

Critical Comments :

  1. The poet reflects upon the zeal and enthusiasm associated with young age. The ability to question things is a peculiar quality of kids which fades away with growing age.
  2. By using a simple response of two innocent children to the war, the poet evokes pity for the victims and hatred for the war.

6. It was the English…………………. victory.
Word-meanings : Put to rout = defeated completely; brought a complete destruction for the French. I out = Kaspar was unable to figure out the reason of fighting the war. Quoth = said (an archaic word).

Paraphrase : Actually, Kaspar knew nothing about the war why it was fought. He collected the information about the war from the history books and the people. He only knew that a fierce battle took place between the English and French and the English defeated the French. He also knew that this war brought a great destruction and large number of people were killed in the battle. There was also a great loss of the property. Kaspar tried to answer the questions posed by his grandchildren by telling them this piece of information. He had nothing to say more for satisfying the curiosity of his grand children. Because of being wholly unaware of the purpose of war, he seemed to be firm on his words that the people said that it was a famous victory. It was clear from the response of the old man that he had a conventional attitude towards the war.

Reference to the Context : These lines depicting the old man’s conventional belief in heroism and patriotism, have been extracted from the poem entitled After Blenheim, written by Robert Southey.

Here the poet tells us that the old men like Kaspar have the conventional thoughts about the war. They, keeping the humanity aside and forgetting the destruction caused by the war, think that the war is fought for showing patriotism, courage and bravery for the country. They fail to tell the appropriate cause of fighting the war. The old man Kaspar who is inspired by the same thoughts finds himself unable to tell the children the real purpose of the war.

Explanation : When the little children seemed to be very curious to know about the purpose of war, Kaspar had no way to persuade them by telling them the real purpose of the war. He told the children that it was said by the history books and the people that the English defeated the French in the Battle of Blenheim. But he was entirely unaware of the fact why they fought and which thing forced them to wage a fierce battle. The old man never tried to know the reason and purpose behind the war. He seemed to be highly influenced with the glorious victory of the English over the French. He told the children that everyone was of the opinion that it was a famous victory ever won by the English.

Critical Comments :

  1. The old men like Kaspar, due to having conventional belief in patriotism and heroism, suppress other factors caused by the war.
  2. War is oftenly related to patriotism, courage and bravery.
  3. It is really ironical that the poem glorifies the outcome of the war in the form of famous victory.

7. My father lived ……….. his head.
Word-meanings: Yon = there; pointing to that side, beyond. Little stream = small river. Hard by = very near. Dwelling = residence; living place; house, cottage. Forced to fly = made to flee away from there. Fled = ran away. Nor head = he could find no place to take shelter.

Paraphrase : While narrating the story related to the fierce battle, he recollected from the past, some of the scenarios of the war. He began by remembering his father who lived in a small village of Blenheim near a river. He told the children that the soldiers wrecked havoc in the village and burnt homes of several innocent people to the ground. Consequently, the villagers were forced to migrate in search of shelter. His father’s house was one of those burnt houses. His father with his wife and child (Kaspar) had been wandering at different places for seeking shelter, but unfortunately, they could find no place because of the impending war.

Reference to the Context : These lines presenting the sight of the barbarism caused by the war, have been extracted from the poem entitled After Blenheim, written by Robert Southey.
The old man is ready to accept the devastation brought by the war, but he has resigned himself to the fate that such things are the part of the war.

Explanation : The old man knew the devastating consequences of the war, yet he everytime, glorified the victory of the English over the French. He told his grand children that his family also became a victim of the wreck of the war. He recalls the moments when he was only a little boy and lived with his parents in a small village of Blenheim near a river. The French wrecked havoc in the village and burnt homes of several innocent people. Consequently, the villagers were forced to migrate in search for shelter. The young Kaspar along with his parents fled to a different place but could not get a home because of the impending war. They had to roam from one place to another seeking rest.

Critical Comments :

  1. Battles usually celebrate war heroes and also celebrate conquering of one country by another, but in most cases the sufferings and deaths of common people due to the wars are forgotten.
  2. The adult’s perception of war, as represented by Old Kaspar in the poem, of accepting the ruling or winning party’s description of war as a famous victory is questioned and challenged.

8. With fire……………………………famous victory.
Word-meanings : Fire and sword = these words symbolise destruction, death and horror. Wasted far and wide = there was great destruction and devastation all around. Childing mothers – the pregnant women. New died = the sucking babes had become the easy prey of the battle. But things like that = such horrible and heart-rending incidents often take place at every battle.

Paraphrase : Kaspar continued to narrate the fierceness and severity of battle. He told his grand children that the devastating war created waste everywhere. Vandalism of war was intimidating the heart. Seeing the vandalism of this war, it seemed that humanity had completely disappeared from the world. There was an empire of cruelty and barbarism all around. Innocent people were being killed unnecessarily Many expectant mothers and new-born children died in the battle. Whether Kaspar believed it or not, he had resigned to the inevitability of death. That’s why he took those killings casually and thought that such things take place at every battle where there is great victory.

Reference to the Context: These lines depicting cruelty and severity of
battle, have been extracted from the poem entitled After Blenheim, written by Robert Southey.

Here the poet tells us about the destruction which was brought by the fierceful battle. In this fierce battle, many innocent people were killed unnecessarily. Indeed it is an ironical thing that inspite of being aware of the fact that war brings nothing except destruction, it is glorified. Here the old man tells his grandchildren how the war became the cause of death for the innocent people.

Explanation : The old man Kaspar narrates to his grandchildren the fierceness of the battle which brought only destruction all around. Fire and sword destroyed everything. The people were running away to save their lives. The war could have killed them ever. Participants in war did not even have compassion for mothers and children. They also treated ruthlessly with mothers and children. Many pregnant mothers and new born children were curelly killed in the battle. But inspite of knowing all this, the old man still gorified the war saying that such things are the part of the war which is fought for a glorious victory. Indeed the old man’s remark is unfortunate and ridiculous.

Critical Comments :

  1. ‘Fire’ and ‘sword’ are symbols of man’s cruelty for man. They represent destruction, death and horror.
  2. “Wasted’ is an emotionally charged word. It conjures an image of a land raped of any use, purpose and dignity. It shows both the futility of war and its power to destroy.
  3. The image of mother and baby killed in war here makes us to see battle as catastrophic of both present and future. It powerfully evokes the death of innocence.
  4. ‘Famous victory’ is intentionally repeated by the poet to create a sense of irony.

9. They say ……………………………a famous victory.
Word-meanings : They = those who had witnessed this huge destruction in the battle. Shocking sight = the scene that disturbed the heart. After won = after being conquered the battle by the English. For many sun = thousands of corpses were lying scattered around and were decaying in the sunlight. But things victory = but in any spectacular and grand victory, such things can be seen.

Paraphrase : It was reported by those people who had seen this great destruction in the war of Blenheim that the sight of the war was greatly heart- moving. The destruction made by the war was really beyond imagination. When the war was over and the English won a glorious victory over the French, the post-war scene was distracting the heart. After the war, a large number of corpses could be seen lying scattered here and there. The corpses could be seen decaying in the sun light. But when a glorious victory is achieved, such things in war are very common.

Reference to the Context : These lines depicting the terrible scene of
the post war, have been extracted from the poem entitled After Blenheim, written by Robert Southey.

Here the poet describes the heart-rending sight after the battle was won by the English. Such scene could distract anyone’s heart. The fierceness of the battle proved that the war brings nothing except destruction.

Explanation : The old man continued to narrate the children the havoc created by the war fought between the English and the French. In this war, the English got a glorious victory over the French. When the war was over, thousands of dead bodies of soliders lay rotting in the field. There was none to care those corpses. All the corpses were unclaimed. This scene was giving testimony of
man’s cruelty. It seemed as if the feelings of humanity had gone from this world for ever. The old man again remarked that such things must happen in the war, at every famous victory.

Critical Comments :

  1. There are some sound effects in this stanza helped by the assonance of ‘shocking’ and ‘rotting’ and the alliteration in the first line.
  2. The scene of ‘rotting reduces dead men to carrion. An emotive, vivid word, it shows how war not only takes away life but also dignity and humanity.

10. Great praise …………………………… famous victory.
Word-meanings: The Duke of Marlbro’ = English General; Commander of British forces in the war. Great ………..won = the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene won great praise for glorious victory in the war. ’twas……….. thing = the war was the most wicked and sinful thing. Nay ……….. nay = no-no. Quoth = said.

Paraphrase : The Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene representing Britain won the battle which lasted for days. Here Kaspar praises the Duke and the Prince for having defeated the French and bringing glories to the nation. A confused Wilhelmine exclamined that it (war) was a wicked thing and wondered how her grandfather could sing praises of such a bloody war. Again Kaspar quoted that it was a ‘famous victory’. It is obvious that the old man is hiding all the destruction and agony caused by the war by repeating these two words. He seems to be afraid of breaking the romantic ideals of war so carefully brought up in his mind.

Reference to the Context : These lines showing the children’s condemnation of war, have been extracted from the poem entitled After Blenheim, written by Robert Southey.

Here the poet tells us that the old men like Kaspar have no fresh thinking over almost anything. They are conventional and undaring. They are mostly guided by blind patriotism. On the other hand, the children’s responses to all things are simple, innocent and instinctive. The children do not understand how their old grandfather could praise the war which was totally purposeless.

Explanation : As the old man was extremely inspired by the thoughts of patriotism, heroism and bravery, he again glorified the war by saying that ultimately a grand victory welcomed the Duke of Marlborough and the Prince Eugene. Both the heroes were garlanded with glorious victory. They showed true patriotism for their nation. When the old man was singing praises of such a bloody war, the little girl Wilhelmine was somewhat puzzled and confused. She exclaimed that war was a wicked thing and wondered how her grandfather could sing praises of such a bloody war. The old man replied in negative to Wilhelmine by saying that it was famous victory. It was clear that the old man, inspite of being aware of all the destruction and agony caused by the war, was giving importance to his romantic ideals of war which he had nourished in his mind so carefully for long.

Critical Comments :

  1. The poet uses child protagonists and their innocent curiosity to make a critique of war.
  2. The children in the poem question the supposed formulation of ‘the famous’ victory of the Battle of Blenheim by asking how it was a famous victory when it was all about death of people.
  3. The innocent children with their logic fail to understand the benefits of the Battle of Blenheim which the adults do not often want to see as they do not question what is given to them.

11. And everybody……………………………a famous victory.
Word-meanings : But what last ? = What was the good result of the war. Quoth = said. Why tell = Kaspar could not answer this question raised by his grandson. A famous victory = a glorious victory ever won over the French.

Paraphrase : Continuing his tale about the war, Kaspar told his grand children that the Duke was highly praised for this victory. As the people were greatly inspired by the thoughts of patriotism and heroism, they regarded it a glorious victory over the French. The old man also seemed to be highly influenced with this victory. But the little boy Peterkin was much puzzled and confused at Kaspar’s praising the victory. He then anticipated on the very purpose of war and what it led to and what good it did. But the old man had no satisfactory answers to such questions of the little children. He was absolutely unable to satisfy them. It was nothing but his conventional belief. He again repeated that all he knew was that it was a famous victory.

Reference to the Context : These lines describing the little child’s anticipation on the very purpose of war and its consequences, have been extracted from the poem entitled After Blenheim, written by Robert Southey.

Here the poet points out that the children’s perceptions about the war seem to be natural. They think that the war which brings death and suffering to the people, can not be glorified. Kaspar’s grandchildren show their wonder at the glorification of the war which is only a wicked thing. On the other hand, the oldman like Kaspar, inspite of knowing the devastation brought by the war, cling to their conventional belief of heroism and patriotism.

Explanation : When the little children heard the heart-moving tale of the Battle of Blenheim, they did not seem to be approving the old man’s conventional belief of glorifying the war. They condemned the war calling it a wicked thing. Whenever they asked the old man the purpose of war, they got the same response from the old man that he knew nothing about this but he only knew that it was a great or famous victory. Ignoring the real facts related to the war, he every time, glorified it and consoled the children saying that such deaths and killings are the part of the war which is fought under the cloak of patriotism.

Praising the courage and bravery of the heroes of the Battle of Blenheim, he told the children that many people praised the Duke for having won the war. The old man also seemed to be full of great delight while praising the victory of the Duke. When Peterkin asked him what good this war did to the people and the country, the old man said that all he knew that it was a famous victory.

Critical Comments :

  1. ‘But victory : This line is an epitome of irony. The war was fought over a trivial dispute but costed lives of thousands and thousands of soldiers.
  2. The poet implies that the perpetrators of war cannot or will not supress wayward ambitions that provoke a violent response.
  3. The children as yet uncorrupted by adult thinking readily perceive war for what it is.

The Cold Within Summary About the Poet

Robert Southey was a English poet and man of letters. He was bom at Bristol on 12th August 1774. His father, Robert Southey, an unsuccessful linen draper, married Miss Margaret Hill in 1772. When he was three years older, he was put into the care of Miss Elizabeth Tyler who was his mother’s half-sister, at Bath where most of his childhood was spent. She was a whimsical and despotic person. Before Southey was eight years old he had read Shakespeare, Beaumont and Fletcher, while his love of romance was fostered by the reading of Hoole’s translations of Tasso and Aristo, and of the Faerie Queene.

In 1788 he was entered at Westminster School in London, but after criticizing the school for excessive corporal punishment, he was expelled. He matriculated at Oxford in 1792, living in Balliol College. In 1794, he met Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who shared both his literary, aspirations and his radical political views, and together that same year the two wrote a verse drama The Fall of Rabespires. Southey left Oxford without a degree and for a time was caught up with Coleridge in a project for a pantisocracy, or utopian agricultural community, to be located on the banks of the Susquehanna River, in the United States, on the land that had been purchased by Joseph Priestley when he emigrated to Pennsylvania in 1794.

In 1795, however, Southey secretly married Edith Flicker, and common domestic considerations began to dissipate his utopian passions. Southey’s literary activities continued unabathed, revealing themselves in numerous short poems contributed to newspapers and periodicals for a fee and in the project that would establish his initial public reputations as an audacious enfant terrible, his epic poem Joan of Arc, in which he expressed strong sympathy for a French citizenry defending itself English aggression, thus barely disguising his own revolutionary sympathies. The poem was published in 1796 during the third year of warfare between these two countries, when its author was twenty-one years old and public defence of contemporary France was being prosecuted as treasonous.

Southey’s marriage was deeply resented by the aunt who had raised him, and late in 1795, to repair the breach he accompanied his uncle on a diplomatic appointment to Spain. While there he engaged in a deep study of the literatures of the Iberian peninsula that would be reflected for years in various of his literary projects. He also turned his actual experience to good practical effect, writing a work whose title reflects the clear influence of Mary Wollstonecraft, Letters written during a Short Residence in Spain and Portugal (1797).

Upon his return, he-settled in London and began to study law but found himself unsuited for it. In a fortunate intervention, beginning in 1797, he started to receive an annuity of $ 160 that was paid to him for nine years by an old Westminster school friend, Charles Wynn. This stable income allowed him finally to concentrate on his career as a writer, and in 1797 and 1799 he gathered together his many shorter writings in two volumes of collected Poems, thereby hoping to consolidate his position as the leading formulator of a revolution in English letters.

His last years were, clouded by his wife’s insanity and death, by family disputes arising from his second marriage to a much younger woman the poet Caroline Bowles Southey, and by his own physical and mental decline. He died on 21 March 1843 in Cumberland.

His Major Works : The fall of Robespierre (1794), Joan of Arc : An Epic Poem (1796), Poems (1797-99), Letters from Spain (1797), Saint Patrick’s Purgatory (1798), After Blenheim (1798), Devil’s Thoughts (1799), The Old Man’s Comforts and How He Gained Them (1799), Thalaba The Destroyer (1801), Madoc (1805), The Curse ofKehama (1810), Roderick the Last of the Goths (1874), The Inchcape Rock (1820).

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