Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[kangnax]

Thanks for anyone who gives me the suggestion!

Success is counted sweetest
By those who ne'er succeed.
To comprehend a nectar
Requires sorest need.

Not one of all the purple host
Who took the flag to-day
Can tell the definition,
So clear, of victory,

As he, defeated, dying,
On whose forbidden ear
The distant strains of triumph
Break, agonized and clear!

three question in this poem confused me:
1.who are "the purple host"?
2.what is the theme of the poem?
3.what does "took the flag today" refer to?

[pugachevV]

The poem highlights one of *beep*'s recurring theme's - how suffering heightens perception and understanding.
The nature of success, it says, is best understood by someone who has tried to achieve it but failed.
The central image of the poem is the defeated, dying soldier, who hears the sounds of a victory he cannot share.
It has been suggested that this poem refers to the American civil war, but this cannot be true, as it first appeared in 1859.
The purple host are the victors (there may be an allusion here to the purple robes worn by the Roman elite who were certainly no strangers to success.)
In earlier times "Taking the flag" of the enemy in battle signified victory. The Armies in those days carried their flag into battle and it was guarded by the best troops (the Colour Guard).
It may be that *beep* is arguing that defeat is superior to victory, that anguished comprehension is better than mere possession in that the Victors only have their victory but no appreciation for it...That they have a spiritual loss for a material gain.

[kangnax]

first i would like to say thanks to you. i am interested in english and american literature, and i have taken some lectures. i want to be a post graduate in the next year. it is hard for me, because i used to be a children teacher, now i shifts my subjest.and my english writing is so bad.Anyway, i will try my best to achieve my goal.
By the way, i have read some of your posts.very good!