English Social Studies

Does it matter by Siegfried Sassoon (1886-1967)

DOES it matter?--losing your legs?...

For people will always be kind,

And you need not show that you mind

When the others come in after hunting

To gobble their muffins and eggs.

Does it matter?--losing your sight?...

There's such splendid work for the blind;

And people will always be kind,

As you sit on the terrace remembering

And turning your face to the light.

Do they matter?--those dreams from the pit?...

You can drink and forget and be glad,

And people won't say that you're mad;

For they'll know you've fought for your country

And no one will worry a bit.

Why does the poem appeal to us?
“Does it matter” appeals more to us than "The soldier" by Rupert Brooke (which was also in our book) because it is easier to understand the content. We manage to put ourselves in the position of the soldier spoken of, whereas in the other poem they speak more of England and the effort and consequently the lives given for the sake of England by the soldiers.


What three effects of the war on a soldier does this poem touch on?
Three effects of the war are mentioned in the poem:
- Getting hurt physically (losing your legs)
- Losing one of your senses (losing your sight)
- The dreams and thoughts you gain from being a soldier in which you will never escape (those dreams of the pit)


It is often argued that the two great wars were fought by working-class men on both sides and that the people they were fighting for, were often more the enemy than the people they were fighting against. Does this poem reflect this attitude? Explain!
This poem reflects the attitude that whom you fight for are more the enemy than the people you fight against. It does so by explaining how war can destroy you both physically and mentally and afterwards saying that “no one will worry a bit.” The people you fight against are often more your friends if you do not consider they are fighting for your enemy. All soldiers are in the same situation even if they fight for different teams.


This poem has enjoyed a bit of revival if late. What reasons do you think there might be for its newfound popularity?
The poem has experienced a revival of late. The reason is because of the glorification of war has been condemned in the previous decades. We now care more about how terrible it is being a civilian in a war. Additionally wars are still happening making this topic relevant.