Educational Media Reviews Online

The War Poets discusses poetry influenced by battles and wars from the Dark Ages through the 20th Century. Beginning with an Anglo-Saxon/Viking battle of 991 A.D., the program analyzes the portrayal of war in poetry with the use of readings, dramatizations, and documentary footage . Interesting points are made throughout, such as the idea that in Anglo-Saxon society poets were expected to participate in war, but not to the death, so that they would survive to tell heroic tales of battle.

The program focuses on poets of the British Isles, and culminates with a detailed discussion of the British poets of World War I. Other wars, such as the Napoleonic Wars and the American Civil War, are discussed briefly. Easily understood criticism and analysis is provided by Jon Stallworthy of Oxford University, with additional narration and dramatic reading by actor Brian Blessed.

Well known WWI poets such as Rupert Brooke and Wilfred Owen are compared and contrasted through their writing and their individual lives. Lesser known writers are also covered. The stark realism and despair of the later works of the WWI "trench poets" are contrasted with the earlier, heroic poems from past wars.

The audio quality of the program is excellent, and the illustrative use of historic dramatizations and historical film footage/photographs is quite successful. Brian Blessed's dramatic readings become increasingly heavy-handed, but this is heavy subject matter that can handle the thespian treatment.

The program offers many points which would provide springboards for literary analysis, critical cultural discussion, and further research. Note that there is brief nudity in illustrative scenes involving the discussion of the 17th century work of Lovelace and Marvell. Given these considerations, The War Poets would be used most successfully in a university curriculum, and it is recommended for inclusion in this type of library.