Colonial Soldier

The colonial soldier is the broad subject of Emerson’s eulogy. This figure is portrayed in the first stanza as a farmer. Later in the verse he is referred to as a “sire” (12), suggesting a potentially different social position or the posthumous elevation through battle and martyrdom of the irregular soldier. In singing the praises of the figure of the colonial soldier, Emerson refers to the “conqueror” (6) and to the generation of “heroes” (13) who perished in the war. Emerson implies that the generations that succeeded that of the Revolutionary War are indebted to those who gave their lives for the independence of the United States.

British soldier

The British army soldier is not depicted with any specificity in the verse. Instead, this is an anonymous figure simply referred to as the “foe” (5). Emerson describes the death of soldiers from both sides of the war and suggests that...