Chapter 21 Summary and Analysis

Graves found an England gripped in a frenzy of war—everywhere patriotism and military sentiment were displayed. He found the shift in social awareness jarring. Siegfried Sassoon was also injured, somewhat lightly, and returned to England for convalescence. Graves and Sassoon spent many hours together writing poetry and discussing the absurdities of the English media's portrayal of the war. The text then includes one lengthy letter putatively from a mother—it is a fairly vapid outpouring of meaningless sentiment and war fervor; Graves also provides numerous brief media clippings praising the letter as representative of English sentiment in general.

Graves and Sassoon eventually rejoined the 3rd Battalion in England and assisted in the training of new soldiers—the draft had by then replaced the voluntary enlistment system. The two veteran soldiers continued to relax, have fun, and goof...