The Man He Killed

The Man He Killed

by Thomas Hardy

Had he and I but met
By some old, ancient inn,
We should have sat us down to wet
Right many a nipperkin!

But ranged as infantry,
And staring face to face,
I shot at him as he at me,
And killed him in his place.

I shot him dead because —
Because he was my foe,
Just so: my foe of course he was;
That’s clear enough; although

He thought he’d ‘list, perhaps,
Off-hand like — just as I —
Was out of work — had sold his traps —
No other reason why.

Yes; quaint and curious war is!
You shoot a fellow down
You’d treat if met where any bar is,
Or help to half-a-crown.

Summary of The Man He Killed

• Popularity of “The Man He Killed”: Written by Thomas Hardy, this poem examines the senselessness of war and the arbitrary nature of enmity. First published in 1902 in The Guardian, it follows a soldier who reflects on the man he has killed in battle. The poem explores what might have been had circumstances been different, revealing that both men were ultimately victims of war.
• “The Man He Killed” as a Representation of Hatred: The poem is presented as a confession. The speaker muses on the irony of possibly sharing a drink with the man he killed had they met outside war. It highlights the lack of personal animosity between the two and shows how war can erase human connection with the simple statement that the other was “my foe.”
• Major Themes in “The Man He Killed”: The central theme is the futility and senselessness of war. The poem illustrates how soldiers are reduced to killing each other merely because they belong to opposing sides. It also explores lost potential, the arbitrary nature of enmity, and the dehumanizing effects of conflict. The speaker’s reflection reveals a shared humanity among all soldiers, regardless of the side they fight for.

Analysis of Literary Devices Used in “The Man He Killed”

Hardy skillfully employs several techniques to convey his anti‑war message.

1. Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds creates musicality and emphasizes certain words. For example, the repeated /o/ sound in “shot a fellow down” draws attention to the act of violence.
2. Alliteration: Repeating consonant sounds adds rhythm and emphasis. The repeated /h/ in “Had he and I but met” gives the line a gentle, almost wistful tone, contrasting with the violence that follows.
3. Consonance: Similar to alliteration, consonance involves repeating consonant sounds, not necessarily at the beginning of words. The /f/ in “my foe of course” and the /n/ in “ranged as infantry” create subtle connections.
4. Enjambment: This technique carries a sentence or phrase from one line to the next without pause. For instance, the lines in the second stanza flow together, mirroring the swift, unpredictable nature of war.
5. Imagery: Hardy uses vivid images that paint a picture for the reader. Phrases such as “Had he and I but met,” “I shot at him as he at me,” and “You shoot a fellow down” evoke strong visual and emotional responses.
6. Irony: Irony underscores the absurdity of war. The opening stanza imagines a friendly encounter with the man he killed, which sharply contrasts with the violence that actually occurs.
7. Symbolism: War itself symbolizes senselessness and the arbitrary division of humanity. The “inn” represents a place of peace and connection, a potential that war destroys.

Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in “The Man He Killed”

Hardy also uses specific poetic techniques to enhance rhythm, structure, and meaning.

1. End Rhyme: The poem features a consistent end rhyme scheme that creates a musical and memorable quality. Examples include “met” with “wet,” “inn” with “nipperkin,” and “down” with “crown.”
2. Rhyme Scheme: Each stanza follows an ABAB pattern, providing order and control even while describing chaos.
3. Quatrain: Every stanza is a quatrain—four lines long—which confines the exploration of each idea within a compact space.
4. Stanza Structure: The poem is divided into five stanzas, each building on the narrative and thematic development.

Quotes to Highlight the Futility of War

The following excerpt exemplifies the poem’s central irony and the absurd contrast between potential friendship and deadly conflict:

Yes; quaint and curious war is!
You shoot a fellow down
You’d treat if met where any bar is,
Or help to half-a-crown.

This passage serves as a powerful indictment of war’s dehumanizing effects and a call for greater empathy among people.