I dont have Word count so if somebody could please copy and paste this into Word, then click on Tools, then there should be a 'Word Count'.

 

Thanks! Here she is:

 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Coursework

 

"Compare and contrast Jennifer Johnston's presentation of the "horror of war" in 'How Many Miles to Babylon?' with Susan Hill's presentation in 'Strange Meeting'.

 

Introduction

 

Between the years of 1914-1918, World War I shook the civilisation that tried to survive during it. In the actual battles and events that occured, it is still known as the ultimate example of how horrific war can be; in terms of the alarming conditions that soldiers were forced to endure, while of course inhumanly fighting the enemy.

Arguably, it takes a ruthless and savage person to take on the roll of a soldier. In Jennifer Johnston's 'How Many Miles to Babylon?', and Susan Hill's 'Strange Meeting', the close examination of the average soldier occurs and their thoughts and feelings are presented. In both novels we discover how one reacts to the dreadful situations that arise in war. Both of the authors have intentions to educate the reader as to how a human being can cope, and to make the most unimaginable situations realistically fightening.

Another aim for the author is to tell a story that captivates the reader in a manner that we can relate to. The background of the characters is vital in both novels, bringing their actions to life.

In 'How Many Miles to Babylon?' Jennifer Johnston strongly focuses on the background of the main character, Alec. In Susan Hill's 'Strange Meeting' there is a lot more concentration on the battle field and the war that is taking place. But both authors managae to include the theme of friendship at the forefront of the story in both novels, regardless of how epic they may be.

The description of the horrors of war is imagined by both authors, as obviously they did not experience WWI, they have to conjure up their visions of war from research, pictures and descriptions from other people's knowledge.

 

War is generally known for the terrifying effects of being in battle, but these are not the only horrific scenes displayed in each novel. Many of wars horrors are described at times that seem calm and placed, and perhaps the factor that is most shocking is seeing an alarming image directly after having the rare feeling of safety in these conditions.

Horrific scenes are inescapable within every trench, camp, or general surrounding within the experience of war. At every turn during war, there is sure to be a new and alarming image, even in the places least likely to disturb the soldier in the novel, or the reader;

 

"Our first casualty was some poor fool who cut his wrists even before we even landed in England. Apart from that the journey was uneventful."

 

This is Alec's opinion, written in first person narrative. He sees this desperate act as a foolish action, he gives us a brief description of what he knew of the event. He does not give a considerable amount of sympathy to the man. We are given the image of a troubled soldier 'cutting' his wrists and commiting suicide, before the real experience of war had even began. It is a disturbing image, which seems more disturbing by the fact Alec only makes a small deal about it. He simply views this as the only even on their journey.

In Strange Meeting, the reaction to unexpected death is quite different, and at times the description is more inclusive;

 

"But Hilliard saw that the rest of his body, up to his chest and arms, was almost burned away."

 

The description intends to alarm the reader, told from an omniscient narrator, describing what Hilliard is seeing before him. The image and description helps make the situation realistic to the reader. The man's body is described just before mentioning that it is burning away, which gives a chilling effect.

Hilliard's reaction to the man is heavily described;

 

"He felt the old heavy sensation in his stomach, misery and fear and anger, compounded but also slightly deadened."

 

It is an accurate vision of how Hilliard feels at this time, he did not expect to see this horrible image, and he feels a sickness within him because of it. It is a descriptive third person view that portrays what Hilliard is feeling, also by using onomatopoeia on such words as 'compounded' and 'slightly deadened'.

The descriptions of life within the trenches.

 

As shown in Strange Meeting after Hilliard witnesses the burning body of a soldier, the reaction of soldiers is another important factor within both novels. In Strange Meeting there is a lot of focus on the nightmares that occur as a result of war.

 

"He was afraid of going to sleep. For three weeks, he had been afraid of going to sleep."

 

This is from the omniscient viewpoint of the narrator, it is the first topic mentioned within the novel. It leaves the reader to figure why the mentioned character (Who had not been identified at this point) is afraid of sleeping. As we read on the psychological damage of war and how it effects a soldiers sleep becomes evident. The sentences are structured to tell the reader what the characters problem is, and the 2nd sentence describes the depth of the problem.

Susan Hill is concerned with the devastating psychological effects that war has on the soldiers. John Hilliard is one of the main characters that represent the irreperable damage war has on a soldiers state of mind. He is introduced in a hospital bed, recovering and healing his physical wounds, but being unable to heal his psychological wounds;

 

"The worst thing in his nightmares was always the smell, the sweet, rotten trench smell, of soil and chlorine and blood, and the mustard gas like garlic."

 

The Third person narrative takes a descriptive and accurate view of the sense within these nightmares. The smell is the entity that brings back the war to him, by just re-calling the sweet stench he can feel the war still going on around him. It is also a description which aims to bring the reader into the experience in a more realistic light.

In 'How Many Miles to Babylon?' there is not a consistent focus on the effects of war upon Alec, instead there is a summary of his state of mind, from the outset of the book. War seems to have turned him into an inhuman monster with no feelings;

 

"I am committed to no cause, I love no living person."

 

The author brings to the reader within this phrase, a sense of how Alec has completely given up on life. This is a feeling that is summed up again;

 

"The fact that I have no future except what you can count in hours doesnt seem to disturb me unduly."

 

His careless nature is emphasised in this repetitive fashion. He is hardly bothered that he is about to die. Although he has never shown a tremendous amount of compassion towards anything throughout the novel; his mother or father, or best friend Jerry, this is still an obvious effect of war upon him. It has shattered his beliefs and even his will to live.

There are summary's of Alec's reaction to war that is similar to Hilliard's in Strange Meeting. Although the effects of war are not mentioned as often in 'How Many Miles to Babylon?', Alec does give an insight into how he is coping with war;

 

"It would be pointless to say I wasn't fightened. Night and day the palms of my hands were sticky with sweat."

 

Alec mentions his fear during war like it is implied anyway. This is a testament to how obviously shattering the effects of war are upon a person. He describes how the personal effects of war upon him, left him scared to the point of perspiration on a consistent basis.

What is also a similarity between Alec's experience of war and the experiences in Strange Meeting, is the unexpected true horror of war; becoming completely numb and accustomed to the horrifying scenes surrounding them;

 

"I was afraid that one day I might wake up and find that I had come to accept the grotesque obsenity of the way we lived."

 

Alec describes war through his own first person narrative viewpoint, he sees it simply as a 'grotesque obsenity'.

1372

i got 1371... :confused:

aaah, i didnt include the word 'coursework' at the top :dozey:

Hahaha. Thanks guys! :cool:

 

Garry just gave me a page where I can check, but that was cool of you thanks.

 

Just, how to get to 3,500... :huh:

write it out twice?

or you could niclue something from the bible :P

Jak! Wonderful ideas...

 

Hmm I just have to figure out an opening that relates the book of John with WWI war horror stories...

hmmm, "the bible says war is bad (include the bit about wars and violence here)" then say " the bible said this war was especially bad"....

it'll work, trust me :P

Hahaha! If I get 4% your heads on a plate!

 

But here goes nothin... :rolleyes:

hahaha, well its just an idea

and you can't blame me, blame little britan :P

That bit is great!

 

Or when she turns on the radio. :lol:

why dont you have a word count!?? get a new computer!! its a must in the world...food, air, water, word count...trust me on this one