Historical References in The History Boys

Wilfred Owen

Wilfred Owen was an English pet and solider. During World War 1, his war poems were very popular, they mention the shocking horrors of the war such as the trenches and gas warfare. Owen's work stood out, as it contradicted the public perception of the war and other war poems of that era. Wilfred Owen's most known poem "Dulce et Decorum est" , describes the horror he experienced being a solider in the war and the feelings of condemnation he felt towards the war. In 1917, Owen was sent to a hospital in Edinburgh, after he war diagnosed with shell shock, this is where Owen wrote the drafts for "Dulce et Decorum est". Despite the fact that throughout the poem, Owen expresses his disapproval to the idea of war, Irwin continues to state that Owens "couldn't wait to get back to his company". Irwin's statement of Owen's is completely untrue, yet he continues to fabricate historical events, in his attempt to persuade the boys to embellish facts, as this is the only way to impress examiners. Irwin believes that adding in poetry in an essay is "good up to a point", but to improve lying is required as is shown by Irwin's statement that Owen's "couldn't wait" to get back to being a solider, despite the fact that in many of his poems Owen's shows his condemnation towards the war. As Irwin, try's to manipulate the boys into embellishing facts to do well in the Oxford examination, it suggests that the school system is supported by deception and dishonesty.

Rudyard Kipling

Kipling was born an English poet and novelist, who was born in Bombay, then moved to England by his parents when he was 5 years old to live with a foster family to receive a formal education. Kipling wrote tales and stories of British soldiers in India. His work's include the "The Jungle Book" and "The White Mans Burden", which highlights the ideas of  white colonisation and views that white people have the obligation to rule the more "underdeveloped" countries. This is the reasoning behind the way Akhthar objects saying sarcastically "thanks a lot"  to Irwin when he praises Kipling and his literary work. Akhthar would feel that Irwin commending Kipling, was very culturally inconsiderate and offensive. Akhthar's ability to respond to Irwin mentioning Kipling, express the huge extent of the boys literary knowledge from all over the world. It also suggests that Akhthar feels he is confident  enough to stand up to a position of authority- Irwin- and defend his culture and heritage.

General Haig

General Haig was a controversial Senior Officer during World War 1. Haig lead and managed many British missions and expeditions which lead to the death of many British soldiers. Due to the fact that many soldiers were killed unnecessarily killed in futile battles, his leadership gained criticism, and lead to him being labeled as "Butcher Haig" by the two million casualties who were under his command. Irwin states that General Haig "real enemy" was the "Unknown Soldier" and if he "had any sense he'd had him disinterred". Irwin does not factually know this, however he continues to say it and say it with confidence. As Irwin, creates untrue assumptions about General Haig, it suggests to the boys that by slightly embellishing facts, it makes the essay stand out from the rest, and not make the examiner fall "asleep".As Irwin believes that truth is no more necessary than "thirst at a wine-tasting".

Similarities between 'Composed Upon Westminster Bridge' and 'Saturday'

• Idea of euphoria
• Present tense 
• Synesthesia
• Juxtaposition
• Personification
• Natural imagery
• Exclamative and declarative sentences 
• Personification