What Were They Like? (Denise Levertov)

What Were They Like? by Denise Levertov was written during the Vietnam War and serves as a critique of war and its impact on culture and society. You can read the poem below and find analysis further down the page.

What Were They Like? by Denise Levertov

1) Did the people of Viet Nam

use lanterns of stone?

2) Did they hold ceremonies

to reverence the opening of buds?

3) Were they inclined to quiet laughter?

4) Did they use bone and ivory,

jade and silver, for ornament?

5) Had they an epic poem?

6) Did they distinguish between speech and singing?

1) Sir, their light hearts turned to stone.

It is not remembered whether in gardens

stone lanterns illumined pleasant ways.

2) Perhaps they gathered once to delight in blossom,

but after their children were killed

there were no more buds

3) Sir, laughter is bitter to the burned mouth.

4) A dream ago, perhaps. Ornament is for joy.

All the bones were charred.

5) It is not remembered. Remember,

most were peasants; their life

was in rice and bamboo.

When peaceful clouds were re‑ ected in the paddies

and the water buffalo stepped surely along terraces,

maybe fathers told their sons old tales.

When bombs smashed those mirrors

there was time only to scream.

6) There is an echo yet

of their speech which was like a song.

It was reported that their singing resembled

the ‑ ight of moths in moonlight.

Who can say? It is silent now.

Analysis:

The poem explores the devastating effects of war on a society's culture, traditions, and identity.

The rhetorical question "What were they like?" serves as a refrain throughout the poem, highlighting the speaker's attempt to understand the culture that existed before the war.

The poem contrasts descriptions of the peaceful cultural practices and traditions with the violent destruction caused by war.

Levertov uses imagery to vividly depict the devastation of war, such as "bombs broke mirrors" and "bones ache that have no place to rest."

The repetition of the question "What were they like?" underscores the speaker's frustration and inability to fully grasp the lost culture and its people due to the destructive impact of war.

The final stanza shifts the focus to the present, where the remnants of the past culture are buried beneath the rubble of war, symbolising the irreparable loss caused by conflict.

Themes:

War and its consequences: The poem explores the destructive impact of war on culture, traditions, and identity, highlighting the loss and devastation inflicted upon a society.

Memory and remembrance: The speaker's repeated question reflects a desire to remember and understand the culture that existed before it was destroyed by war.

Loss and fragmentation: The poem depicts the fragmentation and disintegration of culture and identity in the aftermath of war, emphasising the irreparable loss experienced by the society.

Power and violence: Through vivid imagery, the poem portrays the violence and power of war in destroying lives, communities, and cultural heritage.

Language and Structure:

The poem is structured as a series of questions and responses, with the refrain "What were they like?" serving as a recurring motif.

Levertov employs simple language and imagery to convey the devastation of war and the loss of cultural identity.

The repetition of phrases and images creates a sense of rhythm and emphasis, reinforcing the poem's themes and emotions.

Conclusion:

What Were They Like? by Denise Levertov is a poignant reflection on the destructive impact of war on culture and society, highlighting the loss and fragmentation experienced by those affected by conflict. Through vivid imagery and repetition, Levertov effectively conveys the devastation and irreparable loss caused by war, inviting readers to contemplate the consequences of violence on a personal and cultural level.

You can find analysis of all the Edexcel Conflict Poetry Anthology Poems here.