“The War Prayer” is a poem by Mark Twain that can be considered a short story in prose. First of all, the poem talks about the patriotic spirit and ensuring the well-being of the country. By participating in battles, a person strives to make their life more comfortable. The poem is an example of realism, as it reveals the truth of war, describes events on the battlefields and indicates the consequences of armed conflicts.
Mark Twain denounces the hypocrisy with which the church advocates wars. The author puts his own thoughts into the work regarding the intolerance of the Christian religion. At the same time, “The War Prayer” cannot be considered a strictly pacifist work because the main argument does not concern anti-war rhetoric. The main argument of this story is against the ignorance and hypocrisy of the church, which supports the harmful effects of the war.
The technique of realism was chosen by Mark Twain because it allows the author to write an incriminating work, shocking readers and thereby causing a greater emotional response. Realism helps truthfully present information about events without hiding details, being the cruel truth. The whole poem is an example of realism since the author uses a minimum amount of allegory, presenting information in an understandable and truthful manner.
Mark Twain gives truthful information about the war by discussing what is happening on the battlefield, which is often avoided by other authors. “…visions of the stern advance, the gathering momentum, the rushing charge, the flashing sabers, the flight of the foe, the tumult, the enveloping smoke, the fierce pursuit, the surrender!” – this is how Twain describes the battle (Twain line 7). Twain refers to his own experience and vision in order to give the audience the most accurate idea.
The work immediately gives readers an idea of all the details of what is happening on the battlefields. The image of the war and its consequences in Twain is rather collective and not related to a specific event. The prayer is ignored by the parishioners since its second part talks about the hardships of the living witnesses of military conflicts. Bringing readers into contact with reality through detailed description, Mark Twain is an example of a realistic writer using this technique to captivate and persuade an audience.
Work Cited
Twain, Mark. (1905). The War Prayer. The American Yawp Reader. Web.