The Rifle
For Jones, the rifle symbolizes the pressures and difficulties of combat. In part 7, he emphasizes the heaviness of the rifle, and the restrictions it causes to the movement of the soldiers. This symbolizes the difficulty of warfare and the emotional "heaviness" the soldiers must endure.
WW1 symbol
In this poem, we see that WW1 becomes a symbol of horrific violence and the tragic loss of life. In this poem, Jones details the experience of warfare for soldiers, and the horrors of trench life during WW1.
Dai Greatcoat
Dai Greatcoat is introduced in part 4 and is depicted as being an archetypal soldier. He symbolizes bravery, courage, and perseverance in battle.
The Somme
The Battle of the Somme was a deadly battle fought during WW1 and led to a devastating loss of life. The horror and bloodshed of this battle are presented in the poem, and ultimately symbolizes the brutality and needlessness of warfare.
Friendship
Throughout the poems, despite the terrible violence of the trenches, we see the motif of friendship shine through. Private John Ball meets many soldiers along the way, forming strong friendships with them. However, this makes it all the more devastating when men are lost in battle, and Ball is forced to come to terms with the loss of his friendships.
