Essay Questions

Who is Sergei Kirov in the poem “Sergei Mironovitch Kirov”?

The poem most likely refers to a political leader from the 20th century named Sergei Kirov, who was, among other thing, closely associated with Joseph Stalin. Kirov joined the Communist Party at an early age and his decision was largely motivated by his rough upbringing and his troubled childhood. Before the Royal Family was overthrown, Kirov was imprisoned for at least 3 times before gaining a commanding position in the Communist Army. After the Royal family was removed, Kirov made Joseph Stalin his close associate by publicly supporting his ideas and criticizing those who were against him. Because of these known facts, it is ironic to find how Kirov was most likely assassinated at the orders of Stalin. Kirov’s death was later used as a pretext by Joseph Stalin to launch what is nowadays known as the Great Purge, a campaign to eliminate everyone who opposed Joseph Stalin and who represented a threat to the Communist Regime. The poem focuses on the fear caused by the Great Purge and also by the pain caused by the death of approximately 1.000.000 people killed at Stalin’s orders. The reason why Kirov is linked with the Great Purge is because the Communist Party used his death as an argument to start the Purge and also to argue why it was necessary.

How is war described in “A Letter from Aragon”?

The poem is composed as a letter sent by a person fighting in Spain during the Spanish Civil War. The area in which the main character finds himself is initially described as being relatively safe, away from the shelling, mustard gas and other destructive elements used in the middle of the battlefield. This sense of safety is quickly destroyed when the town is attacked by enemy forces. This results in countless deaths, among the civilians and the soldiers stationed in the area alike. The narrator describes women carrying dead infants in their arms and imposing men crying in hospital beds awaiting for their death. War is thus described as an extremely dangerous and unpredictable event, a time when the word “safety” changes its meaning and no longer assures the continuity of life.

Who is Margot Heinemann mentioned in the poem with the same name?

Margot Heinemann was a woman who lived in the United Kingdom in the 20th century. She is a well-known writer to this day, a woman who remained in history because of her pro-Communist sentiments and ideas. During her time at the University of Cambridge, Margot Heinemann and John Cornford were involved in a romantic relationship, a relationship which lasted until the end of Cornford’s life. The poem entitled “to Margot Heinemann” is a letter written by the author while he was on the front and through this letter, the narrator expresses his feelings of love and devotion for Margot Heinemann.