The war prayer by mark twain

What is the purpose of the War Prayer by Mark Twain?

“The War Prayer “, a short story or prose poem by Mark Twain , is a scathing indictment of war , and particularly of blind patriotic and religious fervor as motivations for war .

What is The War Prayer criticizing?

In “The War Prayer ” by Mark Twain, he depicts a scene of a town preparing for war . They are incredibly happy and patriotic, they are praising the soldiers, and the families without a member to send into the war are envious of those who do. Everyone wants the glory of a victory.

What is the Mark Twain trying to make the reader Realise in war prayer?

He is warning the people that their prayers are hypocritical to their setting and their meaning of praying in general. This short story revealed to me that what the stranger is trying to advise the race of, is so relevant in society today.

What is the tone of the war prayer?

The first prayer he describes praises the soldiers and prays for their victory. As “The War Prayer ” continues, Twain’s tone shifts from hopeful and optimistic to scornful. Twain executes this shift in tone in order to startle the reader and bring attention to the Church’s contradictory stance on war .

How does the War Prayer represent realism?

The poem gives a detailed discussion of wars, events that led to wars, the brutal truth about what happened in battlefields, and the aftermaths of wars. Most people define realism as the brutal truth. Realism had been used significantly in both The War Prayer and Sympathy.

What goal is the war prayer trying to achieve?

Then comes what Twain calls ”the long prayer ”. The preacher prays for the soldiers to guarantee their safety and to win their battles. He says ”make them strong and confident, invincible in the bloody onset; help them to crush the foe, grant to them and to their flag and country imperishable honor and glory”

Who wrote The War Prayer?

On March 22, 1905, a famous author received a rejection letter from one of the most powerful publishers of the era, calling his latest piece “not quite suited to a woman’s magazine.” The publisher was Harper’s Bazaar, the author Samuel Langhorne Clemens — better known as Mark Twain — and the piece The War Prayer, a

What contrast is the author drawing in war prayer?

The author is drawing a contrast between two things by saying that a whole nation saves itself during prayer before God but actually they have no idea that they are begging the devastation of other nation before God.

What is the irony in the war prayer apex?

The irony , as noted by the stranger who comments on this silent prayer , is that it is directed supposedly “in the spirit of love” to “Him who is the Source of Love” (398).

When was the War Prayer published?

What are some of the unmentioned results of the original prayer according to the aged stranger?

The “ unmentioned results ” of the original prayer , according to the “ aged stranger ” is that they are indirectly asking for the enemy to die so they can win. And that also implies they will suffer leading them to live miserably.