Whitman uses two types of imagery to express the cold indirect and direct effects of war. Whitman using the loud banging of drums and the blows of bugles creates a war atmosphere throughout the whole poem. He brings in the sounds of war at the beginning and end of every section to ensure the reader has a feeling that the drums are never ending. For example, Whitman starts the first section with: "Beat! beat! drums - blow bugles blow", and ends the first section with a feeling that the drums are only getting louder: "So fierce you whirr and pound you drums - so shrill you bugles blow.

Whitman writes of how the war is felt on two different levels: one as a community, and the other as personal. Using imagery, the sounds travel "through the windows-through doors-burst like a ruthless force," as if the drum

"Into the solemn church, and scatter the congregation

Mind not the old man beseeching the young man,

Leave not the bridegroom quiet-no happiness must he have with his bride,

Whitman uses wonderful imagery to show the cold terrors of war. This poem "Beat! Beat! Drums" is a poem to show the horrible effects of war. War not only has negative effects on the common people but negative effects on the future.

These four lines expressed by Whitman have an underlying meaning in each image he presents. Whitman uses the image of a "solemn church" to show how people must go through each day, with an empty feeling in their souls, knowing their lives' are at risk. Using the image of a "school" being disrupted; Whitman is able to express the idea that during a time of war no education is able to take place. His underlying meaning, having no education in a child's life only leads to an uneducated group of people in the future.

Whitman uses wonderful images to show how the war affects peoples' jobs. "No bargainers by day- no brokers or speculators-would/ they continue?" The speaker expresses how even the rich persons of the community cannot carry on with their jobs. Whitman's underlying meaning is that because of the war an economic depression might happen in the future.

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1138
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)