1. Contrast and Irony:
* Contrasting the soldier's thoughts with the reality of war: The speaker describes his victim as a "pleasant" man who "looked like me" and had a wife and children. This stark contrast with the brutal act of killing highlights the irony and senselessness of war.
* Irony in the soldier's actions: The speaker killed the man but "couldn't tell why" – a chilling statement that underscores the arbitrary nature of war. He even claims he might have even "shaken hands" with the man if they had met in a different setting.
2. Repetition and Emphasis:
* Repetition of "He" and "He'd": This repetition emphasizes the soldier's victim, creating a sense of presence even in death. It also forces the reader to confront the humanity of the man killed.
* Repetition of "I" and "I'd": This highlights the soldier's inner conflict and emphasizes his own feelings of guilt and bewilderment.
3. Personification:
* "The quarrel...was a thing to be." This personification suggests that war is a living entity, an external force that demands obedience. This adds a layer of power and inevitability to war.
4. Symbolism:
* The "distant, random star": This image represents the unpredictable and uncontrollable nature of fate and war. The soldier's actions are like the shooting star, sudden and fleeting.
5. Imagery and Sound Devices:
* "The soldier's heart...it was like an iron cage." This vivid image portrays the emotional imprisonment and numbness that war can inflict.
* "The colour of the barley field...it was just the colour of his face." This creates a sense of intimacy and connection, highlighting the shared humanity of the two men.
6. Structure and Tone:
* The poem's simple structure and conversational tone: This directness and lack of embellishment make the poem all the more powerful. The reader feels the speaker's raw emotion and is drawn into the unsettling experience.
By effectively employing these literary devices, Hardy creates a haunting and unforgettable poem that exposes the tragedy and absurdity of war, challenging readers to consider the human cost of conflict.