Imagery

To express his frustrations with the way in which soldiers are treated after they return home from the front, Siegfried Sassoon employs several stylistic devices in “Does It Matter?” which we present below.

Metaphors

An interesting metaphor is that of the soldier “turning (his face) to the light” (l. 10), which can mean finally understanding the true meaning of warfare and peace, but also what his sacrifice truly means for those at home. Then, the “dreams in the pit” (l. 11) are a metaphor for the soldier’s innocence and hope – both of which he lost while fighting on the front.

Symbols

The first symbol that we encounter in the poem is that of hunting. First, hunting symbolises masculinity and raw power, something which the soldier lacks after losing his legs in the battle. Secondly, hunting may also symbolise any a...