Various imagery

Metaphors

Some metaphors are employed in Brooke's poem, particularly to depict the speaker. He is “a dust” (l. 5), a “body of England’s” (l. 7) or “a pulse” (l. 9.).  All of these metaphors depict the soldier upon his death; the first two refer to his physical body (corpse), while the third refers to his spirit. 

Also, “the eternal mind” is a metaphor for the Universe or God, while “breathing English air” (l. 7) may be associated with a metaphor for Britishness – e.g. nationality.

Personification

England is constantly personified when the author depicts his country. The first depiction makes us think of England as a nurturing mother:

A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
     Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam, (ll. 5-6)

In the last lines, the countr...