Composition

Outer composition

The poem "The Hero” by Siegfried Sassoon consists of three stanzas, each having six lines or verses. Most of the verses rhyme in couplets, two by two (aabb), for instance:

 ‘Jack fell as he'd have wished,’ the Mother said,
 And folded up the letter that she'd read.
 ‘The Colonel writes so nicely.’ Something broke
 In the tired voice that quavered to a choke (ll. 1-4)

The simple rhyming scheme allows the reader to focus on the content of the poem, rather than on its layout. This helps them understand the meaning of the poem and the importance of its message.

At the beginning of the second stanza, the verses have an alternate rhyme (abab):

Quietly the Brother Officer went out.
He'd told the poor old dear some gallant lies
That she would nourish all h...