Hurt Locker

Fiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 2005

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Poem Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Literary Devices

Further Reading & Resources

Related Poems

“The Soldier” by Rupert Brooke (1915)

“The Soldier” is the fifth poem in a series of poems titled 1914. Published in 1915, the series appeared as part of a book titled 1914 and Other Poems. It often appears in contrast with Wilfred Owen’s “Dulce et Decorum est.” The poem is written in the Petrarchan/Italian sonnet form, which consists of 14 lines. The sonnet conveys the memories of a deceased soldier who declares his patriotism as well as the understanding that his sacrifice is owned by all of England. The poem has significant cultural reference and influence, and it has been alluded to in songs by Pink Floyd and in TV series like Blackadder Goes Forth.

“‘A bridge used to be there, someone recalled’” by Serhiy Zhadan (2019)

In this poem, Ukrainian poet Serhiy Zhadan depicts the toll war takes on civilians. The poem utilizes images of patrols and their interactions with civilians. The poem’s speaker remains ambivalent and does not reveal which cause or perspective they support. Like “The Hurt Locker,” Zhadan’s poem is filled with images that balance civilian life with military life, but the overwhelming images of war dominate the poem. The poem is also an examination of how military forces interact with local populations during wars and conflicts.

“The War was Good, Thank You” by Hugh Martin (2013)

Hugh Martin is the author of The Stick Soldiers. A contemporary of Brian Turner, Martin won the 2012 A. Poulin Jr. Poetry Prize from BOA Editions, Ltd. Martin also wrote a chapbook entitled So, How was the War? (2010). In this poem, the speaker recollects various experiences from their time at war. The speaker depicts “small steel hooches” (Line 1) and other moments of boredom and life at war. The speaker focuses on humane moments, such as “A man / and a woman backed from a doorway” (Lines 9-10) as “They kissed, then turned” (Lines 12). Martin’s poem deviates from the violent images and subject matter of other war poets.

Further Literary Resources

“An Interview with Poet and Memoirist Brian Turner” by Zocalo Public Square (2022)

In this unique interview, poet and memoirist Brian Turner discusses his poetic influences, and he even waxes personal and shares fun facts about his favorite TV shows and foods. Turner also discusses his most recent influences, such as Dorianne Laux’s work. Turner also discloses hidden talents and how he procrastinates. This interview allows readers to gain deeper insights to Turner’s personality, inspirations, hobbies, and writing processes.

“A Conversation with Brian Turner” by Patrick Hicks (2011)

In this The Missouri Review interview, Patrick Hicks interviews poet Brian Turner about Turner’s military career, poetry career, and the intersection of the two. With Hicks, Turner discusses the many facets of a writer’s career. He also discusses his poetry collection Here, Bullet, which earned him widespread media attention and other prestigious notability. Turner then shares ideas about why he turned to poetry and how his childhood desire to become a historian influences his writing career. Hicks questions Turner about the influence of other war poets like Yusef Komunyakaa on his work. Turner also discusses various events from the Iraq War that did not garnish immediate American media attention but inspired the poems in Here, Bullet.

“Framing War: The Politics of Embedded Reporting in Brian Turner’s Here, Bullet” by Catherine Irwin (2015)

In this article, Catherine Irwin discusses the critical perspectives of the Iraq War that journalists deemed too sensitive for the public. Irwin researches the narratives the media shaped in order to garner support for the Iraq War. Irwin carefully examines the poems in Turner’s Here, Bullet by specifically analyzing the speaker. Specifically, Irwin highlights the precariousness between the Iraqi and American perspectives within Turner’s collection. Irwin also focuses on how the speaker embodies the training the military culture enforces. This training influences public perception, casting the military as a civilizing force. Irwin also focuses on “Eulogy,” the only poem in Here, Bullet focused on the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal.