"For some of them’s a blessed thing,
For if it were they’d have to scour..."See in text(Text of the Poem)
Hardy uses anaphora, or the repetition of words at the beginning of successive lines or phrases, to further underscore the immorality of warfare—as well as the sin of “‘striving strong to make/ Red war yet redder.’” God asserts that it is a good thing that Judgment Day has not arrived, for he would send these warmongers to hell.
This phrase is a simile, which involves comparing two things using the words “like” or “as,” in God’s portrayal of nations striving to make war even bloodier. God emphasizes the warmongers’ insanity by comparing them to hatters, who often suffered physical and mental health effects from the chemicals used in hat-making.
"nations striving strong..."See in text(Text of the Poem)
This phrase contains sibilance, a device in which words containing the letter “s” are repeated in succession so that they create a hissing sound when recited. The sibilance in the words “nations striving strong” indicates the relentlessness with which nations prepare themselves for a particularly bloody war.
"Till God called, 'No;..."See in text(Text of the Poem)
The third stanza introduces situational irony, or when an event occurs that is incongruous with the reader’s expectations. Hardy subverts the reader’s expectations, which are established by the seriousness of the preceding stanzas, by comedically introducing God after describing a drooling cow. Further, there is opportunity for the reader to momentarily interpret God’s assertive “No” to be intended for the cow—a situation that could be considered ridiculous.
"While drearisome
Arose the howl..."See in text(Text of the Poem)
The first two lines of the second stanza use enjambment, in which a thought, phrase, or idea that begins in one line continues into the next line. In this context, enjambment reinforces the poem’s rhythm while also creating a sense of anticipation as the speaker describes the dreary scene.
"And sat upright. While drearisome..."See in text(Text of the Poem)
Hardy uses a caesura in the first line of the second stanza by ending one phrase with a period before continuing onto the next phrase. A caesura is a pause within a line of poetry, typically in the form of punctuation such as a period (.), comma (,), em dash (—), or ellipses (...). Immediately interrupting the flow of the second stanza subverts the reader’s expectations of the poem’s rhythm, possibly foreshadowing the unexpected irony of the next stanza.
Hardy begins “Channel Firing” with a line that includes alliteration, or the repetition of words containing the same consonant. The repetition of the letter “g” in “great guns” establishes the poem’s steady rhythm at the onset while calling attention to the disruptive guns that awaken the dead.
