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Rupert Chawner Brooke was an English poet whose career was cut short due to a tragic event while serving for his country during World War I. Rupert Brooke was a much loved English poet whose death spoke volumes to many and touched many people. His poetry was touching and beautiful and could be related to by many people. His life was short but had many events in that short time. Rupert Brooke was born at Rugby, Warwickshire on August 3, 1887. His father’s name was William Brooke and was an assistant master at the school in Rugby. Rupert’s mother’s name was Mary Ruth Cotterill. Rupert was the second of three sons. Dick and Alfred were the names of his other two brothers (Keynes 1). Rupert attended school in Rugby where his father was assistant master, and in 1905 won a prize for a poem called "The Bastille” (Lavington 161). Brooke was a very athletic kid growing up and played both cricket and football for the school (Lavington 161). He soon found out that these games were not for him and so he took up the game of tennis and became very good at it. He also took a great interest in swimming. When he wasn’t doing athletics he was always at a Russian ballet, which was another joy of his. In 1906 he went up to King's College, Cambridge, and became friends with G.E. Moore, Lytton Strachey, Maynard Keynes, Roger Fry, and Leonard Fry (kirjasto). While at Cambridge, he was interested in acting and was the Secretary and President of the University Fabian Society. Later on in his years at King’s College he went through a phase of vegetarianism which didn’t last very long but was experimented with (Lavington 161). In 1910 Rupert’s father died suddenly and Brooke for a short time was deputy housemaster in Rugby. His mother then became his only influence, even though she had already been a great influence on him and his poetry. This strong influence helped him in his writings and his life. Brooke’s first book, Poems, was published in 1911, which would not be his last. Although Rupert was gifted with his good looks and gifted writing skills he too had women troubles. Between 1908 and 1912 he had fallen in love with three women. Their names were Noel Olivier, who was the youngest daughter of the governor of Jamaica, Ka Cox, who was next after him as the President of the Fabian Society, and Cathleen Nesbitt who was an Irish actress (Keynes 36). During the year of 1911 Rupert was engaged with Noel Olivier but this is when he had fallen in love with Ka Cox. Rupert followed his new love and traveled to Lulworth to join Ka Cox and her friends in a reading party. People who were among them at that time were Lytton and James Strachey, Maynard Keynes, and Henry Lamb (kirjasto). Lamb was married at the time but also had a love for Ka Cox. Finally Rupert’s heart was broken when Ka told him that she was in love with Lamb and not him. This heartbreak can show through in his poetry. Although it hasn’t been proven it is said that Ka Cox had his child. Rupert kept in close contact with all three women through letters written as he traveled. He was unable to make any of the three relationships work and after the third failed he left England to travel. Rupert’s heart break along with his overwork for his Fellowship for King’s wore him down and in January of 1912 he was told by a specialist to get some rest, gave him a special diet, and recommended getting sunshine. These recommendations led him to go with his mother to Cannes (kirjasto). This trip lasted for a short time and soon he was back to try and regain the love of Ka Cox. These events led him to lose contact with his friends of the Bloomsbury Group because of his conflicts with Lytton Strachey and the love for Ka Cox. He had been in Munich, Berlin, and in Italy, and in May 1913, he left England again for a year to figure out what he wanted to do with his life and to just wander around and think about his life. He was awarded his Fellowship at King’s but decided not to take it up right away. While on this wandering trip he passed through the United States and Canada on his way to the South Seas. While traveling in the United States and Canada he wrote essays about his impressions of the new world which were printed in the Westminister Gazette which were received with humor by those who read them (Keynes 648). In one of his travel papers he described the city of Quebec as having "the radiance and repose of an immortal" (Lavington 162). After traveling through the states and Canada Brooke settled down in Tahiti at Mataia. This new scene bought forth some of his best poetry. In Tahiti Brooke had lived with a Tahitian, Taatamata. Brooke left Tahiti on April 5, 1914 to return to England and later on in the year of 1914 Taatamata had a daughter who is said to have been the daughter of Rupert Brooke (kirjasto). Then came World War I. "Well, if Armageddon's on," he said, "I suppose one should be there" (Lavington 162). He obtained a commission in the Hood Battalion of the Royal Naval Division in September and was ordered on the expedition to Antwerp. Here he had his first experience of war, lying for some days in trenches having to deal with the realities of war, waiting in silence as enemy shells flew overhead (Keynes 562). After his mission to Antwerp, Rupert joined the Dardenelles expedition. Brooke did not see any action on this expedition. He never reached the Dardanelles. On Saturday April 10, 1915 Brooke’s troopship left for Lemnos. Brooke and the men aboard his ship were sent to Tris Boukes Bay, which was off the south west of Skyros. They reached their destination Saturday, April 17. Tuesday, April 20 is when Brooke began to get seriously ill, noticing a swelling in his lip and a mosquito bite he had received earlier. These symptoms were noticed as blood poisoning and he was soon moved to a French hospital ship where he later died of blood poisoning on Friday, April 23, which was the day of St. Michael and Saint George (kirjasto). He was buried at night, by torch light, in an olive grove on the island of Skyros (Holmes 529). For such a profound poet his burial isn’t anything impressive. On his grave is just a wooden cross with the date of his birth and the date of his death. A few days later the news of his death was published in the Times' with the following appreciation: "W.
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