Warrior Poet: Difference between revisions
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Thus singers, poets, and writers have gone off and joined the armed forces, looking for that glory and enlightenment. They are often welcomed by the other warriors who want someone who can express their feelings and experiences in poetry or song. Often because they themselves feel those things too deeply to be able to express them bluntly in plain words [[Wisdom from the Gutter|(unless they are drunk).]]
That's were this character comes in. He's fought in battle and is no slouch at war making, but he thinks about the purpose behind all the bloodshed and philosophizes on the meaning of life and death. Since [[War Is Hell]] he tends to have a bit of a melancholy tone about it all. Perhaps his poems long for peace as only a man who has seen war can. However, since [[War Is Glorious]] he might write songs glorifying the battle he just witnessed. If he is a supporting character, expect other warriors in his [[Band of Brothers]] to be moved by his poetry and philosophical insights when he shares them. If he emphasizes his responsibility to face the rigors of war as a public service he might be [[The Stoic|a stoic]](literal or metaphorical).
If he's the lead he might be a loner, with his fellows unable to understand his way of thinking. It probably also is a way of showing his [[Love Interest]] that he's not just a bloodthirsty barbarian, but actually a sensitive soul who is forced to do horrible things because of the war.
'''Note''':
Do NOT mistake this for [[Cultured Badass]]. That trope is about a [[Badass]] with 'cultured' hobbies, this trope is about a mindset rather than hobbies. For example, a [[Cultured Badass]] can appreciate love poetry but a '''Warrior Poet''' will incorporate that poetry into his daily life and thoughts about warfare. Alternatively, a [[Cultured Badass]] can [[Blood Knight|enjoy battle for the thrill and pleasure]] while a '''Warrior Poet''' will [[Don't Think, Feel|espouse something more mystical and/or spiritual]]. Read both descriptions if you need to.
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▲{{examples}}
== Anime and Manga ==
* Gennosuke Kouga from ''[[Basilisk]]'' is not only a mighty swordsman who doesn't even need to brandish his blade to kill you, he's also a talented flautist and dancer.
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* In [[Honor Harrington]] treecats often think humans make to much to-do about fighting and divide enemies simplisticly into those who are dead and those who are about to be. On the other hand Nimitz when he first meets Theisman, the hardbitten Havenite Secretary of War, calls him, ''Dreams of Peace''. In some ways the Havenite experience of various tyrannical regimes succeeding each other has made them think more about what they are fighting for then Manticorans who have the good fortune to have a comparatively decent state and a blatant aggression to fight against. Honor herself is a lover of naval history, and a cultural interlink which requires a bit of subtlety and she joined the navy originally because she believed she would be needed. Whether or not she is a true warrior poet is debatable because it is somewhat downplayed.
*Ythrians in [[Technic History]] are an entire species of warrior poets. However they really spend less time at war then [[Humans Are Warriors|humans]] because their carnivorous lifestyle makes for a low population to territory ratio and a lack of interest in political organization. They are far from a [[Perfect Pacifist People]], they have a history of feuds, and wax lyrical about hunting. And they are good enough warriors to defend themselves in a [[HAD to Be Sharp|hard universe.]] They are simply not conquerors and don't wage massive bloodfests if they can help it.
* Johney in [[Starship Troopers]] is a rather plainspoken fellow and does not always seem cultured as such but he spends much time musing over the nature of soldiering.
== Live Action TV ==
* Worf, of ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'', sometimes.
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== Music ==
* The novelty song/comedy sketch "Boot to the Head (Tae Kwan Leep)" by [[The Frantics]] features a martial arts master trying to teach philosophy and mediation to his students. When Ed Gruberman makes it difficult, he shows him why he is the master.
* Much of the lasting appeal of slain rap icon [[Tupac Shakur]] is the question of whether he was, deep down, an intellectual or a thug.
* Celtic Folk Song [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ssHxZABrpE "The Minstrel Boy"], about a minstrel boy that goes to fight in a war.
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*** Jack's poetry also seems to be less a cultured pursuit, and more a way of grappling with her own personal demons (of which she has plenty).
** Kasumi is revealed to have written several haiku (again, from the Shadow Broker's files).
* Vivec from ''[[Morrowind]]'' is technically considered to be a poet. He is author of [https://web.archive.org/web/20100505124959/http://www.imperial-library.info/mwbooks/lessons.shtml The 36 lessons of Vivec] (in-game books) which are poetic and extremely cryptic stories of his greatness. The Lessons sometimes break the fourth wall in very subtle ways but mostly they just confuse you. And yet, one of these Lessons detail how he ''poked an evil god that had betrayed him into a crevice of fire with his spear''. However since Michael Kirkbride, who wrote the Leasons, did not write Vivec's dialogue Vivec seems way too plain spoken for a poet when you meet him in-game. In fact, his title actually is "Warrior Poet".
* [[Blood Knight]] Karel managed to turn into one of these after [[Fire Emblem]] 7. In the chronological sequel, [[Fire Emblem]] 6, he's a calm and philosophical swordsman, a far cry from his bloodthirsty younger self.
* Colonel Corazon Santiago shows signs of this in ''[[Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri]]''. As with all faction leaders, the game occasionally gives quotes from her, ostensibly excerpts from books she's written, and while her philosophical side is very military-oriented and bleak, it's also perfectly suited for the [[Death World]] she and her followers have landed on.
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** But one day he finds himself travelling through the desert, and his company is set upon by bandits. Hopelessly outnumbered, Mutanabbi and company turned to flee, but he was stopped by a servant who asked him, "What about those famous lines of yours, 'I am known to night, and horses, etc.'" Determined to make good on his rep, Mutanabbi turned and charged the bandits single-handedly. [[Downer Ending|He was instantly killed]].
** For that matter however, played straight with ancient Arab tribes of the Quraysh during around 6th century AD in Mecca. While a good bit of them are traders, the most renowned warriors are also poets; in fact, one's prestige during the Quraish era was either on their feats of prowess in combat and/or their poetry. The affinity of poetry in Middle East is in full effect even today, and while the "warrior" aspect has faded nowadays, it certainly was in full force in ancient times.
***In those days any where on the travel routes was lawless and in foreign cities the law might be hostile and the public jealous enough of foreign merchants to hold a pogram. Traders went through almost as much danger as warriors and many knew how to fight on their own account. Also it was not unknown even for nobles among some peoples to go on trading voyages, especially when a little opportunistic banditry might spice things up. This of course varied; some groups considered it ignoble to be in trade. But it is safe to say that there would have been several traders who were also warrior poets.
* [[Bruce Lee]] graduated from university with a degree in Philosophy. He wrote a book about the philosophy behind his martial art while recuperating from a spinal injury caused by excessive weightlifting.
* Julius Caesar, [[Magnificent Bastard]] extraordinaire if there ever was one, was not only one of the greatest military geniuses ever, but also a great prose writer and poet. Although his surviving prose works are still admired to this day, practically none of his poems survives... however his fellow ancient Romans seem to have been [[Broken Base|divided over the quality of his
* Does Erich Maria Remarque (of ''[[All Quiet on the Western Front]]'' fame) count, since he wrote an anti-war book?
** Considering that he was a veteran of The Western Front, I would say so. It is especially true, when you consider the significan factor of the disconnect between the frontline soldiers and those they left behind (without even getting into the garritroopers who stayed back as well, who are treated with proper disdain by Remarque).
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**Despite it's heady history of religious and political conflict and it's contribution to political theory, England seems to be an aversion to the above and to have been defended mostly by fairly mundane professionals who give few thoughts to such things. Partly because of it's need for Imperial policing which mainly requires soldiers that do the job without embarrassing their bosses to much. England has had it's warrior poets famously outliers like spies and special ops people but there was a strain of distrust for intellectual soldiers that was often detrimental to efficiency as intellectuals are also the ones who study strategy, tactics, and military history. English officers are often loyal and decent folk who [[Officer and a Gentleman|mix well in civilized circles]] and English enlisted men are legendary for their ability to [[Determinator|take what is thrown at them.]] But the English warrior-poet tradition though it exists is not as intense as in some countries.
***A lot of it was because rather then in spite of the seventeenth century factionalism. After the Hanovers were well established there was a consensus that they had a good thing going as nations go, and in any case they wanted soldiers who Don't Rock The Boat.
* In a way humans are a [[Warrior Poet]] [[Humans Are Warriors|species]]. We can't help but see beauty in the most ferocious creatures even when we are more likely to have them as enemies then allies, and we make them totems for tribes(the Lion of Judah), warrior bands(Screaming Eagles), or individual warriors(LEONidas the Spartan). Which is kind of odd when you think of it as a lion is more likely to run away from Leonidas the Spartan then the reverse.
{{reflist}}
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