The Individual and Society

24

Naming of Parts

Henry Reed

Henry Reed (1914–1986) was born in Birmingham. He was a teacher and journalist before the war and afterwards a radio broadcaster and playwright with the BBC. One of the great formative influences on his career as a writer was his experience in World War II when he served in the British army, mainly as a Japanese translator. ‘Naming of Parts,’ ‘Judging Distances’ and ‘Unarmed Combat’ came out under the heading ‘Lessons of War’ in a volume of poetry called A Map of Verona (1946).

‘Naming of Parts’ is one of the best poems to have come out of World War II. The incongruity and insanity of war is suggested in the poem through the juxtaposition of two voices—while the army instructor tries to hammer home his dull lessons, ...