What war is - o what that sound?

This is a line from the poem "The Battle of Blenheim" by Robert Southey. It's a powerful opening that immediately sets the tone for the poem, which is a critical examination of the glorification of war.

Here's a breakdown of the line:

* "War is..." This sets up a question or statement about the nature of war.

* "- o what that sound?" This abrupt interruption creates a sense of urgency and curiosity. The reader is immediately drawn in and wants to know what the sound is.

The "sound" in the poem is the sound of a battle, but it also represents the echo of war's impact on people's lives, even long after the fighting is over.

The line effectively uses a rhetorical device called apostrophe, where the speaker directly addresses an absent person or concept, in this case, "war" itself. This technique adds emotion and drama to the poem.

Let me know if you'd like to discuss the poem further!