The analysis of a poem: Dulce et Decorum Est

Question 1

(a) Describe what effects the poem has on you.

When reading this poem, I can clearly picture the horrifying scene of battle; it is deeply moving and the imagery is vivid due to Owen’s use of similes, metaphors and alliteration.

(b) Say what you think the subject matter is about.

The poem is a first-hand account of the terrible reality of trench warfare in the First World War. Owen portrays the soldiers as being tired broken and weak, whereas the authorities in Britain [at the time] were depicting them as brave, glorious and strong young men, honourably fighting for their country. This poem is the antithesis to the war propaganda of the British ‘recruitment drive’ during the Great War.

Question 2

(a) Identify and list in note form, three of the techniques used in these lines.

Simile: “like old beggars”, “like hags”
Alliteration: “Knock-kneed”, “Men marched”
Metaphor: “haunting flares”, “Drunk with fatigue”

(b) Comment in complete sentences on what the effects of the three techniques you have identified might be.

Owen uses similes comparing the soldiers to “old beggars” and “hags”, to convey how the war has reduced them to absolute wrecks. The resulting effect is an image of crumpled, broken, hopeless men at death’s door rather than strong, upright, warrior figures.
The use of alliteration alters the rhythm of the poem, thus drawing attention to the words. “Knock-kneed” portrays an image of weakened soldiers, buckling under the strain of the war. The repeated “M” sound in “Men marched asleep” suggests an out-of-body, mindless experience rather than a purposeful, rhythmic march.

Owen uses metaphors to create a vivid image. Referring to “haunting flares” he sets a ghostly scene. He describes the men as “Drunk with fatigue” for emphasis i.e. so tired that they are not compos mentis.

Question 3

Looking at the whole poem again:

(a) In no more than three sentences, give your interpretation of the meaning or meanings of the poem.

For me, the most obvious meaning is one of irony. From the very title - Dulce et Decorum Est - the poet is saying how sweet and honourable it is, although this is only part of the well-known phrase. He closes his poem with the complete phrase - Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori - how sweet and honourable it is to die for one’s country, and yet between the title and the closing lines he depicts a story which is, ironically, anything but sweet and glorious.

(b) In no more than two sentences, explain how the context helped you to understand the poem.

Owen begins his poem without any introduction to his subject - Bent double, like old beggars under sacks - he could be describing anything here and one wouldn’t immediately guess that he is writing about soldiers fighting a war. It was when I learned of the context of the poem that I understood he was writing about the horrors of war, which he experienced first-hand, and this poem is almost a plea for us to open our eyes to the reality of how inhuman war actually is.

(c) In no more than 500 words, write an account of this poem in continuous prose, showing how the techniques used create the effects that lead to your interpretation of the meaning of the poem.

Wilfred Owen’s poem “Dulce et Decorum Est” is a poem about soldiers fighting in the First World War. It is written on reflection by Owen, who fought alongside these soldiers and experienced the events first-hand. The title suggests a story of honour and glory; of men fighting for their country and being prepared to die for it, however from the first line, a completely different story unfolds. Herein lies the irony of the poem.

Following on from a glorious and somewhat romantic title, Owen opens the poem with a harsh, explosive sound in his first word “Bent”, in doing so he immediately shocks the reader and grabs their attention. Owen sets the scene in the first stanza, using imagery of similes and alliteration to paint the picture clearly in our minds:
“Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge”
This is not the scene that would immediately spring to mind if we were to think of brave soldiers, valiantly fighting the enemy. From the very outset, his negative description, referring to the young soldiers as old, broken, weak and wearing rags rather than pristine uniforms, is the opposite to what we expect to hear.

The start of the second stanza shocks again, as he begins to recount the story:
“Gas! GAS! Quick boys! - An ecstasy of fumbling, ”
More explosive sounds form the hard “G” and single syllable words that disrupt the rhythm of the poem thus drawing our attention to the immediacy of the situation and the irony that these soldiers are so young, yet experiencing life-threatening circumstances. Rhythm slows again in a vivid simile and metaphor to convey an unthinkable image in a single, poignant line:
“As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.”

In drowning, sounds become muffled, quiet; ironic, as we are still on the battlefield with Owen. He reflects on this nightmare that he relives; it is now personal to him: “In all my dreams”. A change of tempo in the rhythm sets this short, third stanza apart from the previous two. Owen elongates his words to emphasise the indelible image that haunts him:
“He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.”

In the final stanza, the reader is drawn in, to see the war through Owen’s experience. He uses imagery to convey the horrors of this war and wants us to see how the injured soldiers are not respected:
“If in some smothering dreams you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,”
They are described like animals and not the glorious, young heroes as promoted by the British recruitment drive in their propaganda; this is ironic. In the last four lines, Owen makes his point. Having given a vivid insight into the horrifying reality of soldiers in war, and shared his nightmares, he now refers to us, tongue-in-cheek, as “My friend” and tries to convince us off our pedestal to stop telling our young men the lie of how glorious it is to die for one’s country.