...Wilfred Owen wrote his poems as an attempt to stop the war and to make people realise how horrific it was. In a thorough examination of the poems "Anthem for Doomed Youth", "Dulce et Decorum Est" and "Disabled" and also with some reference to other works by Owen, it can be seen that he uses different poetical features, styles and methods. Wilfred Owen addresses his readers from different stances right up to him addressing the reader personally. This method is very effective in evoking feelings from great anger and bitterness to terrible sadness and even sarcasm, making the reader sometimes even feel guilty. Whichever way he chooses to portray the pity of the war the end result is always the same. "Dulce Et Decorum Est" is a direct attack at the people in Britain who had been taken in by the propaganda drive by telling them the truth of what life is really like at the front and in what conditions their sons, fathers, brothers etc. are in. "Dulce Et Decorum Est" consists of four unequal stanzas, the first two in sonnet form, and the last two in a looser structure. The first stanza sets the scene of soldiers limping back from the front. The authorial stance is of Owen telling us of his own personal experiences. The second stanza focuses on one man who could not get his gas mask on in time. This is a recurring nightmare that Owen has, where he sees one man "drown" in the gas and in the third stanza he describes how the man "plunges" at Owen, "guttering, choking, drowning." This...
Words: 2515 - Pages: 11
...In the poem “Dulce et Decorum est,” the author Wilfred Owen describes how war is hell. Men are pushed savagely across wildernesses to battle against their greatest fears. During the progressive era of World War I the use of barbaric tools of destruction were used in the midst of the war. Chemical Warfare was introduced and new mechanical demands were developed to destroy men’s hopes of freedom. Men feared each other because of the deeds they would perform to survive. Wilfred Owen transmits in words the emotions that men felt as death rained down upon them. Through Wilfred Owen’s poem, “Dulce et Decorum est,” he argues that men’s ethics had to be destroyed because of the will to conquer and survive, he portrays the logic behind a soldiers’ minds...
Words: 1205 - Pages: 5
...Wilfred Owen essay draft. The First World War rained havoc on the population of Great Britain and Europe between the years 1914 and 1918, causing catastrophe to the soldiers and their families. As well as many other European countries, Britain used propaganda as a tool and to make life on the front line sound more appealing to the average man. Propaganda posters were used to lure people into fight and to make those who decided not to fight appear as cowards among the other men that signed up. The propaganda worked and caused a positive opinion towards men going out to fight; which made more men go out to war and hope to come back as heroes. Many poets wrote about the things that occurred in World War One, such as, Wilfred Edward Salter Owen, who was one of the leading poets of the First World War. Born on the 18th March 1893, Owen was drafted into the army and he fought for Great Britain, which lead to his shocking, realistic war poetry on the horrors of trenches and gas warfare, which are mentioned in poems such as, ‘Dulce et Decorum est’, ‘Futility’ and ‘The Sentry’. His presence in the fighting for his country led him into being able to capture the life of the people on the front line and how it wasn’t glamorous as promoted to be and in reality it was a constant battle to stay alive even when not at front line. In addition to this, poets such as: Jessie Pope also wrote about World War One, Pope never was on the front line like Owen, or even been in a trench. Also...
Words: 1114 - Pages: 5
...Why is imagery so important in Wilfred Owen’s poem ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’? The Imagery used in Wilfred Owen’s ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ is a very important part of the poem; it is a very powerful tool when used correctly, and in Wilfred’s case he uses imagery very well to convey his point. The poem is about a soldiers experiences in the trenches at the Somme during World War One; what the soldiers had to deal with and how it affected them. When you read the poem you get a feeling of the harsh realities of war and what they endured from a currently serving soldier’s point of view. You also get a feeling of his thought on the Latin quote ‘Dulce et Decorum Est Pro patria mori’ (Horace.Odes.3.2), which roughly translates to ‘It is sweet and right to die for your country’, and how opposed he is to the lure of the quote, used to recruit young men into the army. Firstly I will examine and look at what imagery is and why it is used. Once we understand this I will examine how Wilfred Own used imagery in this poem and to what extent. I will look at what the poem is about and what message the writer is trying to get across to the reader, and what use of literary devices are used to help in this. By understanding why and how Wilfred used imagery we will be able to better understand the importance of it in his work. Imagery is important to any poet or writer; imagery is what you see in your mind when you are reading. Imagery to the writer is as colour would be to a painter, it is used to give...
Words: 925 - Pages: 4
...Themes and Elements of British World War 1 Poets July 28th, 1914 was a very grim day that changed history throughout the entire world. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria sparked the start of the first World War in Europe (Gorman 21). During World War 1, British soldiers began to express their wartime experiences through poetry as a way of recollection and to voice their own opinions about the war. Often writing poems to remain sane, the common themes and elements of the British soldier-poets often included the horrors of trench warfare, and the deplorable conditions of war; that the British soldiers encountered on an everyday basis. Two of the most influential poets of the great war were Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen. They both displayed many common themes and elements during the peak of their writing. These common themes and elements as well as some differences in their writings shall be discussed. Siegfried Sassoon grew up in a wealthy Jewish family where he often wrote poetry as a young child. As a young adult Sassoon’s only desire in life was to become a poet. Motivated by patriotism Sassoon joined the British Army, just as the threat of World War 1 was realised. As a soldier-poet he would eventually become one of the most well known and influential poets of the first World War. His poems were generally angry and compassionate towards the war, which often brought him public and critical acclaim. Sassoon served with the Royal...
Words: 2188 - Pages: 9
...Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen an Analysis The Work: Dulce et Decorum Est is a poem written during World War I by soldier and poet, Wilfred Owen. The poem is known for Owen’s graphic and realistic depiction of the horrible trench warfare of WWI. Owens paints a verbal picture of the scene, speaking in first person, and describes what’s going on to him and his fellow troop members. Important to mention is what the poems title means, it is latin for “It is sweet and right to die for one's country”. The phrase was commonly used during the WWI era, and thus would have resonated with Owen's readers in that time period (Poets.org). The poem starts out with Owen describing the troop of army men of which he is a member. He chronicles the men as been doubled over, “coughing like hags” as they “cursed through sludge”. He paints a grim picture of trench warfare that was so prevalent during WWI; describing the men trudging through the mud, saying “many had lost their boots but limped on”. In the next stanza comes utter panic as gas shells are dropped and hurled in troops direction. They rush to put on their helmets on and run to safety but by the end of the stanza Wilfred notices one of his comrades is in trouble, writing, “As under a green sea, I saw him drowning”. In the next two lines Owen uses powerful imagery talking about the helpless soldier. Saying, “In all my dreams, before my helpless sight, He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.” He truly gives you a sense...
Words: 908 - Pages: 4
...poems about war a lot of thoughts might be conjured up for some people. When reading poems about war there are many themes and feelings that get stirred up. Many start to gain feelings of nostalgia, pain and strength. Reading poems about war become moments that help paint a picture for the reader that may or may not understand them. One of the major themes and ideas of poems about war that comes up a lot is the idea of honor. In most poems about war readers read a lot about how honorable it is to be one of the brave people to fight for the country and how much of an admirable deed it is. Two poems come to mind when it comes to the idea and theme of honor. These poems are "To Lucasta, Going to the Wars" by Richard Lovelace and "Dulce et Decorum Est" by...
Words: 632 - Pages: 3
...suggestion on a piece that I find very interesting and should be used in the next edition. That is a poem by Wilfred Owen “Dulce et Decorum Est.” I consider myself to be a bit of a war buff, and this poem gives you the feeling that you are there in the trenches with the men. Wilfred Owen is able to give you a first person point of view of war through his poem. Owen uses great visual imagery on what life is like during trench warfare to help you feel like you are there beside him during the horrors of war. I beg of you to include Owen’s “Dulce et Decorum Est” in the next edition! Throughout the poem Owen uses visual imagery to get his message of the horrors of war through. In An Introduction, to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing you define visual imagery as “Often this experience is a sight . . .” (751). When reading “Dulce et Decorum Est” Owen gives the ability to visualize what is going on constantly throughout the poem. Owen is able to use visual imagery to show you the shape the men are in during the battle and what chaos goes on during a gas attack. Owen also uses visual imagery about the nightmares he deals with after the war. Many poems leave a lot to be interpreted, but Owen uses visual imagery to eliminate interpretation and give exactly what is happening. Through visual imagery Owen describes a clear picture of how all the men react during a gas attack. Owen tells how all the men rush around in chaos when they hear, “Gas! GAS! Quick, boys! – An ecstasy of fumbling...
Words: 827 - Pages: 4
...of soldiers in the war. World War One is known as “the war to end all wars”[1]. The war cultured “extreme suffering” which inspired many writers. The war also aided the advancement of attitudes towards the emotionality of men. Individual suffering is manipulated to intensify the pain by isolating singular characters. Sacrifices of the men force the reader into an uncomfortable atmosphere. Sebastian Faulks’ Bildungsroman Birdsong highlights the suffering of individual to understate that of the masses. Regeneration, written by Pat Barker in 1991, uses factual occurrences of Sassoon and Owen’s lives in Craiglockhart to detail historic experiences of suffering. The poetry features both pro and anti-war perspectives from historical figures featured within Regeneration. Birdsong emotively persuades readers that individual anguish has detrimental effects on soldier’s lives intensifying their suffering. The texts use third person narrative to create emotive circumstances which manipulate the reader into understanding the suffering as either mass or individual. The writers’ portrayal of individual suffering was the most poignant compared to the subversion of widespread suffering. The texts expose the stigmatization of physical disability as a cause of individual suffering. Historically, the dependence of disabled life reflects the burden faced by soldiers of returning to normality. Wilfred Owen’s poem Disabled explores the first-hand impacts and consequences of war, coupled with the persistent...
Words: 4265 - Pages: 18
...Wilfred Owen is Anti-War By Cianan Thomson Silhouetted against the backdrop of his own experiences as a soldier, Wilfred Owen’s anthology “The War Poems” elucidates the brutality of World War 1 and its corrosive effects on those involved. Owen’s acerbic depictions and horrific imagery aim to depict the truth of war and condemn those who romanticised its violent battlefield. Owen’s detestation towards war is emphasised through his description of the suffering and dehumanization of the soldiers. Additionally, he uses his anthology to slander the British government who has sent innocent soldiers to their deaths. Moreover, Owen criticises those who stay at home, unaware of the true horrors and devastations of war. Ultimately, Owen endeavours to expose the true barbarity of the “Great War” and evoke a sense of tragedy in his British readers whom were previously deceived by poets of the day who glorify war and the dying for one’s nation. Owen’s collection of War Poems explores the suffering of the soldiers by likening their treatment to the ruthless handling of livestock. In his poem, “Anthem for Doomed Youth”, Owen illustrates the soldiers as “[those] who die as cattle”. By likening the soldiers to cattle who are slaughtered by the masses, Owen depicts the vast casualties of war and the little mercy they receive for their death. Owen’s animal-related simile effectively dehumanises the soldiers, portraying their lives as valueless in the context of war. The soldier’s anonymity...
Words: 409 - Pages: 2
...Wilfred Owen letter: My own dearest Mother, Immediately after I sent my last letter, more than a fortnight ago, we were rushed up into the Line. Twice in one day we went over the top, gaining both our objectives. Our A Company led the Attack, and of course lost a certain number of men. I had some extraordinary escapes from shells & bullets. Fortunately there was no bayonet work, since the Hun ran before we got up to his trench. You will find mention of our fight in the Communiqué; the place happens to be the very village which Father named in his last letter! Never before has the Battalion encountered such intense shelling as rained on us as we advanced in the open. The Colonel sent round this message the next day: 'I was filled with admiration at the conduct of the Battalion under the heavy shell-fire.... The leadership of officers was excellent, and the conduct of the men beyond praise.' The reward we got for all this was to remain in the Line 12 days. For twelve days I did not wash my face, nor take off my boots, nor sleep a deep sleep. For twelve days we lay in holes, where at any moment a shell might put us out. I think the worst incident was one wet night when we lay up against a railwav embankment. A big shell lit on the top of the bank, just 2 yards from my head. Before I awoke, I was blown in the air right away from the bank! I passed most of the following days in a railway Cutting, in a hole just big enough to lie in, and covered with corrugated iron. My brother...
Words: 3392 - Pages: 14
...comparison of WW1 poems Frederik Jensen 2.a Comparing the two poems “Dulce et Decorum Est” (1920), by wilfred Owen, and “Who’s for the game?” (1916), by Jessie Pope, is definitely an interesting task. They both share the same subject, World War 1, but offer different purposes and perspectives. The contrast between the two poems is actually quite phenomenal. The two poets were both motivated by the Great War to write poems, because they both had a message that they felt like they needed to deliver, but they used different methods in order successfully carry out their messages. The English poet and soldier, Wilfred Owen, uses rhythmic patterns and grim language to describe the realities of life in war, whereas the journalist, Jessie Pope, gave potential soldiers a more patriotic, emotional, yet misleading image of war. Wilfred Owens poem “Dulce et Decorum Est” is an incredibly powerful poem, with shocking and grim imagery. Formally, the poem is a combination of two sonnets, but the spacing between the two is irregular. The poem also makes use of cross rhyme, which carries out through most of the poem. In the first stanza Owens gives tells the story in first person, giving us an insight in the “soldier experience” during this war. “Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots, but limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind” this indicates that the horrors of war became so frequent, so normal that all men went “blind” to them. It was an experience that included terrible...
Words: 818 - Pages: 4
...desensitized and detached to war. Indeed, even horrible experiences of soldiers and survivors become desensitized and the bitter reality becomes like a normal fiction for individuals. For People, being bombarded with information about war doesn’t necessary increases the sympathy and empathy towards it. As a matter of fact, it seems to be that war has become norm, desensitized and inevitable for our nation. From my point of view, war poetry can significantly help readers visualize the conditions and emphasize with the soldiers’ experiences of war. The content, message...
Words: 1051 - Pages: 5
...English Literature, Key Poems List Thomas Hardy: Men Who March Away - Volunteers marching to war tell those who watch them pass by of their faith in the justice of their cause. Thomas Hardy: In Time of ‘The Breaking of Nations’ - The routines of life and love continue during conflict, and will continue long after it is over. Rupert Brooke: Peace - This sonnet is an expression of thanks for being able to respond to the call to arms and leave behind the stale and empty concerns of civilian life. Rupert Brooke: The Dead - Celebrates those who have given their lives. The sacrifice of the lowliest of them has given the world honour and nobility. Rupert Brooke: The Soldier - A solider reflects that, should he die, his grave will become a little piece of England in a foreign country. Herbert Asquith: The Volunteer - Celebrates a city clerk whose dreams of military glory have been fulfilled. His death in battle is rewarded with a place alongside the heroes of the Battle of Agincourt. Julian Grenfell: Into Battle - Celebrates spring and moves on to describe the validity of the warrior, whose sacrifice will be rewarded. Nature and the solider are at one and this gives him peace and a sense of destiny. John McCrae: In Flanders Fields - The dead, lying beneath ground covered with poppies, urge the living to continue the struggle against the enemy. Charles Sorley: All the Hills and Vales Along - Addressing men marching past, the poet urges them to sing while...
Words: 1545 - Pages: 7
...by Alfred Lord Tennyson. In contrast, “Dulce Et Decorum Est” was written in the twentieth century by Wilfred Owen. The main similarity observed is that they both capture wartime experiences. However, the poets’ present these events using their own style and the effect is two completely different observations of war. The themes of the two poems are portrayed in very distinctive ways. “The Charge of the Light Brigade” explains in a majestic approach that fighting in war is something every soldier should honor. The poem is also about the loyalty of the soldiers, not the bad luck or foolishness of men. Tennyson presents this in his poem to show the bravery of the soldiers, although, he only highlights on the benefits of war. Tennyson’s poem glorifies the war, celebrating the sacrifice they had made for their country with the statement “Honor the charge they made”, (“The Charge of the Light Brigade”, line 51, Tennyson). By glorifying the Brigade, Tennyson has ignored the obscurity and massacre of the war. This is shown by the loyalty that the soldiers have for their country. The commitment of war in “The Charge of the Light Brigade” is only shown because Tennyson's looking at war from afar. We can see this because in the poem he has not used descriptive language to describe what war was like and has not shown the real outcome of war. In contrast, “Dulce Et Decorum Est” gives us the complete opposite. It takes away the...
Words: 1868 - Pages: 8
