Analysis of Wilfred Owen's Poem "Dulce et Decorum Est
Wilfred Owen's poem "Dulce et Decorum Est" vividly depicts the harsh realities of war, contrasting the romanticized notions of patriotism with the brutal truth of soldiers' sufferings. Through powerful imagery and irony, Owen challenges the glorification of war, showing the physical and mental toll it takes on soldiers. This analysis touches on the context of the poem, Owen's intentions, and the stark portrayal of warfare presented within the verses.
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Eac Each guided poetry lesson will cover a different poem from the 17 in the anthology. It is important to remember that you will NOT be allowed to take your annotated anthology in to the exam.
Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen Poem 15.
Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge, Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs And towards our distant rest began to trudge. Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind; Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots Of tired, outstrippedFive-Ninesthat dropped behind. Gas!Gas! Quick, boys! An ecstasy of fumbling, Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time; But someone still was yelling out and stumbling, And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime . . . Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light, As under a green sea, I saw him drowning. In all my dreams, before my helpless sight, He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.
If in some smothering dreams you too could pace Behind the wagon that we flung him in, And watch the white eyes writhing in his face, His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin; If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues, My friend, you would not tell with such high zest To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est Pro patria mori.
AO3 Context Wilfred Owen (1893 1918) fought in World War 1. In 1914, at the start of the war, people were very na ve and excited about the thought of fighting the Germans. The war was expected but instead it lasted for four years. As a result of this, propaganda was needed to recruit soldiers, and Jessie Pope wrote the poem Who s For the Game? to encourage young men to enlist by comparing warfare to a game. Wilfred Owen wrote Dulce et Decorum Est in response because he wanted to show the brutality and horrors of war. The Latin title of the poem is taken from the Roman poet Horace, and Owen has used it ironically. Owen died in 1918, two days before the war, and his poem was published posthumously.
AO1 - Questions First thoughts How would you DESCRIBE the stereotypical image of a soldier? Each stanza describes something different. What happens in each stanza? What is your reaction to the opening two lines of the poem? If you could ask Wilfred Owen two questions about the poem, what would they be?
AO2 - Questions Read the first stanza carefully and underline all the words and phrases that describe the soldiers. Do you think these words create a positive or negative image of the soldiers and the conditions? Think of three adjectives to describe the mood and atmosphere of the first stanza. Find evidence from the stanza to support each idea. How does the poet make the gas attack sound terrifying in the second stanza? Look at the final stanza. Highlight all the words Owen has used to describe the dying soldier. What effect do you think Owen wanted these words to have on the reader?
AO2 - Questions Why do you think the two line stanza is separated from the rest of the poem s stanzas? What do you think Owen is trying to suggest by creating stanzas of uneven length? How does Owen use punctuation to change the mood and pace in the second stanza?
Latin It is sweet and right. DULCE ET DECORUM EST Simile to show discomfort and lack of dignity Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge, Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs And towards our distant rest began to trudge. Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind; Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots Of tired, outstrippedFive-Ninesthat dropped behind. Personal pronouns to show solidarity Powerful imagery highlights the conditions and weariness of the soldiers
Juxtaposition of word choices burning and drowning presents a terrifying situation. War is neither glorious or a noble death Pause represents loss of breath Sense of panic during the gas attack Ellipsis suggests the floundering is drawn out Gas!Gas! Quick, boys! An ecstasy of fumbling, Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time; But someone still was yelling out and stumbling, And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime . . . Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light, As under a green sea, I saw him drowning. Extended Metaphor refers to drowning and suffocating Disorder and powerlessness In all my dreams, before my helpless sight, He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning. Triple description of the soldier s plight speaker seems haunted like he cannot find words to describe the scene Indignity of battle Under the event is viewed by the speaker through his mask.
Assonance of I sounds. Alliteration of W suggests the Victim is squirming in pain. Addresses the reader separates those who have been to war from those who have not. If in some smothering dreams you too could pace Behind the wagon that we flung him in, And watch the white eyes writhing in his face, His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin; If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues, My friend, you would not tell with such high zest To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est Pro patria mori. Repetition of face signifies that this body part is a horrific sight to the speaker Gruesome imagery almost like you can hear it. Simile highlights the gargling sound as blood fills the mans lungs Owen has vomited in his mouth and had to sallow it back down again. Appeals to our sense of compassion. It is sweet and glorious to die for one s country. It is a lie there is no glory about it as Owen has described. Reality of war
