“The dust, the fear, the high threat level, the isolation-all of that was the surge the soldiers knew . . . Here, Cummings had another thought: ‘This place is a complete shithole’“ (Finkel 148-149). The frustration of the soldiers develops further as the conditions continue to be unbearable and now deadly.
This simile is an important contrast of the information people were fed at the time of soldiers being strong and proud. Owen strips away the image of a glorified war to reveal the bitter and cruel nature of the war. The bitter imagery “Coughing like hags” and “but limped on” also develops the idea of these young man seeming old. Owen takes pity on these tired and weary soldiers as he describes them in the most unglamorous, inglorious manner. The statement “all went lame, all blind’, while being somewhat hyperbolic suggests that the soldiers had lost all previous objectives of war along with the line “cursed through sludge”.
What disciplinary problems became more widespread and evident within the armed forces during the latter stages of Vietnam? Why did these problems exist, how were they handled, and what was their overall impact on the war at large? Approaching the end of a purposeless, wasteful, undefined, and futile show of power, armed forces personnel understandably became restless. Compound with leadership disorderliness, indiscipline spread quickly amongst the ranks. Beginning with mere lack of proper grooming standards; as sympathetic solders of the antiwar movement lacked proper haircuts, displayed peace medallions, penned “UUUU” on their helmets meaning “We are the Unwilling, led by the Unqualified, to do the Unnecessary for the Ungrateful.” Desertion rate was at an all-time high, for all services during the Vietnam era and more so around the world.
Ralph is said to have ‘screamed, a scream of fright and anger and desperation.’ Here, the lack of punctuation shows how overwhelming the feelings are for Ralph and how they are uncontrollable. The use of the word ‘desperation’ also shows us how Ralph is so scared and helpless that he has become desperate for survival and consequently screams out allowing the feeling to be free. Because we are able to understand this we sympathise with Ralph, much like we did with Jerry. Jack and Emile are the two characters we despise in
He also makes it seem like everything is crumbling around Paul, and destroying all hope of survival and return to normal life for anyone who had experienced the front line. This is very different from pro-war poetry, which makes war seem fun. Something Remarque does either subconsciously or very well, is to make you feel sorry for the German and Central Powers’ soldiers, and to grow a subliminal hate for the allied soldiers, no matter who’s side you came in on. The Textbook also does this well, but in reverse. The Textbook gives off a sense of dislike towards the Central Powers, and made them seem primitive and destructive for no reason.
I’ll plug him right between the shoulder blades.” Brown believes that Clark is being unreasonable and abusive towards his authority as brown tore his uniform while doing fatigues. Clark has no mercy towards his men which ultimately leads to his death. The soldiers lack of mercy and resentment unfortunately led to them dying is a very sadistic emotional state and not in a noble and courageous
These two themes show the ugly side of war. Insanity among the soldiers and the way they view each other is very unusual. The soldiers can’t conform to one another or follow a common set of rules. The reader also sees that regardless of his mental state, Yossarian can’t be discharged. The theme of death, is one that is against war.
This is highlighted with "shut", "bleached" and "dark-clothed". The cleaver use of "shut shops", "sun blinds", "sovereigns", "kings and queens" compounds a critisasation of authority, Larkin does this through sibilance. Larkin then presents the loss in the next stanza with the repetition of the theme of innocence this is highlighted with the quotation "dresses", "never such innocence", "little" and "never such innocence again". This created a sense of destruction and how the war has taken the innocence of so many young people. Also the use off an oxymoron "restless silence" foreshadows the tragedy that is to come.
Owen is addressing the reader, who possibly doesn’t have the first hand experience of the war, and criticising the enthusiasm with which the war is described, particularly to vulnerable children (BBC, 2013). Owen uses the language and a variety of literary devices to vividly depict the true reality of war and suffering of the soldiers. This is evident from the first two lines where Owen uses simile to describe soldiers who are ‘like old beggars’ and ‘coughing like hags’ (lines 1,2). They are ‘blood-shod’, ‘drunk with fatigue’ (lines 6,7). Owen depicts soldiers not as undefeatable heroes, but desperate, weak, and pitiful human beings.
HOW DOES WILFRED OWEN CONVEY THE HORRORS OF WAR IN POETRY ? Many of Owen's poems direct anger towards the generals and those at home who have encouraged war.Owen's war poetry is a passionate expression of outrage at the horrors of war and of pity for the young soldiers sacrificed in it. It is dramatic and memorable, whether describing physical horror, such as in 'Dulce et Decorum Est' or mental torment such as in' Disabled'. His poetry evokes more from us than simple disgust and sympathy. Owen sympathizes with the vain young men who have no idea of the horrors of war, who are 'seduced' by others (Jessie Pope) and the recruiting posters.