‘Mental Cases’ and ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ are two outstanding pieces created by Owen, each using techniques such as hyperboles, personification and imagery that associate the two poems, giving us, the readers, a bigger picture of what is happening in the poets eyes. In the poem Mental Cases Owen expresses his perception that war is taking away a soldiers future, a life full of happiness. It illustrates the bloodshed and suffering of war, using a series of graphical description of young men who are treated for war-related illness’, such as shellshock. It was a heart-wrenching poem for Owen because he himself was a patient of shellshock. The repetition of question marks and dashes illustrate the confusion and frustration witnessing Owens fellow comrades, it is a demanding tone begging for explanation for the entrapment of victims.
The soldiers that were fighting at war were dehumanised in many ways. Owen portrays this in his poem “Anthem for Doomed Youth”. During the war, soldiers were forced to go and fight for their country inorder to be labelled as ‘real men’. Due to the mistreatment, other teenage boys were suffering as they knew their time would eventually come to face their doom. “what passing-bells… for these who witnessed it”.
This can be interpreted as Owen attempting to illustrate the voice of many soldiers, through a poem. The line, “…Waiting for the dark” indicates that soldiers were simply waiting for death to come, either because they were critically injured, or because they were waiting to go into battle. Another interpretation of this is that soldiers cannot bear the day, as the sight of their injuries, and their comrades’ injuries is too big of a strain for them, therefore they would rather choose isolation over companionship. The rest of the first stanza, Owen describes how war had changed everything. He writes that “voices of boys rang saddening like a hymn” which indicates that laughter of children saddens him as he isn’t capable of laughing, because of the war.
The poet is saying that people should not talk about war as enthusiastically as it gives the impression that war is glorious. Furthermore, he says that the idea that ’it is sweet and right’ to die for your country is entirely untrue. Through this, we are able to form the opinion that war is not okay because it is a serious thing that carries many negative consequences. In Wilfred Owen’s poem Dolce et Decorum est, the use of similes conveys the harsh reality of war on soldiers as it changes them dramatically and kills the majority of them. In the first two lines of the poem, Owen uses the similes “Bent double like old beggars under sacks, knocked kneed, coughing like hags” to paint a grim picture in readers minds of how the soldiers were.
This can be seen in his two poems ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ and ‘Parable of the Old man and the Young’. Through these poems, Owen is motivated by a powerful examination of people during a highly negative state. Focusing on the exhaustion of soldiers and their movement throughout the battlefield is one of Owens key techniques throughout his poetry. When it comes to Owens poetry, the impact war has on the soldiers is clear, this is evident in his poem, ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’. Soldiers who go off to war are meant to be healthy and strong, however, this poem portrays the soldiers as old and unhealthy people.
Paul Baumer, the main character and narrator in All Quiet on the Western Front has been enlisted with his classmates in the German army of World War I. Throughout this novel, the author, Erich Maria Remarque expresses the horrors of war and how Paul’s friends and his life was impacted negatively because of such a bloody, terrifying war experience. Before the war, Paul was a compassionate and sensitive young man who loved his friends and family very much. The war had done horrible things to him and destroyed him both mentally and physically. Paul and his friends experienced death scenes from the ones that stood by them since they stepped foot on the battle field to the ones on the other side.
‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ is an anti-war poem written by Wilfred Owen back in1917, published in 1920.Dulce et Decorum est means ‘it is great to die for your country’. The poem describes a gas attack encountered by a group of tired, dying soldiers who have just finished their front line duties ‘are marched asleep’ back to their camp for a few days rest in a battlefield during the World War I. The poet is trying to depict a picture of the war’s cruelties, gruesome and atrocities through shifting rhythms, vivid descriptions and rich, raw images. Owen’s intention is to convince reader that the horror of the war far outweighs the patriotic clichés of those who glamorize it. Owen, a British Army officer, who was also took part in the war, was very much against the war.
“Dulce et Decorum Est” By Wilfred Owen Critical essay – Callum Kaczynski “Dulce et Decorum Est” is a truly inspiring poem written by Wilfred Owen. As a former soldier, Owen’s poetic exploration conveys the shocking reality of war, and his anger towards the destruction and devastation it causes. The physical state of the soldiers after war creates a pitiful sense of despair. “Bent double, like old beggars under sacks.” This simile shows that they may be seeking desperate help, rest, peace and shelter. At one point they were young, fit men, and now they are worn and weak.
Anthem for doomed youth In Wilfrid Owen’s poem “anthem for doomed youth” a strong anti-war message is conveyed through the strong views, harsh imagery and sarcastic irony. Looking at the title alone of the poem: anthem for doomed youth the bluntest aspect for me was the spiteful use of sarcasm and irony in the title. The use of the word ‘anthem’ evokes a sense of national pride and strength however the feeling is distorted by Owen when he implies that the youth of Britain are being lead blindly into certain death, tricked into fighting the inhumane war by their own countries. In the very first line of the poem Owen questions the morality of the generals and politicians sending the young men to their inevitable deaths, asking the generals and politicians how much these brave young men are worth. Are they people, sons of mothers waiting back home anxiously for their return, or just another statistic in the folder on the desk of their cushy offices well away from the hell on earth that was the first world war in the quote: “What passing bells for those who die as cattle?” Owen asks: who cares when these valiant young men who march forward unto their deaths, what passing bells?
“A good poem may lead to sadness, joyful or simply wandering, but it always leads us to think more deeply about life” Discuss this statement with reference to at least two Sassoon’s poems. A good poem may lead to sadness, joyful or simply wandering, but it always leads us to think more deeply about life. A War poem is a poem that is written on the subject of war. It is applied especially to those in military service. The nature of war poem is to show how horrible and disgusting war is.