Analysis Of The Poem 'With An Identity Disc' By Wilfred Owen

Wilfred Owen’s poem With an Identity Disc highlights his sombre and gloomy view on war whilst including an aspect of hope. This poem describes that he would be fine staring into the face death if he were to be fighting for his country in battle rather than in a grave. The main topic of this poem originates from the identity discs that were worn by the British soldiers in World War One.

English poet, Wilfred Owen is popular for his gruesome, realistic poetry about the revulsions of World War One. Wilfred’s poem With an Identity Disc accurately conveys what his opinions on fighting for your own country mean, and that it important to have honour for your country. This is shown by the phrase “If I ever dreamed of my dead name” because this tells us that he would possibly go to war. Another phrase in this poem “No rather thank I God there is no risk”, tells us that it is honourable to go to war as there is no risk. It is riskless due to the fact that you receive glory and importance for going and standing up for your country. Due to the majority

The allusion of honour is strongly shown in the last stanza which is an indirect reference to honour. The phrase “But let my death be memoried on this disc” and “Wear it, sweet friend. Inscribe no date nor deed”, shows this concept fantastically. Another example of allusion in Owen’s poem is the war aspect which is portrayed well in combination with honour as it gives the audience a sense of hope. The war characteristic of this poem gives it a depressed and gloomy mood due to his apt word choices such as; “quiet”, “death” and “shame”. The use of juxtaposition between war and honour is what really makes this poem stand out from the others. It constrains the reader by forcing them to think about what is actually going on which is how this poem drags the audience under its