Anthem for Doomed Youth and Facing It

Dulce et Decorum Est’ by Wilfred Owen and ‘The Soldier’ by Rupert Brooke are both poems commentating on the effects of war, yet both have two drastically different viewpoints. Both poems are examples of the authors’ perceptions of war; Owen’s being about its gruesome and harsh reality during his experience and Brooke’s about the glory of dying for one’s country. The poets express their sentimental emotions on the subject matter in terms of figurative language, tone, diction and imagery. The tone is exhibited through the use of unyielding and vivid imagery, primarily by the use of compelling metaphors and similes. Both poets swirl around the idea of death in the name of ones country, in this case England in the World War 1 era, but this example serves different purposes in the two poems.

Owen’s main aim was to open up the truth about war and the horrific and gruesome reality of being a soldier, contradicting the propaganda illustrating soldiers as heroic, honorable, and proud. Owen’s poem ‘Strange Meeting’ shows the horrors of war through dramatic and memorable imagery that allow us to feel deep pity for the young soldiers, whether it’s physical or the soldier’s inner mental pain. For example, “They will be swift with swiftness of the tigress” (line 29) is a metaphor describing the violent attacks during the war. Meanwhile, “With a thousand fears that vision's face was grained” (line 11) gives a clear picture of what the dead soldier’s face was like, bringing pity to the reader. These images are used to show the immense harm and the brutality of war and its effect on men.

In doing do I will look at how each poet is effective in conveying the message through their use of imagery. Wilfred Owen most eminent poem regarding war is known as Dulce et Decorum est which means The Old Lie in Latin. T... ... middle of paper ... ...eam for fighting for their country is in reality a living nightmare both physically and psychologically and in fact there is nothing honourable in war and life on the battlefield. Instead he wants the reader to understand that war rapes a soldier of human dignity. He does this effectively through the use of his bold description of the gas attack incident and his elaborate description of the soldiers appearances.

He tries to make it seem sensational, and plead to the younger generation by making it come across as heroic. In comparison to Brooks poem Owen describes images related to dying for your nation as cruel, painful and upsetting but Brooke views it as something extremely honorable and something to be proud of. Personally I feel that if you happen to die in the line of battle it is in fact a heroic death. While Brook's poem describes his views of war from an outsiders perspective, Owen's Poem gives an outstanding description of war as he experienced it firsthand. Brooke sees that laying down your life during the line of duty for your country is honorable and heroic, and while you engage the first stanza you will see that Brooke writes: "the rich dead”(1).

He conveys images and uses language in ways that can move the reader. In this essay I will look at two of his poems, written during and after the war, and aim to discuss the methods Owen uses in order to successfully influence the readers’ emotions. After reading each of the poems, I felt I was able to recognize more fully the suffering that the men on the front line endured. Although the full extent of the terror of the trenches should never be seen again, Owen’s writing gives a good idea of what war was like 90 years ago. The poems moved me and sadden me, and also opened my eyes to the horror of war.

Owen wants his readers to think about the harsh conditions of war, and understanding the tragedy and sad emotions of soldiers who wouldn’t get the last laugh since many of them die. To reference the title of the poem, Wilfred describes the weapons getting the last laugh at the end of each stanza. In “The Last Laugh,” Owen identifies the way in which the weapons have more power versus religion, family, and love. According to line 3, “The Bullets chirped -- In vain, vain, vain!,” the bullets are mocking his religion. The weapons might have hit the soldier to make him curse at God and be in vain.

Owen’s poem uses symbolism to bring home the harsh reality of war the speaker has experienced and forces the reader to think about the reality presented in romanticized poetry that treats war gently. He utilizes language that imparts the speakers experiences, as well as what he, his companions, and the dying man feels. People really die and suffer and live through nightmares during a war; Owen forcefully demonstrates this in “Dulce et Decorum Est”. He examines the horrific quality of World War I and transports the reader into the intense imagery of the emotion and experience of the speaker. Works Cited Griffith, George V. “Owen’s Dulce et Decorum Est”.

The essay discusses the opposing attitudes of a soldiers life, in which Owen’s poem has a horrid tone and Brooke’s has a patriotic tone. The use of personification which reviews how things have been written to represent certain actions, where Dulce et Decorum est uses pessimistic words and The Soldier uses optimistic words. Finally, the use of imagery in both poems to present diverse images and attitudes of war in the readers head. I believe Wilfred Owen has written the perfect poem to truly and realistically portray the true life of a soldier. The use of imagery and figurative language created an experience as if I was there on the battlefield.

Wilfred Owen's extremely powerful poem, 'Dulce Et Decorum Est' thoroughly criticises the ideology of war being 'a sweet and glorious way to die, fighting for one's country'. The combination of vivid imagery and poetic devices work to evoke a horrible anti-war feeling in the reader and encourage them to act and cease the on-going violence in the world. With powerful imagery and simple language, Owen allows the poem to be understood by the public at large so as to influence as many people as possible. The power of ideology is revealed and skilfully condemned by Owen's masterful writing of poetry and war is appropriately presented as the hideous thing it is.

Wilfred Owen The poems written by Wilfred Owen are about the horrors, the ugliness, the suffering and the countless tragedies that war has brought. The anti-war them and serious tone used in his poems is extremely effective at portraying ear as horrid and devastating. The detailed descriptions of blood, guts and death are overpowering. In the poem 'Dulce Et Decorum Est', Owen stresses how war should not be glorified or glamorised. The title meaning 'It is sweet and becoming to die for one's country' is used satirically because the poem describes the horror and agony that the soldiers endured during their time in the trenches.