Comparison of Charge of the Light Brigade and Dulce et Decorum

Comparison of Charge of the Light Brigade and Dulce et Decorum

A Comparison of Two Poems

In this essay I will compare two poems. The poems that I will discuss,

are ’Charge of the Light Brigade’ by Alfred, Lord Tennyson and ‘Dulce

Et Decorum’ by Wilfred Owen. Wilfred Owen was actually a fighter in

the war, where as Alfred, Lord Tennyson only wrote the poem on what he

had heard and he had no experience of war. Although both poems are

about war, they are a complete contrast to each other, not only in the

way they are written but also with the message they deliver.

‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ delivers a strong message. The theme of

this poem is war. The poem gives us the impression that war is

glorious and noble. The poem consists of phrases such as ‘When can

their glory fade?’ ‘Honour the charge they made’, ‘The noble six

hundred’. This shows that in Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s eye, it is noble

and glorious to fight and die for your country.

The message that ‘Dulce Et Decorum’ delivers is very different. Again

the theme of this poem is war, but it tells us of the disaster, chaos

and truth of war. The poem ends with a very clear message:

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

‘Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori’ is Latin and it means it is

sweet and fitting to die for one’s country. Wilfred Owen sees this as

a lie as he believes war is violent, disastrous and glorified. So as

you can see the view of war in ‘Dulce et Decorum’ is very different to

that of ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’.

‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ makes us picture war as glorious and

honourable. We picture well dress...

... middle of paper ...

... and if you

die for your country you’re a hero and you should be honoured.

When can their glory fade?

O the wild charge they made!

All the world wondered.

Honor the charge they made,

Honor the Light Brigade,

Noble six hundred.

The message that ‘Dulce Et Decorum’ delivers is a complete contrast.

It tells the reader that war is chaos, pain and is not worth a life.

Wilfred Owen makes his point at the end of the poem in which he says

‘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’ Which is Latin for ‘It is sweet and meet (fitting) to die for

one’s country.’ This is a powerful end to such a powerful poem not

only does it express the point of the whole poem but it also addresses

the reader as ‘My friend’ making it feel more direct and personal.