The Great War And Modern Memory By Paul Fussell

In Paul Fussell’s book, The Great War and Modern Memory, he discusses some of the ways in which World War I affected the men who fought in it, specifically those in the trenches. One of Fussell’s main points in his book as he tries to characterize World War I was the widespread irony that spread in its wake. Even though the focus of his book is based upon the British perspective of World War I, Fussell also briefly mentions the effects of the war upon other countries involved in the war. One of the main themes of The Great War and Modern Memory was the irony that surrounded the war and affected the soldiers fighting in it. One of the reasons why the war was so ironic was because it was worse than many people were expecting it to be. In response

For example, in his book, Fussell says that prior to World War I, many people still believed in the old saying “dulce et decorum est pro patria mori” meaning “It is sweet and proper to die for the fatherland”. At the beginning of the war, many were under the impression that going to war for their country was a sign of glory and honor. Fussell cites the poet Wilfred Owen’s poem “Dulce et Decorum est” in order to show his readers that this impression of war was false. In his poem, Owen tells his own audience how gruesome and dirty war can really be using a narrator who sees a man die before his eyes. In the poem, Owen tells his readers, especially those who had never actually been in any type of combat that if they really knew how horrible war was, then “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”. Fussell explains to his readers that part of the reason why the war seemed so bad, especially to those fighting in it, was because they had been fed propaganda about war and how it would bring honor and glory upon themselves and their families if they fought for their