Wilfred Owen

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How does Owen convey his inner turmoil/conflict in 'On my songs'?

The poem 'On my songs' by Wilfred Owen, an English poet and soldier, was written in 1913, where this poem was sent as a letter to his mother, which represented himself as a literal orphan and motherless child. This poem represents Owen's sorrow approach to life, and the mindset of a romantic poet. The author expresses his appreciation towards the other work of the poets, but suggests that sometimes they can not satisfy him. Owen conveys his inner turmoil through self-pity, his changing attitude towards poetry to inspire and to protest and also through his abnormal dreams in his environment(vicarage) which reinforces his negativity towards religion.

Inner turmoil is presented …show more content…

The poet had dwelled on and communed with the spirits; Thomas Gray, Shelly, Arnold and Tennyson. Now similarly, the persona recalls occasions when 'unseen poets' have answered him as if they knew his pain, which suggests that Owen is posey as he has been effected by these poets. The allusion "unseen poets" is a reference to the dead poets who's work have greatly inspired Owen. As a matter of fact it is almost as if their works of literature were written with the intention to echo his own "soul's cry". Owen's appreciation towards their work is shown through "fashioned so their rime" which suggests that the ceased poets have created great poems which have influenced Owen. On the other hand, Owen also comments that the poet's do not satisfy him fully as he is no longer able to find inspiration from their poems. Owens inability to find inspiration is presented through the assonance "Hoards of thoughts". 'Hoards' is a long vowel which is used effectively to depict the idea of the persona having a heavy heart as he is unable to find any benefits from the other poets poem. This may suggest that the poet is unable to be inspired. Furthermore, the enjambment from line 8 to 9, "no verse that throbs... Throbs with my heart", suggests the lack of connection and inspiration which shows that none of the poets work could touch Owen's heart. This idea is reinforced though …show more content…

He soon began losing his faith because he increasing felt more and more out of place in his religious setting. Writing poems and performing religious arts in the vicarage was discouraging which soon left Owen in a moral quandary. Owen speaks of his abnormal dreams in his religious setting through line 9 which reinforces the central theme of poem, in a turmoil and confusion. 'Weird reveries" is unusual daydreams which indicates that the poet's dream were out of place in the environment he was living in. Owen is hinting at individuality and his sexual frustration. Similarly "low croonings" is a soft hum which suggests a deep and depressed mood. This "low croonings" is consolidated by "a motherless child in the gloom", an adjective metaphorically used to present the persona in a pitiful and shameful way. Perhaps an indication of his mental state at the time. In addition, the metaphor "Sick Room" is used effectively to portray the poet's mental state which may suggest that he is homesick. The negative phrase is also capitalised which further shows Owen's negativity towards religion and may also indicate that Owen has turned his back on religion. The author portrays religion as one of the main issues that contributes to his inner

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