Discuss four poems by Wilfred Owen and discuss the views of war given in each poem Essay Example

or enemy soldiers.

The soldier displayed clear signs of war injury through the mention of "stretcher-bearer" and "the Doe". The stretcher-bearer questioned whether the soldier was malingering and received confirmation with a wink. The doctor's lack of empathy is evident as he celebrates the death of a soldier with a callous laugh. These events and opposing attitudes in the poem highlight the distressing experiences and self-destructive behavior of soldiers, urging readers to reject any notion of cowardice. A second poem, "Mental Cases," also conveys the impact of war on soldiers.

The focus of the poem centers on incarcerated individuals and a medical facility associated with the military. The author's purposeful use of dark vocabulary, such as "wading sloughs of flesh these helpless wander," seeks to leave a profound impact on the reader and demonstrates the poet's strong opposition to war. In essence, the individuals in the poem seem to hold society accountable for not preventing the tragic events that have transpired. Consequently, they are forced to repeatedly experience the horrific realities they have encountered on the battlefield.

The poem's feeling is anger, evident both overtly and covertly. In the first verse, the author aims to depict the appearance of the "mental cases," presenting us with a glimpse of the men that war has produced. The second verse establishes the connection between combat during the war and the reason behind the madness of these men. The poem is emotionally charged and rich in disturbing specifics.

"Shatter of flying muscles" conveys the humanity of the victims, as opposed to viewing them solely as statistics. "Treading blood from lungs that loved laughter" further emphasizes their humanity. The line "memories finger in

their hair of murders" metaphorically compares their memories to a deadly, smothering woman whom they cannot escape. They are forever haunted by what they have seen and heard. The final verse brings the previous two together, culminating in the theme of the poem: "pawing up who dealt them war and madness."

In the poem, the poet emphasizes collective guilt and how failing to end the war makes us accountable for its consequences. The war's mental toll is a shocking reminder, and the poem's writing style authentically reflects it. The use of horrific language aims to instill equally unsettling thoughts in our minds, achieving its intended effect repeatedly. The final sentence, "snatching after us who smote them, brother," emphasizes the guilt we must bear.

Poem three I plan to study is 'Dulce ET Decorum EST Pro Patria mori' which translates to 'it is sweet and honorable to die for one's country'. This poem depicts the struggle of a group of men who must endure challenging and unusual events daily. The poet, Owen, compares soldiers to beggars, representing the physical toll war has on the young men. The line "'Gas! Gas! Quick boys!'" indicates an emergency and is written in direct speech to involve the reader in the scene. Overall, this poem sheds light on the harsh reality of war and its effect on those who must endure it.

The gas attack caused a thick, green, misty haze around the men, as described in the line "As under a green sea, I saw him drowning." This vivid description allows us to envision the man's struggling state as he choked and gasped for air. The fact that the narrator dreams about

this scene frequently and that the man is plunging specifically at him suggests a deep sense of guilt and responsibility for the man's death.

The final verse of the poem, "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," serves to convey the tragic reality of war. It emphasizes that dying for one's country is not a noble or heroic act, but rather a harrowing and desperate way to meet one's end.

The poem 'Inspection' is the fourth and final one that I will analyze. It takes place within a military war hospital, similar to the first few poems. Owens categorized these works under the 'inhumanity of war', influenced by Sassoon's war poetry. The poem's straightforwardness illustrates Owens's focus on his experiences rather than poetry. The poem takes the form of a dialogue between Owen and a soldier with a stain on his uniform. The officer reprimands the soldier for his appearance and punishes him. When the soldier later explains that the stain was blood, the officer dismisses it, stating that "blood's dirt".

The officer's accusation in the opening of the poem is striking, contrasting sharply with the hesitant response of the soldier. While soldiers are sent to fight and perish, the ugly reality of war, represented by their blood and even their youthful cheeks being drained of their red hues, must remain hidden, so as not to offend sensibilities. Even in death, being dutifully whitewashed, they are paraded before field-marshal God's scrutiny. The hypocrisy of nations fighting each other while extolling the sacrifices of soldiers as noble is

likened to trying to erase signs of sin by white-washing barracks before a field marshal's inspection. Overall, each of these poems seems to criticize different facets of the Great War.

The text highlights the consequences of war and frontline exposure in damp and dreadful trenches. It also mentions the measures taken for war readiness, including inspections and the grueling workload that soldiers endure, ultimately leading to mental and physical exhaustion.