Dulce Et Decorum Est Free Essay Example
Dulce Et Decorum Est Free Essay Example

Dulce Et Decorum Est Free Essay Example

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  • Pages: 4 (858 words)
  • Published: August 20, 2017
  • Type: Essay
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The poem "Dulce Et Decorum Est" deals with the contradictions of the First World War.

This passage elucidates the events that occur during the war and delineates the struggles endured by individuals throughout the war. The first poem's title, "Dulce Et Decorum Est," initiated by Owen, explains the paradoxical nature of participating in war as sweet and glorious, with the reality being quite different. The battlefield claimed the lives of countless individuals.

In this poem, Owen employs similes and metaphors to maintain the reader's engagement while highlighting comparisons and contrasts. One of his similes relates to the devil, denoting that even the devil is wearied by the sight of such wickedness. The hanging face metaphor depicts soldiers' diminished ability to regulate their facial muscles and portrays agony in a vivid manner.

In the metaphor

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"His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin," Owen illustrates the soldiers' extreme exhaustion, causing them to act as if they were drunk. They are metaphorically blind to avoid seeing more horrors and "drunk with fatigue: deaf even to the hoots." Owen skillfully uses numerous imagery scenes to evoke the appropriate atmosphere.

In the quote, Owen illustrates the steaming up of gas mask glass panels, caused by hot breath and flares emitting thick green lights. This allows readers to personalize and gain an intimate perspective of the situation. Additionally, Owen describes soldiers during the First World War as scruffy and unhealthy due to a lack of care for the wounded. Through his words, we see soldiers who are bent double, resembling old beggars under sacks, knock-kneed, coughing like hags as they curse through the sludge.

The poem "Futility" offers a

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distinct perspective on the First World War, focusing on the aftermath rather than the war itself. The title of the poem, "Futility," signifies that the war was meaningless and purposeless. This begs the question of why humans were created, only to suffer and die in such a pointless conflict. The constant invocation of God in the poem suggests that He is seen as an ally to those in need.

Owen uses metaphor extensively in the poem to describe God's gentle, kind, and judicious nature. He likens God to the unreachable sun, which has a lasting impact on people like a ray of light. The quote, "The kind old sun will know," exemplifies this comparison. Owen also relates the sun's ability to revive life to symbolize how God will help a deceased soldier come back to life. Since the poem is brief, metaphors convey its meaning better than similes.

Move him into the sun, although it won't awaken him this time. The metaphor used by Owen illustrates how life was created on a lifeless piece of earth; "Woke once the clays of a cold star." The phrase "cold star" represents how the young deceased soldiers' bodies remain forever cold, lying in the mud, claiming their place in enriching the earth while also breaking their families' hearts. Owen's approach to creating atmosphere in this poem differs from his approach in the first poem.

After a soldier dies, the atmosphere surrounding the aftermath of war is created. A poignant quote describes the soldier's body as "full nerved, still warm, too hard to stir," giving the impression he is still alive. This evokes feelings of sorrow and sadness at the ease

with which lives are lost in war.

Given that the soldier has passed away, the sun's only role is to provide warmth to his lifeless body. There is no point in believing that the sun's rays can work hard and resurrect the man who was once full of vitality. Owen effectively creates an atmosphere by linking this statement to the creation of the earth. The line "Was it for this the clay grew tall?" has biblical undertones as it references how man was formed from the soil.

Regarding Adam, it can be concluded that "Dulce et Decorum est" has a greater impact on readers compared to "Futility". The former has a richer content, consisting of numerous metaphors and similes that vividly depict the soldiers' journey in war.

The poet Owen makes effective use of metaphors and similes to allow readers to identify with the experiences of war and understand the harsh realities that soldiers face. His diction is skillfully employed to create vivid imagery, a crucial element in poetry that recurs throughout his work. Additionally, the tone of his poetry often conveys hopelessness, despair, and melancholy.

The poet conveys his message efficiently in his poem without using excessive verses. He successfully evokes emotions in the reader, allowing them to feel the same sensations as the narrator. The poignant effect of "Dulce et Decorum est" leads the reader to continue with "Futility." However, the poem's metaphors pose difficulty in comprehending its meaning. Beginning with an ambiance of gentleness, concern, and tranquility, the initial stanza sets the tone.

Referring to the deceased body as "full nerved and still warm," the narrator suggests it was a recent death. Additionally, he describes the

person's limbs to paint a picture. Ultimately, he believes the "kind old sun" will know.

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