Dulce Et Decorum Est And Charge Of The Light Brigade Essay Example

of fumbling," immediately establishes a sense of fear and panic. The exclamation marks and the phrase "An ecstasy of fumbling" serve to illustrate the panic experienced by those who are targeted. In this passage, Owen utilizes consistent description to create a vivid depiction of the scene.

Amidst the chaos, the men panic as the gas approaches, each solely focused on their own safety. They hurriedly attempt to don their gas masks, frantically trying to protect themselves. Sadly, one man fails to secure his mask in time, resulting in a gruesome death. This tragic portrayal serves as Wilfred Owen's means to convey his point about the horrors of war. Within the lines, "But someone still was yelling out and stumbling And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime...," the man's helplessness is vividly depicted. The very air surrounding him becomes a blazing inferno against his body. Inhaling it would scorch him from within, while renouncing it would lead to suffocation—a harrowing and merciless dilemma.

Wilfred Owen effectively conveys his point when describing this poor man as "drowning" in a "green sea". Unlike the heroic and honorable deaths portrayed in epic tales, this man's death was devoid of heroism or honor. Instead, he was defenseless, surrounded by terror as a hellish death approached. The terrifying scene remains vivid in Owen's mind, haunting his dreams.

In the poem, there is an image of a man dying and reaching out to Wilfred Owen for help. This man's actions are unexpected, as he cries out like a lost child calling for its mother. The last verse invites readers to imagine themselves in Owen's shoes, experiencing "smothering dreams." This creates a

stronger connection to the man and the horrifying scene of death, encouraging us to imagine what it would be like to have a friend in that same situation. It also prompts us to question the idea of honor in war, especially if we were in Owen's position as he implies.

The second line emphasizes the lack of honor given to these men. The man was "flung" onto the wagon, suggesting that he was treated as just another soldier, disposable and used as cannon fodder. This makes you question where the honor is in this situation. The poem's last verse employs vivid descriptions and language to persuade those who may still be unconvinced of the horrors of war.

Wilfred Owen generates a terrifying image with the lines "And watch the white eyes writhing in his face, His hanging face, like a devils sick of sin;" Here, he connects the trenches with a hellish playground of fire and brimstone, evoking the gas attack where the man is "Flound'ring like a man in fire or lime." The description of the devil's sickly face emphasizes its unimaginable nature, as it would never tire of sin. Moving forward, Owen portrays the grim fate of this unfortunate man when he depicts "the blood Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud Of vile incurable sores on innocent tongues." No part of him escapes the effects of the gas, rendering him helpless to his doomed soldier's destiny. Words such as "obscene," "bitter," and "corrupted" condemn any notion of honor that some may associate with war. The comparison between the gas's impact on the man and cancer instills fear

and unease, as cancer is often perceived as a dreadful and incurable illness. Owen concludes by stating that his friend would not passionately proclaim the old lie to eager children seeking glory: "Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori."The last two lines, along with the poems proverb, depict the young and inexperienced soldiers in the trenches who were eager for some heroic glory. These men were compelled to join the war through conscription and were influenced by tales of honor and glory associated with fighting and dying for their country. However, both the poem and the concluding lines suggest that this notion is false. The poem "Dulce et Decorum Est" effectively captures Wilfred Owen's sentiments and perspectives on trench warfare.

Wilfred Owen was motivated to write this poem by both the pointless loss of life and his personal experiences of war. As he wrote, he drew inspiration from the hospital beds surrounding him. "Charge of the Light Brigade" is different from "Dulce et Decorum est" in that it seeks to honor the soldiers who fought in the war it depicts. However, it also shares a similar tone of grieving over the tragic loss of life, like "Dulce et Decorum est." When reading the opening lines of the poem, one can detect a clear rhythm.

The use of rhythm in a poem adds emotion and allows for emphasis through interruptions or changes in the rhythm. In contrast, "Dulce et Decorum est" relies heavily on vivid imagery and powerful words rather than rhythm. This difference may stem from the poets' positions; Tennyson, as the poet laureate, may have been drawn to create a poem with a more melodious and

rhythmic quality, while Owen, as a newer poet, aimed to convey his message rather than create a pleasing sound.

Tennyson's poem uses the phrase "Valley of Death" to signify the perilous battle the men rode into. This emphasizes the suicidal nature of their charge and evokes both pity and admiration for their bravery. The repeated line "Rode the six hundred" echoes throughout the verses, reflecting the loss of lives as only a few returned out of the initial six hundred Light Brigade soldiers sent into battle. The rhythm is momentarily disrupted on the sixth line of the first stanza with the words "he said," which do not conform to the general rhythm. However, these words were intentionally included by Tennyson, who was Poet Laureate at the time and had composed the poem at Queen's request to honor the Light Brigade.

Clearly, the Queen's request to compose a poem paying tribute to the Light Brigade and their ultimate battle posed a challenge for Tennyson. He could not explicitly criticize the generals responsible for sending these men to their deaths. Nevertheless, he managed to express his sentiments about the fatal errors that led to the loss of these soldiers' lives by skillfully employing subtle hints and deceptive rhythms.

The irregular rhythm serves to underscore the phrase "he said", spotlighting the fact that a man was responsible for this error. It wasn't a naturally occurring situation; rather, it was an error by a human being. Had someone else been at fault, perhaps the catastrophe might have been prevented and these individuals could have survived. The sentence "Into the valley of death" further emphasizes this point: these individuals were heading towards their

demise. This isn't some made-up tale or drama where performers battle and rise once the curtain comes down; these men lost their lives in that ravine and deserve recognition for their selflessness.

In Tennyson's poem, "The Charge of the Light Brigade," the repetition of the phrase "Forward the Light Brigade" emphasizes that the soldiers did not hesitate, despite knowing that someone had made a blunder. This repetition indicates that they may have momentarily doubted the order, recognizing it as a mistake. Through the line "Was there a man dismayed," Tennyson depicts the soldiers' courageous obedience to their superiors' commands, even if it meant riding towards certain death. This portrayal highlights their willingness to sacrifice their lives for their country and suggests that they deserve recognition and honor.

"Dulce et Decorum est" differs significantly from "Charge of the Light Brigade" as it aims to highlight the lack of honor in war, whereas the latter poem pays tribute to the sacrifice made by these men. The dissimilarity can be attributed to the contrasting circumstances and perspectives of the two poets. Alfred Tennyson composed his poem based on second-hand information, depicting a war that was comparatively less brutal than the one Wilfred Owen writes about.

Wilfred Owen, who witnessed the loss of life and agonizing death of his comrades and experienced the nightmarish reality of the trenches in World War One, possesses a more cynical perspective on honor as a result. This tribute to the Light Brigade proceeds to the renowned three lines: "Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die." The soldiers did not doubt their commands; they followed them without

hesitation or inquiry and rode towards their demise in service to their king and country.

Tennyson emphasizes the courage and nobility of these men. They battled and gave their lives to safeguard the liberty of their compatriots and enhance the esteem of their motherland. Their selfless sacrifices merit admiration from those they laid down their lives for. "Into the valley of Death, Rode the six hundred." This concluding couplet underlines prior notions in the poem, accentuating that these men are valiant, fearlessly confronting their mortality out of devotion to king and nation. Furthermore, it revisits the idea that they're ensnared into a deadly trap as a result of their commanders' imprudence.

Tennyson asks a different question than Wilfred Owen. Instead of questioning where honor can be found, Tennyson poses the equally important question of where honor lies in sending these men to their deaths. The third stanza sets the scene of the battle, with cannons surrounding the men on all sides as they charge forward. The noise of the cannons reverberates through the valley, as portrayed by the words "storm'd" and "thunder'd."

The men have no other choice but death as they bravely ride into the jaws of death and the mouth of Hell. These lines emphasize the sacrifice of the light brigade and compare the valley to Hell, symbolizing the daunting task they faced. Despite it being an almost impossible feat, these men fearlessly charged into the "jaws of death". With their swords flashing and attacking the gunners, they charged at the enemy army while the whole world watched in awe. Tennyson's fourth stanza depicts the battle scene, with the light brigade charging and attacking the cannons.

Then, in a simple statement, "All the world wonder'd", Tennyson breaks the rhythm and brings us back to the second stanza's line "someone had blunder'd", to emphasize that a mistake had been made and these men's lives had been wasted.

The concept of honor and bravery is prominently displayed in this passage as the Russians and Cossacks are depicted as being reeled back by the sabre strokes. The men of the Light Brigade, facing overwhelming odds, demonstrate a formidable spirit as they push through enemy lines with unwavering determination.

These men inflicted serious damage on their enemies, performing a great deed for their country. However, Tennyson reveals the cost of this damage in the following two lines, stating "Then they rode back, but not, Not the six hundred." Tennyson unequivocally emphasizes that the price paid for this damage and courageous attack was the sacrifice of these brave men's lives. The repetition of the last line, which had remained constant in the previous three stanzas, reinforces the gravity of this loss of life, as if proclaiming to the reader: This was not without cost; a heavy price was exacted; numerous lives were lost.

You may be wondering if it was worth it, both poems raise the question of the value of human life, asking if it is worth more than what is portrayed. "Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon behind them Volley'd and thunder'd Storm'd at with shot and shell" The third stanza begins with a repetition, but now the soldiers are retreating from the battlefield, still being fired upon and still surrounded by cannons.

The sentiments reflected in "Dulce et decorum est" are echoed

here - Numerous men have perished, but what was the purpose? The artillery continues to blast and the adversaries maintain their position - What did these brave men sacrifice their lives for? "While horse and hero fell They that had fought so well Came through the jaws of death Back from the mouth of Hell All that was left of them Left of the six hundred." Tennyson portrays these individuals as heroes, applauding their courage rather than their accomplishments.

Tennyson honours the courage and self-sacrifice of these soldiers who were prepared to lay down their lives for their nation, battling till their last breath to maintain its principles. He paints a vivid picture of them coming back from death's edge and triumphing over a terrifying ordeal. It becomes clear that these few managed to evade the overwhelming odds against them, with enemy masses resembling demonic hordes hot on their heels. The heartbreaking reality is that numerous comrades and friends fell during this event, while their heroic assault only inflicted slight damage on the enemy's fortifications. Still, undaunted by the scale of the challenge they faced, these brave souls remained unwavering in confronting any hardship for love of their country.

Picking up from the fourth verse, the concluding two sentences of the fifth verse sharply contrast with the closure of the initial three verses, illustrating the loss of life and significant sacrifice rendered by these soldiers in this war. From six hundred men who stepped into this "valley of death," only a handful survived, all due to one individual's error. The phrases "When can their glory fade? O the wild charge they made! All the world wonder'd

Honour the charge they made! Honour the light brigade, Noble Six hundred!" underscored the astounding courage and accomplishment of the light brigade. The ending verse serves as an homage to their bravery.

Emphasizing the integrity of the men involved in the charge, Tennyson, as the Poet Laureate, fulfills his duty by commemorating "The Charge of the Light Brigade." These poems demonstrate both similarities and differences in the beliefs of the respective poets. Both poets share a distaste for war and highlight the dire circumstances in which these men meet their demise, equating the battle scenes to hell. Tennyson expresses anger over the fatal mistake that resulted in numerous casualties, while Owen also expresses anger over the harsh living conditions experienced by these so-called heroes during wartime.

The evident parallels in these two pieces of text stem from Owen's depiction of war as devoid of honor, and the triviality of the soldier's lives as they are reduced to mere artillery targets. Their deaths lack glory or respect. Contrarily, Tennyson underscores the necessity to respect these men for their sacrifices; each person has selflessly given their life for the war cause and bravely battled till their last breath. A crucial element that accounts for this contrast is linked to when both poems were penned down, reflecting different viewpoints and understandings of war during those respective eras.

During Tennyson's time, men were given the chance to affect enemy lines and create minor changes. However, during Owen's era, the advent of warfare technology such as artillery and trench-warfare along with harmful gases like mustard and chlorine changed this dynamic. In these circumstances, it was hard for a man to make any significant

impact. During the Crimean War, close combat was common and a man's death was seen as heroic due to his fight till his last breath. On the contrary, in World War I, men were mercilessly killed by bullets or gas without an opportunity to retaliate or influence the outcome in any way - a far cry from the glorified warrior death.

I am drawn to the ideals and ideas of honor depicted in "The Charge of the Light Brigade". However, the brutally honest message conveyed in "Dulce et Decorum est" leads me to question the gradual erosion of honor and bravery over time. It seems that in modern warfare, men are being sacrificed indiscriminately using weapons capable of killing tens, if not hundreds, at once. Despite all the rhetoric surrounding our supposedly advanced civilizations, it begs the question if humanity's sole achievement is inventing increasingly effective means to destroy itself.