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

intent behind this portrayal is to deeply impress upon the reader the brutal truths of war. Subsequently, he paints an appalling picture of the sounds produced by wounded soldiers: "If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs." Near the end of his piece, Owen's tone intensifies as he addresses other poets who aim to glamourize war and use their writings for propaganda purposes. The concluding verse reveals war's deceitful nature: "The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori." This prompts readers to ponder if it is really noble and worth dying for one's nation. Another work titled "The Charge of the Light Brigade," was penned by Tennyson in memory and tribute to soldiers who perished in a specific battle during Crimean War. Tennyson held position as Poet Laureate of Great Britain throughout Victorian era with responsibilities that included crafting poems for significant events. This particular poem narrates about a conflict that took place at British Base in Balaklava during confrontation with Russia.

The poem is a ballad that employs various techniques, such as onomatopoeia and personification (like 'jaws of death'), to convey the message of the soldiers' bravery and the folly of war, similar to Owen's poem. The first stanza of the poem features the repetition of the line 'forty leagues' in a rhythmic manner, resembling the galloping of horses. This rhythmic quality distinguishes it from Owen's poem, which lacks a definite rhythm. Furthermore, it draws a parallel between the horses in the Crimean war and the men in WW1, who are described as being 'bent double'.

The text highlights the 'six hundred' soldiers who are set

to engage in the 'valley of death'. This comparison underscores their inevitable death due to the disadvantageous nature of their weapons (swords) against the Russian's guns and cannons. Tennyson employs the officer's speech as a means to encourage the army to charge forward into battle. The urgency of the situation is further accentuated by the repetition of the command to advance at the start of the second verse, similar to Owen's gas attack poem's second stanza which conveyed a sense of urgency. Furthermore, the poet poses the question 'Was there a man dismayed?' in order to showcase the men's bravery in the face of death.

The line emphasizes the bravery of the men even though there was a mistake made in giving the order to charge, implying that many soldiers were expected to die in the battle. 'Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why' demonstrates their willingness to follow orders without question, just like the men in Owens' poem who were willing to die for their commander and country.

The speaker in the third verse illustrates a feeling of confinement through the imagery of cannons encircling them from different directions, suggesting that there's no way out. The choice of words mimicking the sound of cannons generates a discordant and abrasive noise. Tennyson utilizes personification to describe "jaws of death" and "mouth of hell," offering readers vivid and frightening metaphors equivalent to Owen's portrayal of an individual battling with fire or lime.

In the final line of the stanza, "rode the six hundred" is reiterated, emphasizing that there are still six hundred men yet to engage in the battle. The fourth stanza focuses on the battle

itself, with a recurring mention of "sabre" to describe the bare flashing of these weapons. This repetition creates a rhythmic effect while effectively portraying the ferocity of the battle.

Both poems highlight the sense of isolation experienced by the troops while they were at war. Tennyson's use of the phrase 'all the world wonders' exemplifies this. Additionally, in each stanza, the phrase 'rode the six hundred' is repeated, except for the last stanza where Tennyson modifies it slightly to 'then they rode back, but not, not the six hundred.' This alteration sheds light on the fact that many men lost their lives in this battle as a result of the senseless nature of war.

Tennyson cautiously addresses this somber subject, as he must maintain morale and inform people that their loved ones died as heroes. In contrast, Owen willingly portrays the war as barbaric and horrific. The fifth stanza mirrors the third stanza and employs the same phrase regarding the cannons, serving a deliberate purpose. The final lines aim to foster a positive effect and uphold morale.

The text highlights the comparison between two poems, one by Owens and another by Tennyson. In Owens' poem, the reader is left with a realistic portrayal of war and contemplation on the worthiness of dying for one's country. On the other hand, Tennyson's poem emphasizes images of heroic men who died for their country, creating a sense that the deaths were justified. However, Tennyson's poem fails to provide an exact count of the number of casualties, possibly done to maintain high morale.

The concluding verse of Owen's poem, paying homage to the valiant and selfless acts of the soldiers by stating

'Honour the charge they made, honour the light brigade,' would likely offer solace to their families. This statement emphasizes Britain's recognition of these men as true heroes. However, Tennyson's depiction in his own poem was somewhat less realistic compared to Owen's more potent representation. Owen's work powerfully portrays war's stark reality without any sugar-coating. Ultimately, each piece effectively encapsulates its intended message and purpose within its final lines for public comprehension.

Owen's final line in his poem, 'Dulce et decorum est', acts as a powerful symbol of his advocacy for peace and uses damning propaganda to depict the atrocities of war. Conversely, Tennyson concludes with 'Noble six hundred!', emphasizing valor, courage, and idealism over truth. While Tennyson's role was to uphold spirits and inform society, he neglected to recognize the harsh fact that numerous lives were sacrificed due to an error, as expressed in 'someone had blundered'. Owen aims to underscore the futility of war while Tennyson chooses to ignore it.