The Soldier And Dulce Et Decorum Est Analysis Essay Example

destroyed by such a situation.

'When you sit by the fire in an old man's chair and your neighbors talk of the fight, will you slink away?' These lines symbolize the young readers' future in old age, where they can lead ordinary lives and maintain friendships. However, whenever the topic of war is brought up, it will emotionally strike them 'as it were from a blow.' This implies that the shame and humiliation they feel will be akin to a physical impact.

'I didn't join the initial group, yet thankfully, I did make a move.' This implies they got an escape chance and hints at their resilience and potential for happiness.

The final stanza subtly suggests to the reader a feeling of guilt, implying they may be deficient in national pride.

Begbie asserts that it's unethical to revel in life's luxuries when others are risking their lives and the nation is on the brink of collapse.

'Is it football still and the picture show,
The pub and betting odds,
When your brothers stand to the tyrant's blow'

Begbie employs shame as a means to convince men to enlist, emphasizing that this shame will remain with them indefinitely. However, it is worth noting that Begbie's perspective on war is unrealistic and unjust, as he himself never experienced it.

'The Soldier' by Rupert Brooke is written in a sonnet style, which is commonly used for traditional love poetry. By choosing this form, Brooke showcases his immense love for his country.

'If I should die, think only this of me:

That there's some corner of a foreign field

That is forever England.'

This excerpt portrays Brooke's conviction that dying while engaged in battle is honorable and the location of his

death in France will be forever tied to English heritage. His strong patriotism is evident in these lines. Being raised in England and having breathed its air, he considers his body to be blessed and believes that wherever it rests, England shall remain eternally present.

Brooke has the belief that if he were to die and be buried in a foreign land, that land would be enriched by his English remains. He describes this notion as being hidden within the rich earth, a dust that was born from England. However, his perception of England is unrealistic. He envisions it as a rural paradise filled with flowers to love and endless ways to roam. In truth, England experienced a post-industrial revolution era characterized by urban poverty for its citizens.

Brooke's romantic vision is illustrated by these quotes.

Brooke is of the belief that any wrongdoings he may have committed in the past are now irrelevant since his soul has departed, resulting in a cleansing of his body.

'all evil shed away' He believes he will be immortalized.

'A pulse in the eternal mind'
The truth is that only a select few are individually remembered, usually only by their close relatives. However, the collective memory of those who lost their lives in the two world wars is still honored every autumn on Remembrance Sunday, with millions paying their respects.

Brooke believes he is satisfied to sacrifice his life in exchange for what England has already provided him.

He believes that this is a religious fight and god is on the side of the English. Her sights, sounds, and dreams are as happy as her day, and she has learned laughter from her friends.

'under an

English heaven.' The irony is, though, that Brooke passed away from a fever rather than heroically in combat.

Wilfred Owen joined the military with the intention of defending Britain. Yet, during his time in the trenches, he came to understand the true horror of war and began documenting the harsh conditions. Subsequently, while recuperating in a military hospital, he transformed his notes into poetry.

'Dulce et Decorum Est' is Latin for: "It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country." By employing repetition at the start and end, the line becomes more memorable. The poem rests on the premise that this line, known as 'the old lie,' satirizes the entrenched notion of nationalism and commitment to one's nation. The initial segment of the poem depicts the pointlessness of war, depicting weary and injured soldiers as they make their way back to base camp.

'Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots,

But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame, all blind;

Drunk with fatigue;'

The initial part of the extract sets a somber tone as it portrays the soldiers' subdued and disheartened attitude. It showcases the harsh conditions they face, with some soldiers lacking proper footwear and having to walk with blood-stained feet, exhausted and weary. The choice of words reflects the fatigue experienced by these worn-out individuals. This image of slow, tired marching, with bloodied and "Drunk" soldiers, evokes a sense of weariness in readers.

'Gas! Gas! Quick boys!'

These sudden words interrupt the calm atmosphere, jolting readers with their urgency. A contrast is created between the previous stillness of the men and this abrupt interruption. This image, along with that of a lone dying soldier, awakens readers to the grim

reality of war as a tragically sorrowful way for young people to perish. It highlights how the ideology of patriotism and honor perpetuates such distressing circumstances. Owen effectively places the responsibility for the war's consequences on society's support for it.

Owen employs words such as 'stumbling', 'floundering', and 'fumbling' to portray the desperate actions of the dying man. The verbs 'yelling' and 'drowning' create a sense of chaos for the reader. The simile 'like a man on fire' vividly captures the excruciating agony the man endures, conveying his frantic attempts and contortions as the gas burns him!

'As under a green sea, I saw him drowning'

This phrase illustrates how the gas creates a dense, green, misty haze around the men. It serves as a valuable depiction that allows us to visualize the scene and engage our imagination, while also emphasizing the surreal nature of the situation.

'guttering, choking, drowning.' He incorporates pauses strategically to allow readers to pause and grasp the message before continuing. Additionally, his firm ending greatly aids in providing the audience with an immediate point for reflection.

Wilfred Owen, who is often regarded as one of the most talented poets to have perished in battle, is the sole focus of analysis in this assignment. He enlisted in 1915 and penned Dulce et Decorum Est in 1918, shortly before his tragic death on November 4th of the same year at the Sambre Canal. This poem vividly depicts the weariness, blindness, malevolence, obscenity, mortality, agony, and repugnance experienced in war. It offers an authentic portrayal of a soldier's existence, characterized by constant lowly positions and tireless marches through muddy terrain that leaves their feet drenched in blood.

The

poem is a powerful medium for expressing ideas and opinions. In my view, it is the most impactful and authentic among various forms of expression. Conversely, I perceive Brooke's The Soldier as the least realistic. It embodies ideals of virtue, home, and the countryside - mirroring the desired self-image of the English people.

The poet's gruesome death from blood poisoning starkly contrasts with the idealistic viewpoint portrayed in Brooke's poem. The quote is extracted from Jeremy Paxman's The English, suggesting that Brooke's intention in writing this poem was not to depict reality, but rather to cater to people's desires and beliefs. Harold Begbie's recruitment poem, on the other hand, was created for a newspaper, emphasizing the prevailing notion that war was honorable and fears were unfounded.