War Poetry Essay Example
War Poetry Essay Example

War Poetry Essay Example

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  • Pages: 14 (3741 words)
  • Published: July 28, 2017
  • Type: Essay
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During the start of the First World War in 1914, numerous young men eagerly volunteered to join and travel across the channel for what they anticipated to be a grand adventure. They held the belief that it would be a thrilling experience and that they would be honored as heroes upon their victorious return before Christmas. The glorification of war was fueled by posters, propaganda, and poems. Rupert Brooke, a prominent poet during the early stage of the war, gained widespread fame. He is particularly renowned for his poem "Peace."

The sonnet poem follows a traditional rhyming pattern, demonstrating a structured and complete portrayal of warfare. It idealizes war in multiple ways, suggesting that one should abandon their insignificant life to engage in battle. The poet glorifies war, presenting it as admirable by stating that there are

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no negative consequences, only restorative sleep. However, this depiction does not reflect the true reality of the difficult conditions in the trenches.

The poet portrays civilian life as cold, boring, dreary, empty, and even dirty, with a world grown old and weary. According to the poet, going to war is like being awakened from a dull sleep, cleansing you as swimmers dive into cleanliness. Numerous questions arise from the poem, including whether the love of one's country is more questionable than the love for another person. In conclusion, the poem suggests that death only breaks the body and nothing else; it only takes away breath, rendering one dead. Death is both the worst friend and enemy. This poem illustrates the insignificance placed on the life of a young man.

The text discusses the use of terms like honour and glory to

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describe war, but suggests that there is a lack of understanding for the actual experience of fighting and killing. It mentions another poem called "Volunteer" that also glorifies war, emphasizing its full rhyme scheme and upbeat rhythm. The poem contrasts civilian life, which it portrays as boring and dreary, with the supposed glory of war. It tells the story of a clerk who has spent half his life working in a grey city, while dreaming of tournaments and war.

The clerk finds contentment and desires no rewards when he dies ("No recompense"). This poem employs numerous figures of speech that evoke vivid images. The poet utilizes words like "gleaming... charging... thundering" to portray war as highly thrilling. The poem concludes with a reference to Agincourt, a battle that epitomizes English heroism at its finest: "Who goes to join the men of Agincourt." Unlike the later poems of Owen and Sassoon, this poem lacks a strong sense of "alive" imagery and leans towards a more vague, almost old-fashioned tone.

Throughout this poem, the poet emphasizes the idea that war is a remarkable and honorable endeavor in which it is a privilege to sacrifice one's life for their country. However, both Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon aim to distance themselves from this perspective. Drawing from their personal experiences on the front line, they began writing poetry that accurately depicted the realities of war. They strongly disagreed with poets like Rupert Brooke, who glorified war in their poems. Instead, Owen and Sassoon felt it was crucial to reveal the truth about war rather than romanticize it and portray it as honorable and magnificent.

In August 1917, Wilfred Owen and Siegfried

Sassoon first met at Craiglockhart War Hospital near Edinburgh and formed a strong friendship. It was during this time that Sassoon inspired Owen to start writing some of the most powerful poems about war. These poems depicted the profound sadness and tragedy of war. In fact, Owen once famously stated: "Above all I am not concerned with Poetry. My subject is War, and the Pity of War. The poetry is in the pity. Yet these elegies are to this generation in no sense consolatory. They may be to the next. All a poet can do today is warn. That is why the true Poets must be truthful."

This quote demonstrates Owen's intention to use poetry as a medium to highlight the deep emotional anguish and suffering caused by war. He aimed to caution future generations about the horrors of war. This marked a shift from earlier propaganda and poetic glorification of war by poets like Jessie Pope and Rupert Brooke. The emergence of Owen and other poets like Michael Longley ushered in a new era of war poetry that focused on the harsh realities and physical pain that had previously been ignored. Owen's poem "Dulce et Decorum Est" vividly captures the heartbreaking nature of war.

This text discusses the ways in which the soldiers' despair is portrayed. They are compared to beggars on the brink of hopelessness, bent double and coughing like old hags. The irony lies in the fact that these soldiers are actually young men, highlighting the loss of their humanity. The first stanza of the poem depicts the soldiers as though they belong to a distant world, where their senses are numb and

they lack individual thoughts. They exist more like automatons, merely alive but not truly living. The war machine seems to consume them, leaving them without hope or understanding of their purpose.

The first stanza of this poem reflects the slow pace of the exhausted soldiers' stumbling, using a slow tempo and assonance to emphasize the surroundings they exist in. Words like "sludge" and "trudge" paint a visual image of their struggle in appalling conditions. As the poem progresses into the second stanza, the pace quickens, introducing the tortuous nature of death. "Gas! GAS! Quick boys! /An ecstasy of fumbling" illustrates that these soldiers can barely walk, let alone hastily put on their gas masks. Though an ecstasy typically represents joy, these young men are on the verge of death.

The second stanza employs more figurative language, with phrases like "Dim through the misty panes and thick green light/As under a green sea I saw him drowning" to depict the soldier's agony. The adjectives used in this sentence enhance the soldier's suffering. In the third stanza, words like "guttering, choking, drowning" further emphasize the intense physical anguish, evoking a palpable sense of pain. Transitioning into the final stanza, the poem portrays the soldiers' mental anguish. They become unable to discern reality from their recurring nightmare. Initially, the gas attack was a horrifying dream but it now haunts them incessantly.

In this poem, Wilfred Owen takes a straightforward and uncomplicated approach, almost like a narrative. He adheres to his preface where he states that these elegies are not meant to console this generation, but possibly the next. The poet's intention is simply to warn. The poem's sorrow lies in

the suffering endured by these young men. War not only inflicts physical agony but also mental anguish.

"Strange Meeting" is a poem that illustrates the mental anguish experienced in war. By using para-rhyme such as "hall/Hell," the poet conveys the imperfect nature of war, as perfect rhyme would not accurately reflect its reality. Additionally, assonance is employed with words like "distressful" and "bless," highlighting the poem's slow, soft, and contemplative tone. In the first stanza, the poet refers to the person they have killed, demonstrating that the true tragedy of war lies in soldiers finding no joy in killing their enemies, but rather only sorrow and compassion.

Owen then refers to a tunnel; the tunnel symbolizes hell, a never-ending nightmare leading only to the sleep of death. "I escaped/Down some profound dull tunnel". The poet also employs the word "encumbered" to convey the heavy burdens, both physical and mental, that soldiers carried. This effectively communicates the profound sorrow of war by creating a vivid image in the reader's mind. The repetition of phrases like "The pity of war, the pity war distilled" reinforces the idea that war is a horrific experience for those who endure it. Irony permeates the poem as well, such as in the phrase "save the undone years," which ironically suggests that time has run out for the soldiers.

In the third stanza, there is a line break after "hopelessness," serving as a moment of reflection on their limited chances. The poet proceeds to discuss the voices present in the soldier's mind. The poet experiences the German voice as a monologue within their own head. Although they are strangers, they share certain similarities.

Both the German and the Briton have a passion for life, which will ultimately be stripped away from them. The notion of "pains" is then explored, questioning whether they refer to the physical suffering of death or the guilt that arises from taking the lives of other young men.

Or the pain of leaving loved ones. "With a thousand pains that vision's face was grained". All these different pains are being felt by the soldiers simultaneously. A caesura is used to express anger and resentment, as he says "Nor tears". He is implying that crying now is pointless because the war should have been prevented from happening. Wilfred Owen also expresses his anger towards politicians and other poets for not being honest, suggesting "Truth untold". The politicians resort to propaganda to hide the truth about the war from the people back home.

Wilfred Owen's poem explores the realization of truth and the destruction of myths experienced by a soldier who ultimately dies. The soldier gains a profound understanding that he shares with his enemy, as they both have witnessed the harsh reality of war. Owen emphasizes the importance of granting the deceased soldiers this understanding. The opening line of the concluding stanza states, "I am the enemy you killed, my friend," underscoring the idea that these young men should have been allies, not adversaries. The final line, "let us sleep," could signify that the turmoil is finally over. This poem effectively captures the anguish endured by soldiers in war.

The poems in question feature caesuras, which serve to slow the pace and create a mournful rhythm. Furthermore, there are instances of internal rhyme that enhance this effect. The

repetition of the phrases "Courage was mine, and I had mystery. /Wisdom was mine and I had mastery:" emphasizes the shared humanity among these fallen soldiers, a sentiment that Owen conveys with great emotional impact. Another poem that effectively captures the tragedy of war through psychological torment is "Vergissmeinnicht". In its opening stanza, we witness a vivid scene of the sun and lifeless bodies, symbolizing both vitality and death. The poet also describes the guns as demons, thereby highlighting their destructive power.

The guns have been personified as evil daemons, enjoying killing people. In the soldier's gun pit, there was a dishonoured photograph of his girlfriend "Steffi". The killers will remember the picture of Steffi, which is highly ironic. The poem's title "Vergissmeinnicht" serves as a reminder to future generations not to forget the horror of war.

Throughout the poem, it is emphasized that the German soldier is a fellow human experiencing the same emotions as the enemy. The final stanza is rich with ambiguity as it portrays the soldier as both a lover and a killer, and his girlfriend as suffering alongside him. The irony lies in the fact that those who killed the German soldier will remember "Steffi", as they have encountered the person they took from this world through his relationship. The tone of the poem is introspective and contemplative, with repeated words echoing and contributing to a sense of melancholy.

The text highlights the passage of time and the absence of combatants. The repetition of the word "gone" emphasizes the large number of soldiers who have been killed. In some poems, the weapons are personified, effectively demonstrating their true power. One example is the

poem "How to Kill," which explores the transformation of childhood innocence into war. In this poem, the child's playful ball is replaced with a weapon, symbolizing the shift towards violence. The lines "The ball fell in my hand, it sang/ in the closed fist: Open Open/ Behold a gift designed to kill" illustrate this transformation.

The text highlights the youthfulness of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in war, emphasizing their transition from childhood to warfare. The poet then moves on to depict the transformation of an enemy German soldier into a relatable human being by mentioning his mother, which elicits feelings of pity among the readers, evoking pathos. Throughout the poem, there is a matter-of-fact tone that underscores the ease and insignificance of death and killing. Death is even personified as it has reduced living men to mere dust.

This poem incorporates para-rhyme in certain parts such as "Who is going to die/ The wires touch his face: I cry", but it lacks a specific rhyming pattern. "Naming of Parts" presents an intriguing contrast between nature's attempt to flourish and the boys' lessons on firearms. There is a pervasive sense of development throughout the poem, with lines like "The blossoms are fragile and motionless". Japonica represents the winter season, during which growth is slow but spring is approaching, promising blossoming and renewed life. This growth symbolizes hope for the war's conclusion.

Growth is a sign of life, representing the equilibrium of spring. However, death is constant and stifles growth. In war, there is no equilibrium between life and death, lacking a "point of balance". In this context, killing and growth coexist, with one compensating for the other.

This "balance" may even be seen as a perfect elegy. Soldiers are ironically compared to bees, as both are part of highly organized societies. The bees, like soldiers, play a critical role in sustaining life by pollinating flowers through their diligent and forceful actions.

An elegy acknowledges the suffering of war, offering hope to its victims. The poem's punctuation carries an instructional tone while simultaneously mocking the sergeant's voice, as seen in the phrase "Please do not let me." Through concise and harsh sentences and punctuation, the poem achieves a sense of parody. It juxtaposes nature and death by employing similar terminology. For instance, the word "spring" is used to describe both warfare and the natural world, as in "They call it easing the spring." This irony stems from comparing the beauty of nature to the complete opposite - war.

In the final stanza of the poem, the sergeant uses the phrase "Silent in all of the gardens" to convey a sense of tranquility in nature. The calm tone of the sergeant matches the peaceful depiction of a botany lesson, which is ironically about operating a deadly weapon. This title also encapsulates the poem's brilliance and its ability to depict the tragedy of war through the lens of nature. Many war poems often utilize nature, especially flowers, as symbols. "Desert Flowers" is an exemplary poem that employs para-rhyme, such as "saying/slaying." The presence of flowers in a desert setting adds an additional layer of irony to this piece.

In this poem, the poet uses a metaphor - "the hawk every hour are slaying men" - to represent the planes that are killing the men. The use of enjambment

in the poem creates suspense and stress on "the mind," leaving the act of slaying hanging until the unexpected revelation of "the mind" at the end. The poem also demonstrates how the bodies of the dead men nourish the growth of poppies. Furthermore, it portrays the poet's anger towards the government and their failure to grasp the bigger picture - "confound the detail and the horizon" - instead focusing on the men as individual suffering trees.

The references to nature in this text serve to encapsulate the sorrow of war in several ways. Initially, the contrast between the beauty of nature and the horror of war is highlighted. Additionally, the trees and plants are likened to soldiers, as both entities lack agency and merely strive to survive. While the trees and plants can be destroyed, they have the ability to regenerate if damaged. Conversely, once soldiers perish, they are gone forever, as depicted by the phrase "I see men as trees suffering." Amidst the oppression of war, the arrival of spring symbolizes hope for these soldiers.

The discovery of this sonnet in Charles Hamilton Sorley's kit, which was sent home from France after his death in 1915, highlights the casualties on both sides of war, resulting in the loss of many lives and leaving grieving loved ones behind. The poem "When you see Millions of the Mouth less Dead" effectively addresses this theme. Initially, the use of "Nors" or "Nots" creates an ambivalent and indecisive tone. The line "Say not soft things as other men have said" conveys a reluctance to express tender sentiments. It suggests that there is no need to articulate such emotions as they

will be remembered regardless. Nevertheless, Sorley somewhat contradicts himself by deliberately making the "not" difficult to discern.

The poem uses enjambment, causing lines to flow into each other, resulting in multiple interpretations. An example is "For, deaf, how should they know/It is not curses heaped on each gashed head?" The deafness signifies the lack of senses, dehumanizing the subject and rendering them lifeless. This emphasizes the tragedy of war, where one's humanity is diminished to merely a physical presence. Another instance is "Nor tears," which serves as a caesura, a pause in the line. The speaker advises against shedding tears, suggesting that such atrocities should never have occurred. However, the unstressed pronunciation of "nors" makes it easily overlooked.

The poet argues that solely honoring the dead soldiers is insufficient and fails to acknowledge the true gravity of their experiences. He suggests that dying is actually easier than enduring the suffering that comes with it. The poet concludes by emphasizing the importance of remembering the soldiers as individuals, rather than reducing them to mere casualties of war. This effectively encapsulates the profound tragedy of war, as the poet highlights the immense suffering endured by the soldiers and emphasizes that honor alone falls short of recognizing their full sacrifice.

This is an exceptional war poem due to its understatement. It suggests that soldiers should not be lamented, honored, or praised, which may seem cynical and disrespectful. Nevertheless, the final line offers homage to the fallen soldiers, implying that they have acquired something eternal through their death. Instead of paying tribute to the deceased, the poem discourages it. It argues against bestowing honor at face value, as it does not contribute

to the war effort. By urging people not to dwell on their losses, they are reminded even more.

Although he refuses to pay tribute, he understands the pain of losing them, so this serves as the tribute. The poem "Break of the day in the trenches" is a sonnet and adheres to a specific rhyming pattern. It is an ironic poem, characterized by being in free-verse and lacking a defined poetic structure. The poem starts with the line "The darkness crumbles away." This irony lies in portraying the break of day as something crumbling, rather than a beautiful sight. The poet intentionally emphasizes darkness instead of contenting with joyful light. In the poem, only "A queer sardonic rat" remains alive. Furthermore, nature is introduced with the phrase "poppy to stick behind my ear."

A poppy is a symbol of remembrance for the soldiers who died, even though it grows from their blood. The poem is free verse and lacks a specific poetic structure. It evokes sadness by highlighting that the men have less chance of survival than a rat, which will feed on them after they die. Murder is also metaphorically represented in the poem, with the rat symbolizing this concept. Enjambment is used to emphasize the sorrow, such as "shrieking iron and flame/Hurled through sill heavens." Additionally, vowel sounds like "and are ever" are repeated. The rat in the poem also represents the leaders who disregard the young soldiers.

During the two Great Wars, a vast number of individuals from a particular generation perished, leading to the creation of numerous poems that commemorate and mourn these fallen soldiers. These poems take the form of an elegy, a

lament, or a sorrowful melody. Although an elegy is typically characterized by a gentle and sorrowful sound, "Anthem for Doomed Youth" portrays a different reality where the only response to the deceased is the monstrous fury of the guns. Instead of invoking solemnity, the elegy becomes monstrous, intensifying the poet's anger. This rage is directed towards the countless lives lost in the war machinery. Within the second stanza of the poem, the poet focuses on candles, specifically funeral candles, which symbolize a peaceful demise.

The text below highlights the contrast between dying alone and dying satisfied and peaceful in the poem "Volunteer". It also emphasizes that the men have to give themselves a funeral, symbolically. The overall irony is that the poet cannot provide a beautiful funeral, but silently honors them at the end. This poem reflects the poet's anger and rejection of glorifying war like other poems. It showcases the devastating impact of war and the loss of an entire generation.

The poem employs full rhyme, with the words "cattle" and "rattle," to highlight the monstrous nature of war. Additionally, it utilizes onomatopoeia through the phrase "Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle." What is most striking about Wilfred Owen's poems is his deep sense of humanity. He does not harbor any hatred towards his enemies; instead, he shares in the horrific experiences they endure. His anger is directed towards those who are responsible for causing this war, not his adversaries. Owen's poetry is rooted in his firsthand experience on the frontlines. Despite being lauded for his personal bravery multiple times, he places no value on medals or glory.

His poetry aims to share his dreadful experiences with

all readers, emphasizing the importance of preventing them from happening again. He directly appeals to the reader, inviting them to imagine "pacing behind the wagon that we flung him in" in a dream. We are forced to confront the truth that war being portrayed as glorious is nothing more than an "old lie". It is not surprising that Rupert Brooke never witnessed frontline action before his death, while Owen, who fought in the trenches throughout the war, sadly passed away a few months after its end. Owen's poems focus on the emotional and physical realities of war rather than vague idealistic notions like those expressed by Brooke.

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