First World War Poetry Assignment Essay Example

war by means of propaganda posters, poems, and songs. The allure of a sharp uniform drew some in, while others were convinced by the widely-held belief that the conflict would be brief. As part of this task, I will examine the war poetry of Harold Begbie's "Fall In" and E.A.'s "Recruiting".

Mackintosh selected three poems by Wilfred Owen, namely "The Send-Off," "Dulce Et Decorum Est," and "Mental Cases," for this task due to their varying focuses on different stages of the war. "Fall In" is a propaganda poem aimed at encouraging enlistment. In contrast, "Recruiting" criticizes the war and uses sarcasm to express this sentiment to the reader. "The Send-Off" depicts the moment during the war when soldiers depart from their loved ones and homes to enter into battle.

The poem that particularly interested me emphasizes the atmosphere and scene of the departure effectively. In Dulce Et Decorum Est, the poet depicts the soldiers' abysmal situation in their horrible trenches. Mental Cases, on the other hand, touched me deeply due to its heartbreaking depiction of the war's aftermath. The poem's strong words and phrases underscore the severe condition of innocent soldiers, leaving me feeling disheartened. Lastly, Fall In by H. Begbie focuses on the consequences suffered by men who did not join or assist in their country's victory during the war.

The poet's intention is to induce guilt in the reader by describing the dreadful consequences of not participating in the war. A vivid depiction of the aftermath of the war is provided, highlighting how not participating in the war will result in a wretched and shameful existence. The poet's primary aim is to encourage men to

enlist in the war, as a failure to do so will render their life pointless and miserable. Various propaganda posters, songs, and poems were employed during the war to persuade individuals, particularly men, to join the army. By enlisting, soldiers earned recognition for their valour and loyalty, and their smart uniforms garnered attention from women. Furthermore, for some soldiers, being a part of the triumph was a captivating reward.

The poem emphasizes the advantages of participating in the war, such as gaining respect and demonstrating patriotism. On the other hand, not joining the war will result in remorse and carrying a sense of guilt and shame throughout one's life.

The poet strongly believes that soldiers who demonstrate bravery and loyalty during times of war deserve respect and honor from their loved ones upon returning home. Conversely, individuals who did not participate in the war effort are viewed as cowards and may face ridicule in public. The tone of the poem is serious, angry, and persuasive as the poet emphasizes the significance of fighting for one's country during times of conflict.

The poet uses emotive language throughout the poem to convey his strong disapproval towards those who did not enlist for the war and make readers feel guilty. In verse three, he mentions sitting by a warm cozy fire on cold winter nights after the war is over, then asks what one would do when people share their war memories/experiences. The speaker predicts that one would feel embarrassed and like an outcast, unable to share such valuable and brave memories since they did not join the war. Instead, one may wish to be invisible during these moments of embarrassment

because they are cowards that failed to serve their country when it most needed them. The poet's persuasive tone emphasizes that life after the war will be incredibly miserable if one chooses not to enlist.

The poet's persuasive tone encourages people to go to war as it is rewarding in many ways. The poem effectively conveys the message that those who join the war are brave, loyal and honourable, while those who don't are considered cowards. Addressing men who are capable of fighting, the poem emphasizes patriotism, bravery and loyalty to the nation. It is clear that the poem relates specifically to men since the first verse uses the term "sonny" to refer to them.

Various war images are displayed to us, but the majority in this poem have a favorable outlook. The author continuously portrays the post-war life as blissful, joyful, and free of danger, without any mention of death.

Essentially, the poem conveys the notion that participating in war and fighting for one's country results in gaining respect, loyalty, and honor, while avoiding involvement leads to losing them. The poet's opinion is not explicitly stated in the poem; however, upon analyzing it, one can infer that there is one clear statement emphasized throughout. This statement is that joining the war demonstrates bravery, loyalty, and honor, whereas refraining from doing so is cowardly and disgraceful.

Within the poem, specific words and phrases highlight the statement. For instance, verse 1's "will you send a strangled cheer to the sky. And grin fill your cheeks are red? But what will you lack when your mate goes by with a girl who cuts dead?" emphasizes the missed opportunities due to

not joining the war. The selective usage of certain words in the poem incite thoughts pertaining to the war; "God" is an example of such, appearing in verses 3 and 4.

The prevalent belief during the war was that God played a significant role and supported the respective side, resulting in an unwavering conviction of victory with divine assistance. The poet employs various techniques to convey the tone and purpose of the poem, specifically the use of rhythmical structure. The dactylic and trochaic Tetrameters rhythm is evident in this particular poem, with two stresses on key words enhancing its memorability.

The first verse of the poem shows how girls lining up the street means the narrator's sonny will have plenty of what he wants. Additionally, the ABAB rhyme scheme is another effective tool used by the poet to make a persuasive argument against men enlisting for war. E.A. Mackintosh's poem emphasizes the terrible consequences of going to war and argues that increasing enlistment will only make things worse. The poet discusses the negative effects of war and its toll on those involved.

The poet critiques the multitude of propaganda posters, poems, and songs created during the war to persuade individuals to join the cause. Despite their prevalence, the poet offers a negative perspective and views them as "weak" and lacking in positivity. The poet also expresses disdain towards the creators of the propaganda, labeling them "fat Civilians." In a sarcastic manner, the poem emphasizes death as a mundane occurrence.

In the poem, the author presents the grim and plausible outcomes of war, aiming to dissuade men from participating. The author views patriotic posters and songs as

ineffectual and insincere.

According to the poem, weak patriotic poems/songs are unnecessary as they have already received the message. The poet, Mackintosh, believes that joining the war only aggravates the situation, as exemplified by the line "Go and help to swell the names in the casualty lists". The message conveyed by the poet is that war leads to death and its consequences are severe, excruciating and factual.

The poet's use of sarcasm throughout the poem gives it a tone of normalcy and ordinariness. This is particularly evident in the final three verses where he even presents death as something usual and expected - "come and die". In my view, the poet's sarcasm enhances the impact of the poem, presenting everything as realistic and commonplace, which is, in fact, the case during times of war when death is a very real possibility.

The poet's use of language is persuasive in conveying the notion that death during war is ordinary and will become even more so as more people join. The increase in death tolls will cause people to come to terms with it and accept it as a normal occurrence, unless participation in war is halted. Through the use of strong words and phrases, the poet effectively dissuades individuals from joining the war effort.

"Come and die" - a powerful and persuasive message that suggests war is solely about death. The poem speaks directly to men contemplating joining the war, as indicated in verse 1: "Lad's you're wanted, go and help." The portrayal of war in the poem is bleak and pessimistic.

The war is generally portrayed in a negative light through the majority of the images.

For instance, one image depicts overweight civilians who wish they could join the fight against the enemy, but are instead grateful to be over forty-one, thereby emphasizing that they are thankful to avoid being involved. Furthermore, the images suggest that participation in the war is worsening the situation.

"Go and help increase the names on the casualty lists." These words portray one image of war that the poet emphasizes in the last three verses of the poem. The message is clear: men are needed to fight, and they will die. The poet repeats the opinion that if one joins the war, they will undoubtedly perish, stating "lad's you're wanted come and die" several times throughout the poem. This statement emphasizes the idea that joining the war effort will only contribute to increasing the number of casualties and making matters worse.

The poem possesses a notable, potent rhythm – it is in Trochaic Tetrameter, heightening its readability and memorability. The poet implements influential language; "blasted", "martyrdom", "sacrifice", and "poor devils". These are impactful as they emphasize the poet's intended point by creating vivid imagery. Additionally, he crafts a vivid portrayal of the wartime reality with phrases such as "more poor devils like yourselves, waiting to be killed by you" and "help swell the names in the casualty lists". These details convey the truth behind the supposed "exciting, patriotic adventure".

The Send-Off, written by Wilfred Owen, depicts the departure of soldiers from their homes and families to participate in the war. The poem conveys a somber and emotionally charged atmosphere during this leaving scene, leaving a negative impression of war and its consequent impacts. The poet observes how

flowers adorn the soldiers' chests, as though they were already lifeless.

The poem conveys a thoroughly pessimistic mood, suggesting that the soldiers felt like they were already dead. The final verse highlights how the soldiers were ashamed of their involvement in the war, as they did not boast about their courage and loyalty while their loved ones lay dead. The poet's aim was to underscore the horrific nature of war and its inevitable result of death, conveying a decidedly unfavorable attitude towards war.

Wilfred Owen frequently references death in his poetry, as evidenced in this particular piece which highlights the bleak outcome of war for most soldiers, either returning home injured or not at all. The poem aims to contrast the idealized image of a heroic send-off with the somber reality experienced by soldiers. Owen viewed "The Send-Off" as a funeral, as indicated by the quote below.

In the quote, death appears to be mocking the flowers and spray by turning them into funeral offerings. The line "shall they return to beating of great bells" questions whether the recipients of these offerings truly appreciate the meaning behind them. Owen consistently refers to the soldiers as "they" throughout the poem, acknowledging that they are ordinary men without proper training for war. This realistic portrayal avoids romanticizing war and instead shows the soldiers as human beings rather than brave heroes.

Within the seventh stanza of the poem, it appears as though a question is being posed with the words "will they return". This suggests that Wilfred Owen's perspective on war comes from a deeply personal encounter and illustrates his revulsion towards it as a bleak undertaking. The subsequent line serves to

reinforce that the soldiers are presumed dead as soon as they board the train, with "Their breasts were stuck all white with wreath and spray, as men's are dead". Following this is an oxymoron contained in the phrase "Grimly gay".

In "The Send-off", Owen portrays the soldiers lining up for the train with a mixture of joy and sadness as they head into the unknown, possibly never to return. The poem includes vivid imagery of death and serves as a warning that being sent off can mean not coming back. Owen uses repetition to emphasize that only a few soldiers may return, while also employing a rhyme scheme of ABAAB and a Dactylic Pentameter rhythm to enhance the poem's memorability and interest.

Wilfred Owen's 'Dulce Et Decorum Est' vividly depicts the realities of World War 1 era through its use of poetic techniques and imagery. The poem reveals the harshness of reality and challenges the idea that war is a heroic act. By depicting a trench gas attack, the poem provides a stark contrast to the romanticized vision of war.

A soldier in the front-line trenches or no man's land succumbs to gas poisoning after failing to put on their gas mask in time. This results in a slow and agonizing death, which is not only tragic for the soldier but also for their fellow soldiers who are helpless to intervene. Owen bears witness to this event and depicts it through vivid descriptions of its sounds, sights, and smells. The poem employs similes and metaphors that create powerful imagery.

The poem uses striking phrases such as "Like Old Beggars Under Sacks" and "Incurable sores on innocent

tongues" to effectively convey the cruel and horrific nature of war. These images reflect the poem's tone and highlight the pointless and futile nature of war.

The idea of war being a heroic and meaningful experience is dismantled through a sequence of distressing images that portray the harsh reality of war. Owen employs two poignant images that discourage any inclination towards war. The poet's precise description of the environment and evocation of sinister and dark emotions aid in conveying the horror and tragedy of war. Owen asserts that sending men to fight equals sending them to their death. The first part of the poem portrays the senselessness of war as fatigued and wounded soldiers are practically limping back to camp when they are attacked by gas: "Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots but limped on, blood-shod."

The poem depicts every soldier in a state of helplessness and vulnerability due to extreme fatigue and lack of sensory perception. They are deaf to the warnings and intoxicated with exhaustion, resulting in catastrophic consequences. The image of a lone soldier dying serves as a powerful reminder of the tragic reality of war, particularly for young soldiers. The poem highlights that patriotic ideals of honor or duty are often responsible for such heart-wrenching outcomes, placing the blame on the society that upholds them. Despite the simple language, the poem's vivid descriptions aim to emotionally 'awaken' readers to the brutality of war and its costs.

Owen employs various poetic techniques in his works to reinforce his challenge against the prevailing attitudes of his time. Using similes like 'Bent double, like old beggars under sacks' and 'bitter as the cud',

he acquaints readers with the situation while emphasizing the gruesome reality of war. These similes simplify the theme of his poem without diminishing its impact and render it more comprehensible. Likewise, the alliteration of the letter 's', as in 'sick of sin,' reinforces his anti-war message since the 's' sound is generally linked with subterfuge and malevolence. Through his use of hyphens that merge compound epithets like 'knock-kneed' and 'blood-shod', where once again alliteration is used, Owen grants a succinct and effective depiction of the physical state of the soldiers, allowing readers to envisage the soldiers in their minds without any difficulty.

By combining powerful imagery and simple language, Wilfred Owen effectively criticises the false belief that war is a glorious way to die for one's country in his poem "Dulce Et Decorum Est." This allows the poem to be understood by a wide audience and condemn the power of ideology. The last line, "Dulce Et decorum Est Pro patria mori," meaning "it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country," is exposed as a lie. Owen's writing also exposes the traumatizing effects of war in "Mental Cases," which describes the soldiers' difficult lives after the war.

The negative impact of war on soldiers is depicted in a poem by Owen. It portrays how the realistic consequences of war have devastated the lives of many young soldiers, with memories and experiences that continue to haunt them even after the war is over. Unfortunately, soldiers not only suffer physical disabilities but also mental health challenges. The poem emphasizes how unbearable the war experience is for innocent soldiers and how they are tormented by it every day.

Every day feels like a new wound being opened due to constant reminders of their experiences through blood-stained sights. These exacerbate their pain and suffering.