Wilfred Owen Dedicated “Dulce et Decorum Est to Jessie Pope Essay Sample

chaos and fear experienced during a gas attack on soldiers. The line "Drunk with weariness; deaf even to hoots" highlights the overwhelming exhaustion and disorientation of the soldiers. Additionally, the stanza "Till on the haunting flares we turned our dorsums" suggests that even the bombardment of flares failed to fully prepare them for the gas attack. The majority of the poem focuses on the aftermath of the gas attack and the author's own emotional response. The quoted line "Gas! GAS! Quick. male child! -An rapture of groping" exemplifies the panic that ensued as soldiers struggled to put on their gas masks in time. Furthermore, it is mentioned that some soldiers became shell-shocked during the attack."

Suiting the awkward helmets just in time, Wilfred Owen vividly depicts the horrors of war in his poem 'Dulce et Decorum Est'. He describes a gas attack where he witnesses a young soldier's death, "But someone still was shouting out and stumbling and flound'ring like a man in fire or lime." The speaker also reflects on the lasting impact of war, revealing "In all my dreams before my helpless sight," that even in his dreams he sees a soldier similar to himself begging for help, yet unable to assist. Owen's graphic and descriptive style portrays the brutal reality of war. One particular line from the poem, "His hanging face," remains etched in the reader's mind.

Comparing the description of a dying soldier to a devil who has had enough of wicked deeds, it is noted that every movement causes blood to gurgle up from the lungs and mix with foamy saliva, resulting in a bitter taste. The graphic nature of the scene

is illustrated by the use of quotation marks in the statement, where blood and flesh pour out of the soldier's mouth.

In his poetry, the author portrays war as a devil consumed by wickedness and so distressing that even Satan would fall ill from it. The closing line of "Dulce et Decorum Est" is equally impactful, exposing the "old lie" and making the message unambiguous to readers. Wilfred Owen effectively reveals Jessie Pope's lack of understanding regarding war, with imagery in his poems outshining her calls to young men. Additionally, "Dulce et Decorum Est" stresses that war should never be trivialized as a mere game.

Upon analyzing both poems, 'Dulce et Decorum Est' resonated with me the most due to its authenticity (written by an actual soldier). It conveys the harsh reality of war and solidifies my belief that violence is unnecessary and cruel.