Wilfred Owen Poetry Essay Example For Students

Wilfred Owen Poetry Essay Owen explores his major theme the pity of war. He was mainly concerned with establishing the truth about war: that It was not at all glorious. He achieves this purpose through highlighting the emphatically negative aspects of war, Including the loss of young life, injustice, lies, and the effect of war on soldiers and the horrors of war. Two poems that convey these areas clearly and highlight Owens pity of war are The Next War and Anthem for Doomed Youth. In The Next War Owen effectively conveys the horrors of war and injustice of the leaders sending men to death while they are safe. We will write a custom essay on Wilfred Owen Poetry specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now He uses personification to convey the soldiers relationship with Death in the lines Out there, weave walked quite friendly up to Death and We laughed at him. This shows that the soldiers had learned to live with Death to get through the day alive and sane. They had to become friends with him otherwise they would go Insane worrying constantly about who would die next and whether It would be them or not. When the soldiers had a close call with death they laughed, It was the only thing they could do, and this again suggests their sanity Is waning. This shows the readers the horror of war as the soldiers had to go to such extreme measures Just to make It through the day, which Is one of the mall aspects of the pity of war. The use of the metaphor In the lines Weve sniffed the green thick dour of his breath conveys that his breath is being directly compared to the gas used in the war. It implies that the gas is sent directly from Death to seek out and do harm, it also suggests that it is an often occurrence as someone breathing is on a regular basis. Hes spat at with bullets and hes coughed shrapnel. This personification conveys that the bullets and shrapnel from the enemy, which bring death to soldiers, are also sent from Death to kill. This makes Death seem like the enemy and that they should be fighting against Death not against each other. These two techniques portray the cruel deaths from guns and gas and how they are controlled by Death, making Death seem Like the enemy. This is the horror of war, which Is part of the pity of war. In the first stanza of the sonnet, which Is an octave, Owen makes death seem Like the ultimate enemy. But In the second stanza which Is a sestets, Owen reveals that Death is not the true enemy, but that the leaders are, as they send innocent men out to fight, kill and die for their country while the leaders re safe behind the lines. In the lines And greater wars; when each fighter brags he wars on death for lives; not men for flags Owen uses irony to convey the idea that leaders are liars and only go to war in the interests of their country and not in the interests of the individual person who will fight and die just because a leader commanded so. By using the structure of the sonnet to show this, Owen emphasized this difference with Juxtaposition by having the octave which implies death as the enemy and the sestets which depicts the leaders as the real enemy right next to each there. The aspect of the pity of war explored here Is the Injustice of the leaders who send soldiers to die while they stay safe. Wilfred Owen explores the pity of war In the poem Anthem for Doomed Youth. The mall areas he focuses on are the sacrifice of young innocent lives, the horrors of war and the injustice in war. .u36fefb902547b87edc2f057d0552a077 , .u36fefb902547b87edc2f057d0552a077 .postImageUrl , .u36fefb902547b87edc2f057d0552a077 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u36fefb902547b87edc2f057d0552a077 , .u36fefb902547b87edc2f057d0552a077:hover , .u36fefb902547b87edc2f057d0552a077:visited , .u36fefb902547b87edc2f057d0552a077:active { border:0!important; } .u36fefb902547b87edc2f057d0552a077 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u36fefb902547b87edc2f057d0552a077 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u36fefb902547b87edc2f057d0552a077:active , .u36fefb902547b87edc2f057d0552a077:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u36fefb902547b87edc2f057d0552a077 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u36fefb902547b87edc2f057d0552a077 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u36fefb902547b87edc2f057d0552a077 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u36fefb902547b87edc2f057d0552a077 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u36fefb902547b87edc2f057d0552a077:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u36fefb902547b87edc2f057d0552a077 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u36fefb902547b87edc2f057d0552a077 .u36fefb902547b87edc2f057d0552a077-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u36fefb902547b87edc2f057d0552a077:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Is the Twentieth century American novel a medium for social criticism? EssayOwen uses a What passing-bells for these who die as cattle? Owen compares the young men to cattle whom are slaughtered, which dehumidifies them. This shows that the young boys are thought of only as cannon fodder and that they are not cared for. The heterocyclic question is used to involve the readers and create empathy for the young lives that are lost. The use of these techniques reinforces the point that Owen is making, that war reaps destruction in young lives. This is also shown in The Next War as it also explores the loss of life brought about by the horrors of war. Owen effectively conveys the pity of war through the sacrifice of young innocent lives. The glory of war is the main lie told about war. War is often portrayed as a wonderful thing that will give a man great glory will provide a great adventure. Owen set out to ell the truth about war through his poems. Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs, the shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells. This quote uses the techniques; oxymoron, personification and onomatopoeia. Owen combines these 3 techniques to depict that the boys who die will get no funeral, no one will grieve and no one will miss them. The only goodbye they get is the continuation of the war. It also alludes that no religion will be involved in their death proceedings. It suggests the idea that because God never helped them during the war it would Just be in insult to include hem in their deaths. The untruth of war i s one of the main areas in the pity of war that Owen portrays. The effect of war on soldiers is the aspect of the pity of war explored in the lines Not in the hands of boys but in their eyes Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbye. Owen uses direct rhyme, emotive language and imagery to convey the affect the war has one the young soldiers. The rhyme scheme of having two lines rhyme instead of spreading the rhyme out like in the rest of the poem emphasizes that the war mentally affects the soldiers. It leaves them sad, depressed ND paranoid. Their moist eyes from tears reflect the fires burning and explosions that symbolize the candles burned at funerals to speeds the deeds ascent to heaven. This conveys again that the boys get no proper funeral. The aspect of the pity of war portrayed in this quote is the effect of war on the soldiers. The Next War and Anthem for Doomed Youth are poems by Wilfred Owen that depict the pity of war whose main themes are; Injustice, lies, horrors of war, loss of young life and the effect of war on soldiers. His main concern was to spread the message that war was not glorious. Wilfred Owen Poetry Essay Example For Students Wilfred Owen Poetry Essay Willows poetry is based around the false glory of war and the true brutality of the experiences the soldiers faced while at battle. These ideas and experiences are represented in the poems Mental Cases and Disabled effectively as they discuss the physical and mental burdens the soldiers faced returning home from battle through the use of poetic techniques. Mental Cases revolves around the victims of shell shock and their experiences of never truly leaving the war. The use of oxymorons, hyperbole and alliteration effectively demonstrate the horrific experiences these oldies can never mentally leave behind. The oxymoron slow panic emphasizes the terrifying experiences that helped cause the soldiers mental collapse. This allows the readers a chance to visualize the Inhuman battles these soldiers fought and Images that are constantly etched In their minds. This Image Is further stressed with the hyperbole that follows. The use of chasms describes the expression upon the soldiers face whilst reliving these nightmares. We will write a custom essay on Wilfred Owen Poetry specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now This gives the readers a visual Image of their frenzied appearance. Owen continues to paint the pain on their faces and emphasize the effect of these experiences on what once were brave soldiers with alliteration further in the poem. Alliteration is coupled with juxtaposition in hilarious, hideous to describe the soldiers smiles to portray how the expressions on the soldiers face is somewhat comedic as it is almost unbelievable yet the seriousness of the shell shock makes it hideous as this soldier is in excruciating pain he is haunted. The use of this Juxtaposition creates an even more confronting image to the audience as they realism the extent of the mental condition. Owen effectively scribes the mental burdens these suffering soldiers face post-war and creates a bitter tone as the readers are partially to blame. The word Always is used to highlight the everlasting mind horrors these men are faced with even after the war. This creates a somber tone as the audience begins to see the waste of human lives and that war isnt accurately represented. The repetition of us emphasizes the social guilt for the soldiers condition as our country sent them to war and sacrificed their sanity within. Disabled represents similar aspects concerning the false glory and true errors of war through the physical burdens another soldier faces upon returning home. Disabled tells the story of a young soldier, illegally enrolled, who returns home from war limbless. Owens use of contrast, symbolism and repetition successfully demonstrate the life this young man has wasted and the false glory that propaganda encourages. Owen uses color references throughout the poem as symbolic elements to establish the disorientating mood as the soldier realizes his life will never be the same as it once was. ghastly slut of grey represents the soldiers scent Into depression as he watches the life he once lived float further and further away. Common references such as dark and sleep further emphasize his Isolation from the outside world. The soldiers silence and social ostracism Is further represented through the repetition of Voices as It creates the Image of memories once passed that he will never forget. Owen uses contrast throughout the entire poem to compare the soldiers life before and after the war and emphasize the waste of human life the war has caused. A carefree tone is created through the natural he enjoyment the soldier would once experience. This is then contrasted with Now he will never feel again how slim Girls waists are. The use of now emphasizes the reality of what his injuries truly mean as he is now shunned from women who once adored him. .uab49624bd50cf7f24f63cd2e89f3e786 , .uab49624bd50cf7f24f63cd2e89f3e786 .postImageUrl , .uab49624bd50cf7f24f63cd2e89f3e786 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uab49624bd50cf7f24f63cd2e89f3e786 , .uab49624bd50cf7f24f63cd2e89f3e786:hover , .uab49624bd50cf7f24f63cd2e89f3e786:visited , .uab49624bd50cf7f24f63cd2e89f3e786:active { border:0!important; } .uab49624bd50cf7f24f63cd2e89f3e786 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uab49624bd50cf7f24f63cd2e89f3e786 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uab49624bd50cf7f24f63cd2e89f3e786:active , .uab49624bd50cf7f24f63cd2e89f3e786:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uab49624bd50cf7f24f63cd2e89f3e786 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uab49624bd50cf7f24f63cd2e89f3e786 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uab49624bd50cf7f24f63cd2e89f3e786 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uab49624bd50cf7f24f63cd2e89f3e786 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uab49624bd50cf7f24f63cd2e89f3e786:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uab49624bd50cf7f24f63cd2e89f3e786 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uab49624bd50cf7f24f63cd2e89f3e786 .uab49624bd50cf7f24f63cd2e89f3e786-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uab49624bd50cf7f24f63cd2e89f3e786:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: John Tetzel EssayOwen has used this image to accentuate the bright future ahead of the soldier that has now disintegrated into nothing because of his injuries and the audience is now able to understand the true horrors that war brings as it destroys the future of young soldiers. Owen also describes the naivety of the soldier by slighting the reasons he didnt sign up to war, and the misguided reasons he did to emphasize the false glory of war that many young soldiers become entrapped to. For daggers in plaid socks conveys the soldier is still a boy as his dreams to go to war revolve around owning a knife. This soldier is a representative of all the young soldiers swept up b y the patriotic hype created by the government. The alliteration in younger than his youth refers to his youthful innocence before war and how he is prematurely aged post-war. This accentuates to the readers the true effect of the war ND the horrors these men not only face whilst in battle but upon returning home to what they once knew. Disabled effectively conveys the physical endeavourers associated with war and the waste of human lives as they may return home changed forever. Disabled and Mental Cases effectively use contrast, alliteration, and other poetic techniques to identify the physical and mental plights of the soldiers sent to war. Owen effectively emphasizes to the audience the true horrors and false glory of war that many are blind-sighted by and truthfully demonstrates the experiences these soldiers must face.