Title means how and sweet and proper Quoted from Horace a Roman philosopher Quote passed through generations and was taught to children during Owens time The poem has nothing sweet and proper in it so it ID: 577553
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Slide1
Dulce et Decorum Est
Title means - “how and sweet and proper”
Quoted from Horace a Roman philosopher. Quote passed through generations and was taught to children during Owen’s time.
The poem has nothing sweet and proper in it so it
’
s a very ironical title. Breaks conventions.
Meant to take the reader by surprise.
Slide2
First Stanza
Gives impression it
’
s a conventional poem due to regular structure of first stanza.
Talks about the soldiers and their conditions.
Starts with lots of “buh” and “kuh” sounds which are sharp and sounds ugly to say. Portrays the harsh ugliness of the situation and soldiers. ‘L’ sounds stretch out sentences making it seem long an unbearable.
Compares soldiers to old beggars and hags. Gives vivid descriptions of their terrible state. “
B
loodshot”, “lame”, “blind”, etc. Not portrayed as brave heroes.
Sets tone through the vocabulary and descriptions.Slide3
Second Stanza
First line breaks pentameter. Uses quick sharp words (Gas! Gas! Quick) to pick up pace. Ecstasy here could be the adrenaline rush or how it looks when the soldiers rush for their masks.
One soldier didn't
’
t make it. Change of verbs to present tense
(ing)
. Puts us in the situation. “Man” described as being in fire or lime(corrosive).
Vivid descriptions such as thick green light and under a green sea make the image come to life. Uses ‘I’ for first time making the experience seem more personal and real
.
Use of caesura and enjambments slow down pace again. Slide4
Third Stanza
Only two lines and made separate from second stanza, however fits into second stanza according to rhyme scheme.
Could be to show the change in time from past to present. Even after the war he is haunted by the event in “all” dreams. However he is helpless as the man “plunges” at him.
12 syllable line to emphasize the horror of the experience and and breakdown of Owens mind.
Repetition of ill sounding words such as guttering, choking, drowning make the nightmare horrific. Caesura makes you slow down and consider each word.Slide5
Forth Stanza
Pentameter consistently broken to portray Owens mental state.
Addresses the reader for first time. However does not believe in our ability to understand as he says “dreams”. We can only dream the horrors.
Assonance and sibilance used to match the horrific descriptions. Uses strong imagery to show the horror of dying in such a way.
“My friend” ironic and
ambigious
. Clearly accuses the notion of encouraging children ( young soldiers) to die in war as there is no glory in such death.
Ends by completing title. Calls it a lie and uses capital L to put emphasis. The short incomplete syllable count of ending line makes shows defiance and fits the purpose of the poem.Slide6
Technical Stuff
Subject – Horrors of war and its effects on soldiers. In particular an that of gas attacks.
Theme/Concern – tries to portray to the reader how terrifying the war truly is and that there’s no glory in dying in such a way.
Tone – very dreadful and brutal. Use of vocab such as (lame, blind, choking,
etc
) as well as techniques such as assonance keep this tone consistent.
Structure – seems conventional but easily breaks free from it. Becomes more unusual as poem progresses. Important for the effect of the poem. Describes the horrors first and uses gains readers sympathy to show indeed that there's no glory in dying for ones country. War and death are just horrific. Use of caesura and enjambments help the pace and on putting emphasis on certain parts.Slide7
The End