disabled Flashcards
Title
Stark. Antitheses to how those at the home front would have perceived those at the front line is it removes all allusion of heroism.
“He sat in a wheelchair, waiting for dark”
The motiveless verb ‘sat’ presents the solider as bitter and also emasculated. “Waiting for dark” connotes to death, hinting that the soldier has nothing to look forward to in life, is stripped of his youth.
“Voice of boys rang saddening like a hymn Voices of play and pleasure after day”
Repetition of noun “voices” stresses the passivity of the young boy. The simile juxtaposes the suffering of the soldier to the youth and innocence of the men.
“he will never fee again how slim girl’s waists are, or how warm their subtle hands. All of them touch him like some queer disease”
Perhaps a celebration of women as the speaker almost admires their bodies as something graceful, emph by the adjective ‘subtle’. There is also, however, a cruel internal voice. This adds to the speakers suffering because there is a sense that he is doomed as an outcast by women who reject him in such a brutal way. Furthermore, the speaker’s passivity is emph through the verbs “feel”.
“He lost his colour very far from here”
Perhaps a metaphor for his loss of masculinity. The past tense emphasises how resentful he was of his
naivety before signing up for the war.
“He thought of jewelled hilts…”
In this developed stanza, Owen uses syndeton to list the speaker lists what motivated him to join the war. It is apparent that the ideas of adventure was a huge aspect to him joining the war. This could perhaps be argued as very egotistical
“Cheers”
deeply contrasts with each other, creating a critical tone. Speaker is discrediting the lack of support the Home Front gave him when he came home injured.
“Only a solemn man… thanked him and then enquired about his soul”
Perhaps dismissive of religion as it is highly satirical.
“Why don’t they come?”
Repetition of the speaker’s thoughts emph an image of helplessness young man, this stark contrast to the idea that soldiers surrender their lives for their county.
Structure
Irregular stanzas and chaotic rhyme scheme informs a sense of a damaged man
