Dulce Et Decorum Est

Question 1

Dulce et decorum est overview

Answer 1

Owen uses his poem as a vehicle to expose the harsh realities of war. He died a week before the end of world war 1 so he experienced the gruesome parts of war. He uses this experience to successfully reveal the damaging effect of war on soldiers.

Question 2

Dulce para 1 quote 1

Answer 2

“Bent double like old beggars under sacks”

• describes the fatigue of the soldiers
• the use of “bent” and “beggars” emphasise the pain and suffering soldiers go through in war

Question 3

Dulce para 1 quote 2

Answer 3

“Coughing like hags”

• the use of the simile reinforces the struggles for young soldiers in war
• the comparison to “hags” demonstrates how war makes young healthy men become weak and posture less

Question 4

Dulce para 2 quote 1

Answer 4

“Gas! Gas quick boys!”

• through this quote Owen takes us on a journey with the soldiers to emphasise the problems of war
• the use of exclamation marks demonstrates the panic and pure dread of soldiers in war

Question 5

Dulce para 2 quote 2

Answer 5

“Plunging towards me guttering choking drowning”

• demonstrates the struggle
• us of “guttering choking drowning” creates a horrifying image of the struggle
• the use of multiple gruesome verbs demonstrates the extent to which Owen despises war.
• agony

Question 6

Dulce para 3 quote 1

Answer 6

“Obscene as cancer bitter as cud”

• the use of comparison to cancer demonstrates to the reader how war is damaging and will have everlasting effects
• the use of the simile “bitter as cud” demonstrates how war is thought to be good but is actually horrifying as it is compared to sickness

Question 7

Dulce para 3 quote 2

Answer 7

“The old lie: dulce et decorum est pro patria mori”

• means how sweet it is to die for your country
• the use of the noun “lie” shows how he condemns the propaganda of the time from other poets like Rupert Brooke because they aren’t demonstrating the truths of war
• this is the reason he chooses to expose the harsh realities of war in an explicit way

Question 8

Dulce structure

Answer 8

Equal stanza lengths until the panic of the gas where there’s a short stanza