dulce et decorum est Flashcards
what are the themes of dulce et decorum est?
power, war, time, man and death
“Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,/Knock-kneed, coughing like hags,”
Similes – showing how young men were literally brought to their knees and made ill by the horrors of war and what they had to do. Their health both physically and mentally was affected.
“Of gas shells dropping softly behind.”
Sibilance – they are so used to the loud noises of war that they almost can’t hear the gas being dropped.
“Gas! Gas! Quick, boys! – An ecstasy of fumbling,”
Caesura – reinforces the panic of trying to get their gas masks on in time so that they don’t die from the gas poisoning. Juxtaposing words reinforce how difficult and time constrained this is.
“He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.”
Triplets – the death of a fellow soldier who didn’t manage to put his gas mask on in time.
“like a devil’s sick of sin;”
Symbolism – even the devil has had enough of the pain and suffering in the name of a greater cause.
“My friend, you would not tell with such high zest”
Directive – telling the reader if they experienced the terror and pain and sights of war they would not be so willing to lie about the conditions and make it sound okay.
what is dulce et decorum est about?
The persona describes the suffering of the exhausted soldiers, which he is one of, as they march away from battle back to their rest camp. They are broken, injured and so tired they appear drunk. Suddenly, the shout of “Gas!” rings out. A chlorine gas shell has been dropped and the soldiers scrabble to get their gas masks on. One soldier is unable to and flounders toward the persona choking on gas. The persona recounts how in all his dreams he still sees the man’s face plunging towards him. He directly asks the reader if he had seen young men die in such an obscene way could they ever say to others that it is sweet and fitting to die for your country. He calls this a lie.
