Dulce et Decorum Est Flashcards
Who was Wilfred Owen, and why did he write Dulce et Decorum Est?
Wilfred Owen, a WWI soldier and poet, wrote this anti-war poem to expose war’s horrors and criticize propaganda that glorifies it.
What does ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ mean, and why is it ironic?
Latin for ‘It is sweet and right to die for one’s country.’ Ironic because Owen’s graphic imagery debunks this patriotic myth.
What are the key themes of the poem?
DEATH
WAR
GLORY
How does Owen use similes to convey the soldiers’ exhaustion?
‘Like old beggars under sacks’ and ‘coughing like hags’—dehumanizing imagery highlights extreme physical deterioration.
Identify and explain an example of sensory imagery in the poem.
‘Gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs’—vivid auditory and visual imagery intensifies the horror of the gas attack.
What is the effect of the violent verbs in ‘guttering, choking, drowning’?
Dynamic verbs create immediacy and relentless suffering, emphasizing the inescapability of death.
How does Owen’s use of iambic pentameter and irregular rhythm contribute to the poem’s meaning?
Unstable rhythm mirrors war’s chaos and the soldiers’ exhaustion, reinforcing the poem’s anti-war message.
What is the significance of the shift between past and present tense in the poem?
Moves from past battle scene to present trauma—demonstrates PTSD and the lingering horrors of war.
How does the poem’s ending reinforce its message?
Direct address (‘My friend’) and accusatory tone expose the ‘old lie,’ condemning those who glorify war.
How does Dulce et Decorum Est compare to The Soldier by Rupert Brooke?
Brooke idealizes war and patriotic sacrifice; Owen exposes its brutal reality—contrasting perspectives on war.
What is the most effective way to analyze Owen’s use of contrast?
Juxtaposition between patriotic ideal (‘Dulce et Decorum Est’) and grim reality (‘like a devil’s sick of sin’) intensifies the poem’s message.
Complete the quote: ‘Bent double, like old _____ under sacks’.
beggars
Complete the quote: ‘Knock-kneed, _____ like hags, we cursed through sludge’.
coughing
Complete the quote: ‘Gas! GAS! Quick, boys! – An ______ of fumbling’.
ecstasy
Complete the quote: ‘As under a green sea, I saw him ______’.
drowning
Complete the quote: ‘In all my dreams, before my helpless sight, He ______ at me, guttering, choking, drowning’.
plunges
Complete the quote: ‘If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood Come ______ from the froth-corrupted lungs’.
gargling
Complete the quote: ‘The old Lie: Dulce et Decorum est Pro patria ______’.
mori
How does ‘Bent double, like old beggars under sacks’ convey the soldiers’ suffering?
Simile dehumanizes soldiers, portraying them as weak and exhausted, challenging heroic war imagery.
What is the effect of ‘Knock-kneed, coughing like hags’ on the reader?
Harsh consonants and simile emphasize physical decay, contrasting with youthful soldier expectations.
How does ‘An ecstasy of fumbling’ create tension?
Juxtaposes ‘ecstasy’ (usually positive) with panic, showing chaotic, desperate reactions to gas attack.
What is the significance of ‘As under a green sea, I saw him drowning’?
Metaphor of ‘green sea’ makes gas feel inescapable, likening death to suffocation, reinforcing horror.
How does ‘He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning’ depict trauma?
Vivid present tense suggests recurring nightmares, showing the psychological impact of war.
What effect does ‘froth-corrupted lungs’ have on the reader?
Grotesque imagery evokes disease and decay, making war seem horrific and inhumane.
Why is ‘The old Lie: Dulce et Decorum est Pro patria mori’ powerful?
Direct address condemns war propaganda, making the reader question patriotic narratives of war.
How does the poem’s structure reflect the soldiers’ experience?
Irregular rhythm and enjambment mimic exhaustion and chaos, reinforcing the disorienting horrors of war.
What is the effect of the shift from past to present tense in the poem?
Reflects how war trauma lingers, showing how the speaker is haunted by memories of suffering.
How does Owen use stanza structure to emphasize key moments?
Longer first stanza details suffering, shorter second stanza creates urgency, and final stanza delivers the anti-war message powerfully.
How does Owen’s use of caesura affect the poem?
Breaks up the flow of lines, mimicking the sudden, jarring reality of war and the soldiers’ struggle.
Why is the poem’s rhythm irregular?
Reflects the unpredictability and disarray of war, avoiding a steady meter to immerse the reader in the chaos.
How does enjambment contribute to the poem’s meaning?
Creates a breathless, overwhelming effect, mirroring the soldiers’ relentless suffering and exhaustion.
