Dulce et Decorum Est Flashcards
What does Dulce Et Decorum Est mean?
It is honorable and good to die for your country.
How does Owen display his disagreement with the title in the first stanza?
- He compares the soldiers to “old beggars” and “hags”, positions which are far from being called glorified.
- This is emphasizes by the idea that they had “lost their boots”, as well as the imagery of a soldier which is “Drunk with fatigue”, which is typical of a drunk beggar.
What scene does Dulce Et Decorum Est use?
The event of a gas attack. MAde evident by the “Green sea”, which was most likely Chlorine gas used by Germany. Also supported by the notion of drowning, in which the effect of chlorine gas literally ruptured your lungs til you drowned of your own blood.
What does Owen use in Dulce et decorum est to convey his perspective on warfare.
First hand experiences of soldiers.
How is the motto conveyed in the second stanza and through what means?
Conveyed as a sick joke, through the sheer vividness in which the details are portrayed to the audience.
Chaos vividly described:
“ Someone still yelling out and stumbling like a man in fire or lime”
Generates sympathy for the character, bringing forth the question, is glory really worth this much pain and suffering?
How does Owen present his credibility to the audience?
He uses first person to refine the credibility and link to the audience.
“In all MY dreams, before MY helpless sight”
“If YOU too could pace behind the wagon that WE flung him in”
How are the horrors of battle stressed in the 4th stanza?
Use of alliteration and assonance.
“ and watch the white eyes withering in his face”.
Simile of “his hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin” also highlights such an unnatural process of such a death.
