Dulce et Decorum est by Wilfred Owen Flashcards
Who is the speaker?
Owen
–> recounting his first hand experiences of fighting in WW1
What does Owen think about war? With quote that shows this.
Thinks that war is cruel, degrading and undignified
‘the wagon we flung him in’
–> there was no time for dignity
When is this poem based?
WW1
Owen was killed in action on the 4th November 1918 at the end of the war
Where does the poem take place?
walking away from the front line
Why does Wilfred Owen share his experience in this poem?
Wants people to know the truth about the front line
Honest portrayal of war, opposite to the pro-war, patriotic ideas of the time
How did he use and form structure in the poem?
The initial 14 lines depict the situation and the events which take place
The last 14 lines show he consequences of what happened and Owens reflection on it
The final 4 lines are his injunction to the reader to avert similar suffering in the future
The poem is written in four stanzas of unequal and varying length
–>irregular structure reflects life as a soldier
‘Bent double, …
..like old beggars under sacks’
First line
Shows their fatigue after excessive hours of fighting
‘Men..
..marched asleep’
Metaphor
‘Gas!..
..Gas! Quick, boys! - An ecstasy of fumbling’
Imperative
Sense of urgency
Sense of danger
‘If you could..
..hear, at every jolt, the blood Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs’
‘If’ –> conditional
Use of vivid imagery
‘The old..
..lie: Dulce et Decorum Est Pro patria mori.’
The propaganda posters were lying
irony - harsh not sweet
Extra context
mother received telegram informing her of his death as the bells rang in celebration of the end of the war
he was awarded the military cross for bravery
