Exposure

Question 1

How does Owen show that he wants the reader to think

Answer 1

No rhythmic pattern, long line lengths, frequent ceasura

Question 2

Effect of no rhyme

Answer 2

Makes the poem sound uncomfortable for the reader like the physical and mental conditions of the waiting soldiers

Question 3

Futilty of war

Answer 3

“But nothing happens”- start and end of poem - cyclical structure emphasising the futility and the inescapability of the power of nature, rhetorical question “what are we doing here?” - emphasizes hopelesness of situation
These are positioned at the end of each stanza which emphasises them even more

Question 4

Example zoomorphism and its effect

Answer 4

“We cringe in holes” - reduces the men to animals

Question 5

Metaphor on first line

Answer 5

“The merciless iced east winds that knive us” weather is the true enemy - power of nature

Question 6

COTLB and exposure comparison

Answer 6

COTLB is censored when Exposure shows the true horrors

Question 7

Example of sibilance in stnaza 4

Answer 7

“Sudden succesive flights of bullets streak the silence. Less deadly than the air” - rather die than face the cold

Question 8

Weather is true enemy

Answer 8

The merciless iced east winds that knive us-sets tone
Mad gusts tugging on the wire lile twitching agonies of men amongst its brambles

Question 9

Compare to poppies (power of nature)

Answer 9

Exposure links nature to the real enemy in war through the metaphor: “the mercilless iced east winds that knived us” showing the true power of nature. The dynamic verb of merciless implies the wind has a mind and is choosing to show no mercy to the soldiers, and to kill them in the cold. However, Poppies on the other hand sheds a different light on the power of nature the the quotation “later a single dove flew from the pear tree”. This has connotations of religion and memory as it could be a symbol for the mother’s son dying . Therefore, nature is used to link with memory and peace instead of the idea that nature is the true enemy. Owen could have done this as he had a first hand experience of war when Weir was writing from the perspective of a mother during the war; therefore their purpose and perspective were completely different even if they both emphasised the power of nature.

Question 10

Examples of personification

Answer 10

“Winds that knife us”
“Mad gusts tugging on wires, like the twitching agonies of men amongst its branches”
“Air that shudders
“Pale flakes with fingering stealth”
Nature is more deadly than the enemy, but both are killing them