Exposure Flashcards
facts about wilfred owen
- enlisted to fight in WW1 in 1916
- died while fighting in 1918
stanza 1 and ryhme
- slant/ internal ryhmes “ache” awake” “iced “knive”, harsh sensations the speaker feels
- pararyhme - wearied/ worried, silent/sailent draw our attention to the mental state and wider environment the soldiers are in
“silence” “but nothing happens”
- introduces the ironic tension that besieges the mens minds as they fear the violence that the action may bring
- but they also crave the predictability of such an action
- in their situation, even a violent attack would seem more comforting than the uncertainty of lying in weight , of having to deal with the silence of not knowing when and where bullets will come attacking
- this uncertainty comes into full circle with the repetition of the word silence in line 16
stanza 2 “ innocent mice rejoice, the house is theirs”
- irony
- things that would normally be viewed as vermins in a house, have now instead become the rightful owners, leaving the humans to look on from the outside
stanza 2 repetition of closed
- repetition makes the scene more wistful
- the first closed describes the literal state of these shutters and doors back home being all closed, as any house would be
- the second “closed” shows us the tragic irony, as we see from the hyperbaton (emphasis) “on us the doors are closed”, that this closedness shows a kind of social rejection that these men may recieve even if they do make it back home
- so this thing that they are supposed to want the most, ie. homecoming, loses its warmth and meaning, is there a point of returning home, or should they just turn back to their suffering
Exposure overview, what is it about
Wilfred Owen’s poem focuses on the misery felt by World War One soldiers waiting overnight in the trenches
Exposure context
- Owen was a soldier who fought and was wounded in World War I, and he drew on his own experiences to create the poem. This personal context is reflected in the authenticity and emotional power of the poem, which conveys a deep sense of empathy for the soldiers who fought and died in the war.
- the cultural context of the period. This was a time of significant change and upheaval in European society, as countries across the continent were embroiled in a global conflict that would change the political and social landscape of Europe and the world. This context is reflected in the themes of the poem, which emphasize the sense of disorientation and moral confusion that soldiers experience in the midst of war.The cultural context of the period is also reflected in the language and style of the poem. Owen uses a stark and minimalist style that reflects the sense of isolation and despair that was present in the cultural and historical context of the period. The poem also makes use of vivid imagery and metaphorical language that reflects the trauma and violence of the war.
- The poem was written during a period of intense conflict and violence, and it reflects the experiences of soldiers who were exposed to the harsh realities of warfare. This context is reflected in the themes and motifs of the poem, which focus on the isolation, fear, and suffering that soldiers experienced in the trenches
Merciless iced east winds that knife us analysis
- the use of the word “merciless” is significant because it suggests a complete lack of mercy or compassion, which reflects the brutal nature of war. This word creates a sense of inescapable cruelty that permeates the poem, and is reinforced by the use of the verb “knife.” The use of this verb creates a sharp and violent image of the wind as a weapon that is capable of inflicting physical harm
- the word “iced” is also significant because it adds a layer of physical discomfort to the experience of the soldiers. The cold, icy winds create a sense of numbing coldness that is further emphasized by the use of the verb “knife.” This creates an effect of extreme physical discomfort, emphasizing the hardship that the soldiers faced
- The phrase “east winds” is also significant because it creates a sense of otherness, as if the winds are coming from a hostile and unfamiliar place. This is emphasized by the use of the adjective “iced,” which creates an image of a frozen, desolate landscape that is unfamiliar and inhospitable.
“Sudden successive flights of bullets streak the silence” analysis
sibilance- the “s” sound creating a sense of sharpness,silence,secrecy and danger. creates a sense of unease in the reader.
- the word “sudden” creates a sense of surprise and shock, emphasizing the unpredictability of war. The word “successive” implies a rapid sequence of events, which creates a sense of chaos and danger, the word “flights” adds a sense of randomness and unpredictability, as if the bullets are coming from all direction
-“streak the silence” is a metaphorical description of the sound of the bullets flying through the air. The word “streak” implies a sudden and violent movement, which emphasizes the danger of the situation. The use of the word “silence” creates a sense of emptiness and stillness, which contrasts sharply with the sudden eruption of violence
what could the repetition of “but nothing happens” symbolise
- can be interpreted as a reflection of the soldiers’ despair and frustration. They are exposed to the harsh conditions of war, enduring the cold, hunger, and fear of being attacked. They are waiting for some action to break the monotony of their situation, but nothing happens. This can be seen as a commentary on the futility and senselessness of war, where soldiers are subjected to suffering without any clear purpose or goal.
-can also be seen as a way of emphasizing the soldiers’ isolation and loneliness. They are stranded in a desolate landscape, surrounded by an unforgiving natural environment. The repetition of the line creates a sense of emptiness and stillness, which adds to the overall atmosphere of despair and hopelessness.
Slowly our ghosts drag home analysis
- can be interpreted as a literal description of soldiers returning from war as broken and traumatized individuals, their spirits weighed down by the trauma of their experiences
- the line can also be seen as a metaphorical representation of the way war destroys the humanity of soldiers. The word “ghosts” can be interpreted as a metaphor for the loss of identity and the erosion of the self that occurs in war. Soldiers are reduced to mere shells of their former selves, haunted by their memories and experiences on the battlefield.
-The use of the word “drag” is also significant, as it creates a sense of exhaustion and weariness.The word “drag” creates a sense of physical effort and strain, while the word “home” emphasizes the fact that soldiers are returning to a place that is familiar yet alien to them. The use of the word “slowly” creates a sense of inevitability and slowness, emphasizing the fact that the process of returning home is a long and difficult one .Soldiers are forced to carry the weight of their trauma with them as they try to reintegrate into civilian life, struggling to find meaning and purpose in a world that seems distant and disconnected from their experiences.
-The word “ghosts” is used to describe soldiers returning from war, creating a sense of otherworldliness and ethereality that emphasizes the psychological toll of their experiences. The metaphor highlights the fact that soldiers are no longer the same people they were before the war, and that their experiences have left them feeling disconnected from the world around them.
-The word “drag” creates a sense of physical effort and strain, while the word “home” emphasizes the fact that soldiers are returning to a place that is familiar yet alien to them. The use of the word “slowly” creates a sense of inevitability and slowness, emphasizing the fact that the process of returning home is a long and difficult one
-The words “worried,” “curious,” and “nervous” all suggest a sense of anxiety and apprehension, highlighting the fact that the soldiers are constantly on edge and expecting danger. The use of these adjectives also creates a sense of immediacy, drawing the reader into the moment and emphasizing the intensity of the soldiers’ experience
use of personification. The fact that the “sentries whisper” suggests that they are trying to communicate with the silence itself, emphasizing the sense of isolation and detachment that the soldiers feel. This personification also creates a sense of the surreal, emphasizing the fact that the soldiers are living in a state of heightened awareness that blurs the line between reality and imagination.
“our brains ache…
in the merciless iced east winds that knive us
our brains ache, in the merciless iced east winds that knive us analysis
- knives are coming from the wind not enemy, irony that nature itself is whats attacking the men
- could suggest nature turning against the babaric nature of man, as if nature is a sort of divine punishment
- assonance of i slows down the lines and mimics the exposure that the poet is feeling
dawn massing in the east…
her melancholy army”
