Exposure Flashcards
What is the context of exposure
The poem was written in 1917 whilst Owen was fighting in the trenches which creates an authentic first person narrative as the poem was written by an actual soldier in the midst of conflict.
In contemporary Britain war was romanticised to the point that it had gained mythical status. This was reflected in most other war poetry at the time which focused on the honour of fighting. Owen dispelled the old lie by exposing the horrific reality of war
What was the form of exposure
The consistency of the rhyme scheme allows the fifth line to stand out emphasising its message. The consistency of the rhyme scheme shows the monotony of war as does the regular stanzas
Owen builds rich imagery throughout the stanza and then the simple fifth line creates an anti climax. This mirrors the way in which the soldiers must stay constantly alert yet nothing ever happens highlighting the futility of war
What is the structure in exposure
Employs a chaotic structure in his poem to mirror the chaos and panic of war
The last line of the first and last stanza is “but nothing happens” which connects the end and beginning of the poem to emphasise the fact that nothing has happened. Repeats this to emphasise the futility of war. The situation remains the same despite their suffering so they aren’t achieving anything.
“Our brains ache in the merciless iced east winds that knife us”
This closely resembles the opening of Kestes poem “Ode to a nightingale” which shows his influence in Owen
“Brains”- establishes the poems focus on the psychological impact of war
Could be referring to the physical brain and the literal ache from the cold causing the soldiers physical suffering from their exposure to the elements.
However Owen could be referring to the mind and the psychological pain inflicted by being forced to bear witness to viewing “half known faces” die
“Our brains ache in the merciless iced east winds that knives us”
Owen creates an underlying atmosphere of unease through the pararhyme between “winds that knive us” and “curious nervous”. By only rhyming consonents Owen leaves the reader unsatisfied to mirror the soldiers feelings of unease. The reader is left anticipating a rhyme in the same way the soldiers are on edge anticipating a battle. This unconventional use of rhyming creates the impression that the poem is only just being kept together just like the soldiers are coping
“Our brains ache in the merciless iced east winds thay knive us” )3)
The personification of the wind suggests that the weather is deliberately vicious and inescapable enemy. The men are faced with double peril; enemy soldiers and the risk of hypothermia from exposure.
The first three lines end with ellipses to emphasise the waiting and boredom of the soldiers. Owens use of ellipses shows the pace of the poem to force the reader to experience the same frustration as the soldiers due to their suffering being stretched out with time
“For love of god seems dying”
Owen presents the soldiers to be carrying out their moral duty to protect the innocent people at home
Owen uses a contemporary listeners association of Christianity with morality to show the soldiers selflessness. This can be tied to the idea of the crucifixion and Jesus atonement of humanities sins.
It could be interpreted to show the soldiers losing their love for god. Their faith is “dying” as it’s difficult to reconcile the theory of a benevolent god with the reality of conflict. This links to Epicurus paradox and Owen short career in the church resulting in his view of it being hypocritical
How is the personification of nature presented in exposure
The sisbulance in “sudden successive flights of bullets steak the silence@ position nature and the enemy. The sibilant consonants mirror the sound of gunfire showing the reader that snow is the real threat as snowflakes Slice though the air in the same way as bullets. Sinister atmosphere is perpetuated by the serpent like connotations of the Sibilance used
