Exposure

Question 1

“Our brains ache, in the merciless iced east winds that knive us”

Answer 1

• “Brains” instead of head to make it seem more severe - also suggests that the pysological impact of war is greater than the physical
• Suggests the weather (nature) is a worse enemy compared to the Germans
• Anthropamorphism of the winds suggests it is deliberately viscous and inescapabale
• Assonance throughout slows down the rhythm. Mimics the long and endless waiting of the soldiers

Question 2

“For love of God seems dying”

Answer 2

• God’s love for them is dying?
• Owen no longer believes in God because he is allowing them to die so painfully
• If we loved God, we wouldn’t go to war

Question 3

“But nothing happens”

Answer 3

• A “refrain” that is repeated multiple times for emphasis
• Ironic: soldiers think that nothing happens but they are slowly dying

Question 4

structure, form and context - EXPOSURE

Answer 4

• ABBAC rhyme shceme: first 4 lines represent the repetetiveness of war. Final line doesn’t rhyme = build up and anticipation just for nothing to happen
• Use of pararhymes: end of line words have same consonant sounds but not vowels. Readers are anticipating a rhyme just like soldiers are anticipating a battle. Although soldiers lives start differently, they all end in the same way

Question 5

“The mad gusts tugging on the wire”

Answer 5

• Pre-modifying adjective “mad” suggests that nature is angry at the soldiers for going into war
• Anthropamorphism of nature
• Gerund “tugging” shows burtality and viscousness of nature
• Juxtaposes “nothing happens”