Exposure Flashcards
In summary what is this poem about?
A poem of realism - this is an authentic portrayal of war because Wilfred Owen served - and of mounting bitterness at the realisation they will not be remembered, they are in stasis but in severe danger due to extreme weather
What is the first line?
Our brains ache, in these merciless iced east winds that knive us…
What is the significance of the unifying language?
This portrays the soldiers as one, as equals. They wear the same uniform and carry out the same duties every day
What is the last line and how many times is this repeated through the poem?
But nothing happens. 4 times. Cyclical structure
What is the significance of the anaphora?
Reveals a period of waiting for the action to commence which is arguably worse than it actually occurring. Reveals that everyday is the same for the soldiers, they relive the same events and carry out the same actions
Identify a use of dehumanising language near the end of the poem
The burying-party, picks and shovels in shaking grasp, // pause over half-known faces.
What does the dehumanising language reveal?
People become unrecognisable as a result of frostbite, physically, and they become entirely different people due to PTSD. War is such a traumatising experience which changes people forever
What tense is the poem written in? Give a quote to support
Present. Watching we hear the mad gusts tugging on the wire, // like twitching agonies of men among its brambles
Why is the poem written in the tense it is in?
War is on going, there is no way to stop it. Also, the soldiers are constantly reliving their traumatic experiences
How can you connect Exposure to Storm on the Island/
Unifying language, idea of man vs nature
Identify the volta
- Is it that we are dying?
How is the poem structured? 3 points
First four lines of each five line stanza follow a regular pattern to suggest the monotony of the soldiers’ lives. Half rhymes are of putting to disturb the reader. Fifth line is shorter and indented to show importance
