Exposure (Wilfred Owen)

Question 1

What influenced Owen to become a poet?

Answer 1

He frequently wrote letters to his mother, and was influenced by romantics like Wordsworth. He enlisted in 1915 and wrote to his mother describing the horrors of war he had seen. He expressed how nature posed as much of a threat as the Germans did (‘It is a marvel that we did not all die of cold’)

Question 2

Why did Owen write Exposure?

Answer 2

He aimed to criticise the propaganda and reveal or ‘expose’ the true nature of the reality of war suffered by soldiers.

Question 3

What are the themes?

Answer 3

Human death - countless soldiers are killed and buried, causing the men to question their faith in God. There is a stark contrast between dreams and reality as the men think about sunshine despite the fact that they might not return home (‘shutters and doors all closed’)

Question 4

What is the significance of the weather?

Answer 4

It is as much of a threat as the enemy in war
‘Iced east winds that knive us’ compares nature with the enemies of war stating that the weather is sharp and cold.
The weather is confrontational; it causes them to abandon their dreams and ‘turn back to our dying’ suggesting they must face reality. The digging party are desensitised and experience a lack of emotion - ‘all their eyes are ice’

Question 5

How is the poem structured?

Answer 5

The frequent use of ellipses is symbolic of the hours the men spend waiting around in the harsh conditions, drawing the line out to simulate the way time appeared stretched.
The repetition of ‘nothing happens’ emphasise the boredom and anti climax of the fighting.