Term 2 Wilfred Owen Exam

Question 1

Paragraph 1 - Intro

Answer 1

Showcases the link between war and the death of soldiers, physically and psychologically - Poems from the next war

Question 2

Quote 1 Para 1

Answer 2

“We chorused when he sang aloft, We whistled when he shaved us with his scythe.“ (The Next War)

Question 3

Quote 1 Para 1 - Techniques

Answer 3

syntactic parallels - death threats counter the soldier’s singing
Visual imagery - scythe a metaphor for the grim Reaper, a medieval figure of death
The contrast between signing and the threat of death- undermining the threat

Question 4

Quote 2 Para 1

Answer 4

“Oh, Death was never an enemy of ours!”

Question 5

Quote 2 Para 1 - Techniques

Answer 5

Exemplification that death was never an issue for soldiers, death cleanses their tainted minds
Shows that the minds are so unstable, that the severity of death is disregarded
It also shows that death is so close, that soldiers have normalised and accepted fate.

Question 6

Quote 3 Para 1

Answer 6

“When each proud fighter brags, He wars on Death, for lives; not men, for flags.”

Question 7

Quote 3 Para 1 - Techniques

Answer 7

Irony and contrasting statement - evokes a range of feelings from the reader
A soldier that is proud and brags about their efforts draws themselves closer to death/karma effect.
Holds relevance to those that are in a higher position than soldiers - Often arrogant and ignorance of devastation.

Question 8

Para 1 Outro

Answer 8

Showcases the link between war and the death of soldiers, physically and mentally. Helped with the use of techniques and his real-world knowledge while out on the front line.

Question 9

Paragraph 2 - Intro

Answer 9

Convey the link between war and a soldier’s desensitisation from reality
Quotes from owens work, ‘Insensibility’
The connection allows the reader to question the morals of war and the mental impact that it has on the population who suffers from it.

Question 10

Para 2 Quote 1

Answer 10

“Happy are men who yet before they are killed, can let their veins run cold.”

Question 11

Para 2 Quote 1 - Techniques

Answer 11

Irony and metaphor in the line “can let their veins run cold”
Conveys the importance of abandonment of emotion and feeling in a soldier
The absence of emotion implies that soldiers don’t wound themselves in emotional struggle from their surroundings or their own doings.
Soldier that is tied to their emotions will eventually wound themselves up so much that death will inevitably catch up.

Question 12

Para 2 Quote 2

Answer 12

“Happy are those who lose imagination.”

Question 13

Para 2 Quote 2 - Techniques

Answer 13

This reaffirms the previous point, implying that soldiers that desensitize themselves to their surroundings live through war.
Use of declarative and assertive statements to convey the message.

Question 14

Para 2 Quote 3

Answer 14

“Their eyes are rid, of the hurt of of the colour of blood forever.”

Question 15

Para 2 Quote 3 - Techniques

Answer 15

Expression that soldiers have lost fear of combat and a decentitized to the combat that they are in.
Blood is symbolised to a ‘dehumanising’ effect, with a soldier having no remorse or emtion to it. Means nothing to them as long as they live

Question 16

Para 2 Outro

Answer 16

Gives insight into the mental state and conditions that soldiers faced while out on the battlefield.
Gives a deeper understanding into the complexities of emotion throughout the war, and how removing emotion from the body also removed all emotional tolls that a normal person would have in such a scenario.
Owen has sucessfully applied these techniques in order to convey that message.

Question 17

Para 3 Intro

Answer 17

Linking of a soldier’s patriotism to another’s greed and narcissistic ideologies.
Such ideologies only benefit those who are in power.
These are the key factors of war and the atrocities behind it.

Question 18

Para 3 Quote 1

Answer 18

“Men, gaps for filling.” (Insensibility)

Question 19

Para 3 Quote 1 - Techniques

Answer 19

Conveys that soldiers are there just to fill a quota that a person of power has laid out
Gaps is a metaphor for a soldiers death, with the need to fill a death with a new soldier, that will most likely suffer the same fate as their predecessor
Highlights the never-ending cycle of a soldiers-death and a replacement for them

Question 20

Para 3 Quote 2

Answer 20

“To children ardent for some desperate glory, the old lie; Dulce et Decorum Est.” (Dulce de Decorum Est)

Question 21

Para 3 Quote 2 - Techniques

Answer 21

Links a country’s falsified propaganda to the fallacy of a soldier dying for one’s country.
The phrase ‘ardent for some desperate glory’ is a metaphor for the propaganda that is created by those in power, creating a falsified sense of encouragement and prosperity prior to enlisting for war.
Contrast build-up by the phrase “the old lie; Dulce et Decorum Est,” Latin for ‘It’s sweet and fitting to die for one’s country.’ The contrast between the ‘old lie’ and the words ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ provokes the reader to see beyond the propaganda and the falsehoods of imposed glory for someone else’s ideologies and power.
Above helped by enjambment and visual imagery

Question 22

Para 3 Quote 3

Answer 22

“By choice, they made themselves immune; To pity and whatever moans in man.” (Insensibility)

Question 23

Para 3 Quote 3 - Techniques

Answer 23

Projects the meanings of narcism and ignorance by those in power, such not willing or accepting to see the effect that war brings on soldiers and the general population.
Sarcastic tone, the alliterative “m’s” and the rhythmic effect help give emphasis
Those in power have the urge to push their agenda and get what they want, ignoring the population.
Provokes issues of societal imbalance and the gap of power from the general population to those that are above them.
Questions the reader and can easily be related to many of the experiences and struggles of today that are seen in parts of the world.

Question 24

Para 3 Outro

Answer 24

Advantageous in relating the experiences of war to deep societal issues and problems.
Shows unique perspectives from existing struggles that can be related to modern society.

Question 25

Conclusion

Answer 25

Owen has been able to successfully showcase and transmit his unique perspectives gained through the experiences of war.
Links and identifies deep societal instabilities, power imbalances and struggles in a modern world.
Helped by his innovative use of poetical techniques, and reinventing existing standards to help manifest his experience into written poetical works.