The Soldier and Dulce et Decorum Est Flashcards
The Soldier 5Ws
Who: The speaker in the poem is a soldier who is reflecting on his life and his potential death in war - patriotic view
What: the soldier’s thoughts on dying in battle and the glory and peace he associates with sacrificing his life for his country.
When: The poem was written in 1914, just before the outbreak of World War I
Where: The poem is set in the context of war, though it is not explicitly tied to a specific battlefield.
Why: inspire patriotism and pride in the reader. It conveys the idea that dying for one’s country is honourable and a noble cause.
Dulce et Decorum Est 5Ws
Who: The speaker is a soldier in World War I, describing the horrors of war from his personal experience
What: scene of soldiers retreating from the frontlines when one of them is caught in a gas attack
When: written in 1917, during the height of World War I
Where: set in the trenches of World War I
Why: expose the horrors of war and to criticize the false ideals of patriotism that glorify dying for one’s country
POC 1: Attitude toward war
“The Soldier”: Rupert Brooke presents a patriotic and idealized view of war. The soldier in his poem is depicted as dying for his country, and the poem suggests that such sacrifice is noble and honourable. There’s a sense of pride and peace in the soldier’s death.
–> ‘If I should die’ (acceptance that he may
die)
–> ‘for ever earth England’ (pride in fighting for England, represents her even in death’
“Dulce et Decorum Est”: Wilfred Owen, in contrast, offers a bitter and realistic portrayal of war. The poem shows the horrors and gruesome realities of battle, directly opposing the idea that it is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country.
–> “Dulce et Decorum Est / Pro patria mori.” (critiques the patriotic notion)
–> ‘‘To children ardent for some desperate glory’’ (wasteful of young lives, lured to war by false promise of glory)
POC 2: Tone and Imagery
