ThAct: War Poetry

 Blog is given by Prakruti ma'am.

- War Poetry 

- Features of War Poetry 

• Provided details of life in the trenches
• Often questioned the need for war, combining it with anti-war argument.
• The individual located within a company of fellow-sufferers
• Did not romanticize or sentimentalize war
• A universal humanism
• A Injury - mental and physical - is a central theme.
• 
  
  
  

1) Wilfred Owen's "Dulce et Decorum Est" from the English literary canon and Siegfried Sassoon's "The Hero." Both poems focus on the theme of war, but they differ significantly in style, tone, and perspective. However, they also share similarities in their critique of war’s realities.

Introduction

The poetry of World War I often reflects the disillusionment of soldiers who experienced its horrors firsthand. Wilfred Owen's "Dulce et Decorum Est" and Siegfried Sassoon's "The Hero" both challenge traditional, romanticized views of war. While Owen critiques the patriotic propaganda surrounding war, Sassoon highlights the societal hypocrisy that glorifies the fallen soldiers without acknowledging their suffering. Both poems employ vivid imagery and emotive language but differ in tone, structure, and narrative approach.

Style and Structure

Owen’s "Dulce et Decorum Est" is structured as a narrative poem with a vivid and dramatic progression. Its irregular meter and broken rhyme scheme mirror the chaos of the battlefield. The use of enjambment conveys urgency and the fragmented nature of the soldiers' experience. Sassoon’s "The Hero," by contrast, follows a more formal and restrained structure. Written in three neat stanzas, it uses a conversational tone, which ironically juxtaposes the grim reality of its subject.

The stylistic differences between the two poets highlight their approaches: Owen’s chaotic form immerses readers in the visceral horrors of war, while Sassoon’s structured format emphasizes the societal façade surrounding soldiers' deaths.

Language and Imagery

Both poets employ vivid imagery to emphasize the brutality of war, but their techniques differ. Owen's imagery is visceral and grotesque. For instance, he describes a soldier dying from a gas attack as having "the white eyes writhing in his face" and "blood gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs." Such graphic descriptions evoke intense empathy and revulsion, directly confronting readers with the physical cost of war.

Sassoon, on the other hand, uses understatement and irony. In "The Hero," the language is deceptively simple, capturing the polite lies told to a grieving mother: "The Colonel writes so nicely." This contrast between the truth of the soldier's cowardly death and the official report’s glorified version underscores the societal disconnect from the realities of war.

Treatment of the Theme of War

Both poems share an anti-war sentiment but approach the theme differently. "Dulce et Decorum Est" directly attacks the idea that dying for one’s country is glorious, a message reinforced by its bitter conclusion: “The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est / Pro patria mori.” Owen’s poem is a powerful denunciation of patriotic rhetoric.

In "The Hero," Sassoon explores the emotional aftermath of war, particularly how society sanitizes the deaths of soldiers to uphold a false sense of honor. The poem critiques the moral emptiness of these gestures, exposing how the realities of war are obscured to maintain public morale.

Similarities and Differences

A key similarity between the two poems is their shared purpose of deconstructing the myths surrounding war. Both Owen and Sassoon highlight the gap between the glorified image of war and its brutal truth, using their poetry to expose the lies propagated by governments and society.

However, they differ in focus. Owen concentrates on the physical suffering of soldiers, bringing the battlefield to life through vivid descriptions. Sassoon shifts attention to the emotional and societal dimensions, particularly the impact of war on families and the role of institutions in perpetuating false narratives.

Conclusion

Wilfred Owen’s "Dulce et Decorum Est" and Siegfried Sassoon’s "The Hero" are powerful critiques of war, unified by their shared rejection of its glorification. Yet their differences in tone, style, and narrative focus reflect the diverse ways poets of the era grappled with the trauma of World War I. Together, these poems challenge readers to confront the stark realities of war, making them enduring contributions to the English literary canon.

2) War poetry is a nuanced literary form that does not always align with a clear anti-war stance. Instead, it delves into profound themes of life, such as identity, guilt, courage, duty, and death. This complexity is evident in works like Wilfred Owen’s “Dulce et Decorum Est” and Rupert Brooke’s “The Soldier,” which offer contrasting perspectives on war.

In “Dulce et Decorum Est,” Owen confronts the horrors of war and challenges the glorification of dying for one’s country. The poem vividly depicts the physical and psychological toll on soldiers: “Bent double, like old beggars under sacks.” This portrayal strips away the romanticized notions of war, exposing its brutal reality. The gas attack scene is particularly striking: “In all my dreams, before my helpless sight, / He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.” Here, Owen uses visceral imagery to underscore the trauma of combat and the loss of innocence. While the poem critiques the propaganda that glorifies war, its central focus is on the suffering of humanity and the moral complexities surrounding duty and sacrifice.

In contrast, Brooke’s “The Soldier” adopts a more idealistic and patriotic tone, emphasizing loyalty, identity, and the eternal bond between the soldier and their homeland. The opening lines, “If I should die, think only this of me: / That there’s some corner of a foreign field / That is forever England,” highlight a romanticized view of sacrifice. Brooke celebrates the soldier's identity as an extension of their country, portraying death as a noble act that immortalizes the soldier’s connection to England. This poem reflects a pre-war optimism that aligns duty with personal fulfillment and collective honor.

Both poems explore large existential questions through their treatment of war. Owen grapples with the ethical and emotional weight of duty, shedding light on the fragility of humanity under extreme circumstances. Brooke, on the other hand, frames war as a means of achieving transcendence, where death becomes a vehicle for eternal loyalty and national pride.

In essence, war poetry is not confined to being anti-war. Instead, it serves as a powerful medium to examine the complexities of life, identity, and mortality. Owen and Brooke’s works exemplify how war poets navigate these themes, offering both critical and celebratory perspectives on the human experience in times of conflict.

3)Ivor Gurney’s The Target and Wilfred Owen’s Dulce et Decorum Est are both deeply moving war poems that critique the horrors of World War I. Despite their shared purpose of exposing the grim realities of war, they differ in tone, focus, and emotional impact.

Similarities

Both poems emphasize the brutal realities of war and challenge the glorified image of military service. Gurney and Owen portray soldiers as vulnerable individuals rather than heroic figures. In The Target, Gurney presents the internal conflict of a soldier grappling with guilt over killing, highlighting the moral and psychological burdens of war. Similarly, Owen's Dulce et Decorum Est vividly depicts the physical suffering of soldiers and the traumatic experience of witnessing a comrade die from a gas attack. Both poets reject the idea of war as noble, with Owen directly condemning the propaganda of "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori" (It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country). Their shared use of stark imagery and personal experience underscores the devastating effects of war on both body and soul.

Differences

The poems differ in their focus and narrative style. Gurney’s The Target is introspective, centering on the soldier’s guilt and the moral dilemmas of war. The speaker questions whether his actions are justified and reflects on the pain he causes his family and himself. In contrast, Owen's Dulce et Decorum Est adopts a more confrontational tone. Owen directly addresses those who glorify war, exposing the harsh reality of combat through vivid and graphic imagery. While Gurney’s poem is more subdued and reflective, Owen’s is urgent and accusatory, aiming to dismantle the romanticized view of war.

Conclusion

Both Gurney and Owen offer powerful critiques of war, but their approaches differ. Gurney explores the emotional and ethical struggles of a soldier, while Owen focuses on condemning the societal lies that perpetuate war. Together, their works provide complementary perspectives on the dehumanizing effects of warfare, challenging readers to confront its true cost.