Analysis of Spring offensive, by wilfred owens, with respect to how it demonstrates the theme that war is useless
Spring offensive; by Wilfred Owens focuses on the uselessness for war. There is a striking contrast between the first and last few stanzas, as in the beginning all is calm, slow and pleasant. From the 5th stanza onwards, there is a sudden change from the serene environment, to an outbreak of activity.
The poem starts off with peace and tranquility. 'Lying easy, were at ease and finding comfortable chests and knees, Carelessly slept.' However even this early in the passage the last two lines connote the violence which is yet to come. 'To face the stark, blank sky beyond the ridge, knowing their feet had come to the end of the world.' The sky being described as blank, suggests that there is nothing good lying ahead of them and when 'feet' is used in the passage it implies that it is their feet that keeps them walking on ahead. It shows their reluctance, that, if given a choice, they wouldn't be taking this path.
The 2nd stanza describes the kindness of nature to the soldiers. It soothes their pain and the breeze makes them relaxed. 'by the may breeze, murmurous with wasp and midge, for summer oozed into their veins, like an injected drug for their bodies' pains' Bodies' pains connotes that they have already been fighting at another front. It is an introduction to the next two lines of the poem, which like the previous stanza are warning about the imminent war. 'sharp on their souls hung the imminent line of grass, fearfully flashed the sky's mysterious glass' The imminent line of grass behind described is the battle field and the sky flashing, gives a warning for what is about to happen.
As a continuation of the 2nd stanza, the 3rd stanza, also describes nature, as being on their side. 'where the buttercup Had blessed with their gold' However, there is increased warning. The brambles are portrayed as hands, which could clutch and try to prevent you from going anywhere 'Where the little brambles would not yield, But clutched and clung to them like sorrowing hands;
The poem starts off with peace and tranquility. 'Lying easy, were at ease and finding comfortable chests and knees, Carelessly slept.' However even this early in the passage the last two lines connote the violence which is yet to come. 'To face the stark, blank sky beyond the ridge, knowing their feet had come to the end of the world.' The sky being described as blank, suggests that there is nothing good lying ahead of them and when 'feet' is used in the passage it implies that it is their feet that keeps them walking on ahead. It shows their reluctance, that, if given a choice, they wouldn't be taking this path.
The 2nd stanza describes the kindness of nature to the soldiers. It soothes their pain and the breeze makes them relaxed. 'by the may breeze, murmurous with wasp and midge, for summer oozed into their veins, like an injected drug for their bodies' pains' Bodies' pains connotes that they have already been fighting at another front. It is an introduction to the next two lines of the poem, which like the previous stanza are warning about the imminent war. 'sharp on their souls hung the imminent line of grass, fearfully flashed the sky's mysterious glass' The imminent line of grass behind described is the battle field and the sky flashing, gives a warning for what is about to happen.
As a continuation of the 2nd stanza, the 3rd stanza, also describes nature, as being on their side. 'where the buttercup Had blessed with their gold' However, there is increased warning. The brambles are portrayed as hands, which could clutch and try to prevent you from going anywhere 'Where the little brambles would not yield, But clutched and clung to them like sorrowing hands;