Anthem For Doomed Youth

‘The real meaning of a poem cannot be summed up by the dictionary definitions of its words.’ This is simply because, words and phrases are written very carefully to its best level. Poetries like ‘Ode to the West Wind’, ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’, ‘Man from Snowy river’ and ‘From little things big things grow’, are great examples, whose real meaning cannot be defined by the dictionary definitions. Utilising effective and innovative techniques such as rhetorical figures, tropes, rhymes and rhyme scheme, alliteration, assonance, and other key concepts such as form, context and genre, makes these poems stand out. As a result, poem cannot be defined by the dictionary definitions of its words.

‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’, composed by Wilfred Owen is an example of well-expressed poem, that incorporates the conventions of poetic techniques, and other key concepts like form, context and genre to convey the scenes, ideas and feelings. The use of rhetorical question in this poem dehumanises those soldiers who die in battle, ‘What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?’ An example of anaphora is, ‘Only the monstrous anger of the guns. Only the stuttering rifles’ rapid rattle.’ The repetition of ‘only’ emphasises the pressure, fear and nervousness felt by the troops in a war. Rhymes and rhyme scheme is found throughout the poem. A representation of rhyme is, ‘Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes. Shall shine the holy glimmers of good-byes.’ The end rhyme of the words ‘eyes’ and ‘byes’ conveys the idea of relationship, a scene of tragedy, and feelings of melancholy and depression. The poem follows a rhyme scheme, due to which it sounds so musical. The rhyme scheme of the poem is, ‘A, B, A, B, C, D, C, E, F, F, G, H, H.’ Poetic Techniques plays a major role to convey mood, scenes and ideas of the poem. Additionally, Wilfred Owen assimilates sonnet form in ‘Anthem For Doomed Youth’, to convey the devastating effects of war on soldiers, country’s economy and resources, environment, and families. Sonnet form is traditionally a poem of fourteen lines of iambic pentameter, that is often composed to communicate love and romance. Although, Owen plays around with the form, which creates an irony between the form. Furthermore, Wilfred Owen mainly applies biographical context to show his personal experiences as a soldier in World War I. As a Christian, Wilfred Owen detested war. Nevertheless, he had to join the army when the World War I broke out. He was sent to the hospital after experiencing shell-shocks and exhaustion in the war. This is where a poet inspired him to compose a poetry on war. As a result, he composed a sonnet form poetry, in which he wrote his own view towards war, and life experiences of soldiers. Therefore, a poem like ‘Anthem For Doomed Youth’ contains ideas that cannot be defined by dictionary definition of its words.