Commentary Dulce et Decorum Est

Commentary-“Dulce et Decorum Est” Within the poem “Dulce et Decorum Est” the author makes valid depictions of what he truly wants to inform readers of or about. There are different literary elements used by the author to illustrate the true essence of the poem. Such literary elements like metaphors, paradox, and imagery are used to show the meaning of the poem and what the author has to say. In developing the theme of the poem, the literary element most used that really helps to develop the theme is imagery. The author gives a very descriptive description of the war and what was or is going on. In using imagery throughout the poem the author leads to develop the theme which is Horrors of War. The impressive descriptions of war in the format of a narrative tell much of the struggle, painful sites, paranoia, and honor within the war. For example the author writes from his own perspective of storytelling by painting a picture of the danger and misfortune of the war, “Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!-An ecstasy of fumble” (Stanza 2; Line 1) Also such descriptions of the men as they were preparing for war leads to much development of the theme such as,”….Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots, but limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind; Drunk with fatigue’ deaf even to the hoots” (Stanza 1; lines 5-8). These descriptions are purposely used to describe the horrible scene of war and to show the factors of danger that were presented to soldiers fighting in the war. The use of imagery paints a vivid picture of the Horrors of War. In this the use if imagery develops the theme greatly in what the author intends for the reader to feel or believe.