Wilfred Owen Research Paper

In your view, what is a distinctive idea explored in Wilfred Owen’s poetry? Explain how this idea is developed in at least TWO poems you have studied.

Wilfred Owen was an exceptional poet of his time. Within Owen’s poetry it is explored that war is a gruelling and endearing situation to come across as well as participate within. Owen’s portrayal of his experiences of war and the battlefield break down the propaganda of the day and result in his perspective of the futility of war. Owen is able to transport the reader into the world of his poetry by presenting horrific situations, which demand a response from the reader. This allows for Owen’s perspective on war to come through. It successfully does this through the poems ‘Mental Cases’ and ‘Dulce Et Decorum Est’.
In ‘Dulce Et Decorum Est’. the title and final line allude to a patriotic poem by Ancient Roman crato ‘Horace’. “Dulce Et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mari” is translated as “It is sweet and honourable to die for ones country”, demonstrating Owen’s distrust of the propaganda. The capitalisation of the world “lie” demonstrates the way the pro-war propaganda was imposing and dominating in Owen’s society. Similarly, ‘Mental Cases’ presents a sharp contrast between the realities of the battlefield and the ceremonial burials of people back