Wilfred Owen's Poem 'Dulce Et Decorum Est'
Brianna Chambo
22. April 2013
English 340.001/Studies in Poetry
Professor Goldstein
Final Paper
Dulce et Decorum Est
During World War I there were many advances in chemical warfare. The Allies and the Central Powers were introduced to tear gas, chlorine gas, mustard gas, and many more lethal chemicals. Chlorine gas is a powerful irritant that, in high concentrations and much exposure, can damage eyes, noses, throats, lungs, and even cause asphyxiation. Mustard gas was not always fatal, but it blistered skin, irritated eyes, and induced vomiting. It could cause internal and external bleeding, attack the bronchial tubes, and could take up to four or five weeks to kill its victim.
Acclaimed poet Wilfred Owen was one of the soldiers to experience firsthand the horrors of gas attacks during World War I. In his poem “Dulce et Decorum Est”, Owen shares a specific experience as a soldier at the front line during World War I. He clearly states his disgusts towards the encouragement of young men to join the war, and that it isn’t an honor and the right thing to do. The realism of this poem portrays the death …show more content…
As Owen suggests several times, there is no way for either group (civilians verses soldiers) to understand the other. Only those who have experienced the horror of battle can understand the trauma of losing a fellow soldier. The irony comes in when these soldiers don 't have the ability to actually communicate with those at home who could bring the war to an end – the people who repeat old outdated slogans about honor, duty, and patriotism without ever having to experience the terror of battle themselves. The very word "war" begins to mean two very different things for the two populations in this poem. Tragically, to Owen, these views seem increasingly
22. April 2013
English 340.001/Studies in Poetry
Professor Goldstein
Final Paper
Dulce et Decorum Est
During World War I there were many advances in chemical warfare. The Allies and the Central Powers were introduced to tear gas, chlorine gas, mustard gas, and many more lethal chemicals. Chlorine gas is a powerful irritant that, in high concentrations and much exposure, can damage eyes, noses, throats, lungs, and even cause asphyxiation. Mustard gas was not always fatal, but it blistered skin, irritated eyes, and induced vomiting. It could cause internal and external bleeding, attack the bronchial tubes, and could take up to four or five weeks to kill its victim.
Acclaimed poet Wilfred Owen was one of the soldiers to experience firsthand the horrors of gas attacks during World War I. In his poem “Dulce et Decorum Est”, Owen shares a specific experience as a soldier at the front line during World War I. He clearly states his disgusts towards the encouragement of young men to join the war, and that it isn’t an honor and the right thing to do. The realism of this poem portrays the death …show more content…
As Owen suggests several times, there is no way for either group (civilians verses soldiers) to understand the other. Only those who have experienced the horror of battle can understand the trauma of losing a fellow soldier. The irony comes in when these soldiers don 't have the ability to actually communicate with those at home who could bring the war to an end – the people who repeat old outdated slogans about honor, duty, and patriotism without ever having to experience the terror of battle themselves. The very word "war" begins to mean two very different things for the two populations in this poem. Tragically, to Owen, these views seem increasingly