Browse Login Join Donate Help Newest Papers Newest Members Recent Papers Saved Papers

Dulce Est Decrum Est

Below is one of our free research papers on Dulce Est Decrum Est. If the term paper below is not exactly what you're looking for, you can search our essay database for other topics.
Dulce est Decrum est

INTRODUCTION
In the poem, 'Dulce Et Decorum Est' by Wilfred Owen, the social climate of the World War I era is reflected through the poet's use of vivid imagery and poetic techniques. The poem itself presents an a blunt impression of the world through its linking of ideas and language in its text. The poem addresses the falsehood, that war is glorious, that it is noble, it describes the true horror and waste that is war, with the aim of changing the way in which society thinks about conflict.

 
THE POEMS MEANING TO ME
The poem epitomises the futility and pointlessness of war. Not only is war a shocking waste of life, but it is ultimately barbarous and pointless act as World War I so horrendously demonstrated to the world powers. The graphic horror of war is presented through a series of images which are designed to demolish the notion of war being a patriotic and meaningful adventure. The one particularly vivid image that got to me was that of the lone soldier who doesn't fasten his mask fast enough and suffers from the full effects of deadly gas:

'In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.'
And then:
'If you could hear at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues.'

Owen generates two powerful images aimed at discouraging the mere thought of war by its emotionally distressing descr...

Login

Join

It's completely free!
Get instant access to all our essays.

Join Now!

Submitted by: 123student
Date Submitted: 07-04-09 8:59pm
Category: English
Words: 1727
Pages: 6.91