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Great war poems and how attitudes have changed over time
What seems to be the poet’s attitude towards war
Great war poems and how attitudes have changed over time
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A Comparison of The Charge of the Light Brigade, Dulce Et Decorum Est and Anthem for Doomed Youth
The attitudes of poets towards war have always been articulated
vigorously in their poetry, each poet either condoning or condemning
war, and justifying their attitudes in whatever way possible. I aim to
explore the change in the portrayal of war before and during the
twentieth century, and also the structures and devices poets use to
express their views persuasively, and substantiate them. These three
poems describe war, and scenes from war, with varying levels of
intensity and reality from differing viewpoints.
I am going to make a comparison between the three poems: 'The Charge
of the Light Brigade' by Alfred Tennyson, 'Dulce et Decorum Est', and
'Anthem for Doomed Youth' both by Wilfred Owen. 'The Charge of the
Light Brigade' was written in the nineteenth century and is relating
to a battle fought in the Crimean War. 'Dulce et Decorum Est' and
'Anthem for Doomed Youth' were written during the First World War.
In 'The Charge of the Light Brigade', Tennyson doesn't describe the
scene with the vivid detail of 'Dulce et Decorum Est', nor does he
describe the blood and gore of the battle field. Tennyson has imagined
himself there as an eyewitness and throughout the poem he has
attempted to take readers on the same sympathetic journey. Although
the poem was written before television was invented, he was able to
portray the battle as it would be shown on film. Tennyson's potent
imagery and use of repetition makes the reader visualize the urgency
of the headlong charge into 'the valley of death'.
'The Charge of the Light Brigade' was wr...
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... Tennyson's rather impersonal 'six hundred'. He wants us to imagine
that we are actually there on the battlefield so we get an idea of
what it was like. This poem is the closest we will get to experience
such atrocities and if we had, Owen tells us in the final lines, then
we would not try to glorify war any longer. In the preface to his
poems, published after his death, Owen wrote, 'All a poet can do today
is warn. That is why true poets must be truthful'. For this reason he
criticizes 'the high zest' that some people have for 'the old lie' of
glorifying war. Of the three poems, although I admire 'Anthem for
Doomed Youth' for its quiet dignity in the face of undignified
burials, I admire 'Dulce et Decorum Est' more as it is the most
powerful poem of the three, and I shall for ever remember the impact
it has had on me.
The first poem we are going to look at is ‘The Charge of the Light
The book “For cause and comrades” written by James M McPherson is not one of your typical civil war books. This book is completely different than what everyone would expect, McPherson tries to explain the why of the war behind the scenes of it. He goes into great detail onto how dissects the initial reason of both sides North and South by concentrating not on battlefield tactics and leaders but what emotional and great experiences the men had to face in the battle field.
Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen and Seaman, 1941 by Molly Holden both present different interpretations or views on war. These different views will have a variety of impact on the reader. The two poems also have several recognizable similarities, which connects them both together. There are many factors to be considered when comparing the similarities and differences between these poems, such as perspective, imagery, time period, etc. These, and many more, will be looked at and analysed in this essay.
Bullets flying through the air right over me, my knees are shaking, and my feet are numb. I see familiar faces all around me dodging the explosives illuminating the air like lightning. Unfortunately, numerous familiar faces seem to disappear into the trenches. I try to run from the noise, but my mind keeps causing me to re-illustrate the painful memories left behind.
On the night of March 5th, it is believed that a small group of boys began taunting a British soldier. Over the boys’ nonsense, the soldier battered one of his oppressors with his musket. Soon after the alleged incident a crowd of about fifty or sixty people surrounded the frightened solider. The enraged crowd of people sounded the soldier, encouraging him to call for backup. Soon after calling for help, seven soldiers along with Captain Preston...
In The Red Badge of Courage, Henry Fleming was drawn to enlist by his boyhood dreams. His highly romanticized notion of war was eclectic, borrowing from various classical and medieval sources. Nevertheless, his exalted, almost deified, conception of the life of a soldier at rest and in combat began to deflate before the even the ink had dried on his enlistment signature. Soon the army ceased to possess any personal characteristics Henry had once envisioned, becoming an unthinking, dispas...
The two poems, 'Dulce et decorum est' and 'Who's for the game?' are both very different war poems. Although they were both written about the First World War, they both had different purposes. The poems have aspects in which they are similar, but they also have very big differences.
To conclude this essay we have acknowledged that ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ and ‘Dulce Et Decorum Est’ are contrastable. However, in some points they are compatible as both involve war. Even though they mention war, it is shown in different ways. As ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ glorifies soldiers and the war, whereas, ‘Dulce Et decorum Est’ points out that war are not as heroic as it seems but instead is a horrifying brutal affair.
The Poem “Dulce et Decorum Est” attempts to make war seem as repulsive as possible. The author’s goal is to discourage people from joining the war or any future conflicts by shattering the romantic image people have of the fighting. The setting of this poem helps
Autobiographies, diaries, letters, official records, photographs and poems are examples of primary sources from World War One. The two primary sources analyzed in this essay are the poems, “Anthem for Doomed Youth” by Wilfred Owen and “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae. Primary sources are often personal, written from the limited perspective of a single individual. It is very difficult for the author to capture their own personal experience, while incorporating the involvement and effects of other events happening at the same time. Each piece of writing studied describes the author’s perception of the war. Both of the poems intend to show to grave reality of war, which often was not realized until the soldiers reach the frontlines. The poems were both written at battle within two years of each other. However, the stark difference between the two poems is astonishing. “Anthem for Doomed Youth” gives a much different impression than “In Flanders Field” despite the fact that both authors were in the same war and similar circumstances. The first two lines in “In Flanders Fields” “…the poppies blow, Between the crosses, row on row.” are an image o...
"Poem and Notes – Dulce et Decorum Est." The War Poetry Website. Ed. David Roberts. Saxon Books, 2011. Web. 10 Feb. 2014.
Since the beginning of humans, some sort of conflict ahs arisen between them. Every culture has had a different take on war. There is however a general consensus that war is necessary. Those who question war are looked upon as deviants. It was hard and is still difficult to appose war now. Rise Against’s song Hero of War and Wilfred Owen’s Dulce et Decorum Est can be compared through the problems with war, the unnecessary glorification of war, and breaking from what society thinks of war. Through both works of art there is a general consensus on the terror of war.
As poet laureate and patriot, Alfred, Lord Tennyson was very influential in 19th century England. He successfully showed the ignorance of the English Army leaders while still reflecting his strong nationalist views in an attempt to create propaganda for the Crimean War in his poem, “The Charge of the Light Brigade.” The charge was a tragic incident that took place in 1854 during the Crimean War, which was England, France and Sardinia against Russia, when English Army generals blundered and sent over six hundred soldiers on a charge that was destined for disaster. The solders were known as the Light Brigade and the charge resulted in over two hundred deaths to soldiers and over three hundred deaths to horses. In this horrific aftermath, Tennyson responded to this event by writing a poem which went on to become a classic. Tennyson was a strong nationalist and very political. He was moved and troubled when he received news of the tragic charge. The poem became a form of propaganda for the Crimean War due to Tennyson glorifying the sacrifice of the soldiers by using his exceptional writing skills. Although this poem is regarded by many as propaganda, he included the word blunder in the poem which showed the ignorance of the Army leaders.
The simple definition of war is a state of armed competition, conflict, or hostility between different nations or groups; however war differs drastically in the eyes of naive children or experienced soldiers. Whether one is a young boy or a soldier, war is never as easy to understand as the definition. comprehend. There will inevitably be an event or circumstance where one is befuddled by the horror of war. For a young boy, it may occur when war first breaks out in his country, such as in “Song of Becoming.” Yet, in “Dulce et Decorum Est” it took a man dying in front of a soldier's face for the soldier to realize how awful war truly is. Both “Song of Becoming” and “Dulce et Decorum Est” are poems about people experiencing the monstrosity of war for the first time. One is told from the perspective of young boys who were stripped of their joyful innocence and forced to experience war first hand. The other is from the perspective of a soldier, reflecting on the death of one of his fellow soldiers and realizing that there is nothing he can do to save him. While “Song of Becoming” and “Dulce et Decorum Est” both focus on the theme of the loss of innocence, “Song of Becoming” illustrates how war affects the lives of young boys, whereas “Dulce et Decorum Est” depicts the affect on an experienced soldier.
“Compare and contrast “The Soldier” by Rupert Brooke with “Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen with regard to theme, tone, imagery, diction, metre, etc”