Compare the poems and comment on how the way Owen and Southey convey

Compare the poems and comment on how the way Owen and Southey convey

their attitude towards war - Dulce et Decorum Est

'Dulce et Decorum Est' tells the story of how Wilfred Owen experiences

world war first hand and tells of his bitter angst towards the

government who try to persuade young men to join the army.

Owen developed many of his poetic techniques at Craiglockhart Military

Hospital where he spent much of the war as an injured soldier, and was

able to express his ideas and feelings on paper

He uses the Latin phrase 'Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori,' which

translates into 'it is sweet and glorious to die for one's country.'

Owen tells of how this phrase is wrong, how it is not glorious to

experience the harsh reality of war with the explosions and the

screeching of missiles, which he saw with his own eyes. The phrase is

deceptive to the men that are called up as they look to help their

country and believe that it is something to die for.

The poem begins with a slow rhythm through the use of heavy, long

words, in order to illustrate how slow and painstaking war was. Owens

view on war is that it is a dangerous thing to do and using a Latin

phrase is just a way of recruiting more troops. He states,

"My friend, you would not tell with such high zest

The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est

Pro patria mori"

'My friend' refers to another war poet, Jessie Pope, who had a

completely different aspect on war. Owen emphasises the word 'lie' as

he fully believes that the phrase is one.

The poem begins with the lines,

"Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,

Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge"

This gives the audience a picture of soldiers with heavy bags on their

...

... middle of paper ...

... victory."

He seems to see the battle as a battle that must happen in order for

something good to come of it. He uses "it was a famous victory" a few

times at the end of verses, which he is determined to get across the

point of this battle was worth fighting for, though he contradicts

himself as he cannot explain what it is. Kaspar corrects Wilhelmine

when she states that it was a wicked thing and says that it was a

famous victory.

I get the impression that Robert Southey believes that good can come

of war, though he doesn't fully understand what the Battle of Blenheim

was about. I have come to the conclusion that Wilfred Owen is fully

against war and not prepared to change his mind, as he experienced

first-hand how tragic it can be. Southey's attitude towards war is one

that good can become of it, and Owen believes it is a terrible and

tragic thing.