Comparing The Drum by John Scott and The Send-off by Wilfred Owen

Comparing The Drum by John Scott and The Send-off by Wilfred Owen

Both writers have different ways of presenting their ideas about

slaughter and sacrifice. While in The Drum, John Scott plainly shows

that his feelings are that those who died in the war are being

slaughtered and not sacrificed. Meanwhile, in the Send-off, Owen shows

the ignorance of the people at home, who do not know the true horrors

of the war.

In the Drum, from the first line of the poem, John Scott immediately

let's the readers know his dislike of the war by saying

'I hate that drum's discordant sound,'

This is referring to the drum that is sound before the men go out to

battle. Therefore, John Scott associates the sound of the drum war. As

John Scott says he hates the drum he is showing is hatred of the war

and slaughter that goes on. As this line is repeated in the second

stanza, it emphasises the writer's hatred of the war.

Another way Scott effectively presents his ideas is by using different

language in each of the stanzas. In the first stanza it shows what the

drum means to the young lads who dream of being a soldier. This gives

a positive view on sacrifice, as it uses words like 'fall', which is

very romanticised language. This stanza gives the idea that is very

heroic and brave to die for ones country. In total contrast the second

stanza shows John Scott's views on war and he shows the death that

occurs is more slaughter than sacrifice. Instead of using romanticised

language he says

'And mangled limbs, and dying groans,'

This view gives a more graphic and realistic image to what war was

really like. The second stanza is used to shock the readers so they

can understand the true horrors of war. By using two contrasting

stanzas, Scott effectively presents his criticism on the way people

perceive war.

Another way John Scott presents his ideas is by creating strong and

powerful images.