Diction In Dulce Et Decorum Est

It is Sweet and Honorable
The conviction of war portrayed by the speaker towards his experience in war is that of anger and hostility. Throughout Dulce et Decorum Est. Wilfred Owen writes about the inglorious death he witnessed of young men and speaks about the negative message of reality and falsehood that war has come to be known as; Owens uses diction, irony, similes, and imagery to establish his thoughts.
Throughout the poem, Owen’s use of diction plays a key role in demonstrating his message or theme. With “smothering dreams” and “haunting flares,” he enhances the negative and daunting and terrifying memories of war. The smothering and haunting memories have clearly affected him in such a way that he chose them over small less powerful

words, words that may have not been capable to portray his negative message. Along with the above quotes, words like “gutting, choking, drowning” are used to manifest the extreme pain felt by the soldiers, and to instill sickness in the reader.
Owens predominantly uses imagery to capture the common falsehood he believes war to have. Not only that but it paints the picture of Owen personal experience in the war. “Vile incurable sores on innocent tongues” allows the reader to picture horrendous images involving young men, the reader may begin to feel the injustice war has on young lives. “Incurable” also suggest the lifelong suffering that will never leave these men. “Gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs” depicts the brutality of war and use of language makes you feel and hear the effects of war.
Simile is used more than once in the poem to create contrasting ideas of war. “Bent double, like old beggars” compares the soldiers to the common beggar, “Bent double” suggest that the men are carrying heavy supplies which is causing them to bend over with the weight on their backs. “Coughing like hags” implies the soldiers are sick and suffering because of the war, becoming sickly and old like a hag.
Finally, a less obvious literary device is used in the title and the last line of the poem. “Dulce et Decorum est/ Pro patria mori” translates to ‘is it sweet and honorable to die for one’s country.’ This creates an ironic depiction between Owen’s view of the war, is war glorious? Or is war horrific? However we know he has a negative view of the war not only from the context of the poem but the line before the quote says “The old Lie.” Owen tricks the reader from the title and confirms the truth by the end. It’s ironic in the sense because that’s how he feels young men are being shoved into war, by dishonesty and trickery.
Dulce et Decorum Est surly portrays off-putting images of war and the negative impact it has on young lives. Owen wants to make it obvious that the youth are going to suffer given this negative connotation of war. War is not galiant and you will not live forever in emphany. War is struggle, war is hard, and war is destructive. There is no glory, just death.