Dulce et decorum est, Wilfred Owen
Dulce et decorum est is a poem written by Wilfred Owen. This very famous poem is about the great war and describes this tragedy in great detail. This poem uses many poetic techniques to display the theme of the poem which is war and conflict. One of the main literary techniques that are evident in this poem are the use of similes. Similes are a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind. An example of similes are when the poet, Wilfred Owen uses the term like or as. This is shown in the first line of the poem, like old beggars. In this line he compares the soldiers on the front line to old beggars. He also effectively uses this technique in line 12 saying like a man in fire or lime. This line compares lime which is an alkali which burns the skin, and fire which too burns the skin. Another poetic technique that is utilised by the poet, WIlfred Owen is the use of oxymorons. An oxymoron is two words that contradict each other. This is evident in the poem Dulce et decorum est also. In line 9 an oxymoron is used when the poet says desperate glory. Similies are found again in stanza 4. A simile is shown when the poet says the …show more content…
You often see films or television shows that depict war in a more glorified manner, but hearing it from these poets in a way that is gruesome and real sheds and new light on the conflict. These emotional poems gave me a newfound respect for those who fight for their country, especially the young men who risk their lives on the front line. Wilfred Owen and Ted Hughes’ poems depict the reality of war and I think that is the reason they are so famous. People like myself will read these poems and learn all new things about war and conflict. Due to these poems affecting people is one of the main reasons they have been told for years and years to
Dulce et decorum est is a poem written by Wilfred Owen. This very famous poem is about the great war and describes this tragedy in great detail. This poem uses many poetic techniques to display the theme of the poem which is war and conflict. One of the main literary techniques that are evident in this poem are the use of similes. Similes are a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind. An example of similes are when the poet, Wilfred Owen uses the term like or as. This is shown in the first line of the poem, like old beggars. In this line he compares the soldiers on the front line to old beggars. He also effectively uses this technique in line 12 saying like a man in fire or lime. This line compares lime which is an alkali which burns the skin, and fire which too burns the skin. Another poetic technique that is utilised by the poet, WIlfred Owen is the use of oxymorons. An oxymoron is two words that contradict each other. This is evident in the poem Dulce et decorum est also. In line 9 an oxymoron is used when the poet says desperate glory. Similies are found again in stanza 4. A simile is shown when the poet says the …show more content…
You often see films or television shows that depict war in a more glorified manner, but hearing it from these poets in a way that is gruesome and real sheds and new light on the conflict. These emotional poems gave me a newfound respect for those who fight for their country, especially the young men who risk their lives on the front line. Wilfred Owen and Ted Hughes’ poems depict the reality of war and I think that is the reason they are so famous. People like myself will read these poems and learn all new things about war and conflict. Due to these poems affecting people is one of the main reasons they have been told for years and years to