Brendi Saito
Period 4
Dulce et Decorum Est
“Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen is a very dreadful poem about the horrors of being involved with war. It is set in the midst of a battle, and shows what soldiers are going through everyday out there, fighting, and struggling to stay alive. But what have they got to show for it? There is very horrific imagery that is used to try and open peoples eyes to see that it is neither sweet or right to die for your country. Therefore, the theme that best fits this poem is: The expectations of war rarely meet the reality of it.
This theme can be found right in the beginning of this poem. Actually the whole entire stanza is relative to the theme! But it mostly stands out in the words, “Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots but limped on, blood-shod.” One way it is relative to the theme is that everyone is exhausted and yet the have to keep moving to stay alive or they’ll face certain death. The theme is also represented in this poem because it shows what a drag the war can be and how many suffer from it whether they fought for it or died for it. Another way it shows the theme is that the soldiers are covered in blood and limping. This doesn’t sound very glorious to me, and it surely does not make “Dulce et Decorum est” sound true at all.
It also shows through in the second stanza, when Owen says “As under a green sea, I saw him drowning. In all my dreams, before my helpless sight, He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.” First of all, to watch a man die right before you would definitely change your outlook on war. You would start to wonder why and if everything your fighting for really worth it. Another thing is that Owen sees him drowning in all his dreams, it haunts him. He is emotionally scarred for what could be the rest of his life if he ever makes it out alive. The theme definitely relates to the sight of a helpless dying man. He is in a great amount of pain and is slowly being killed but there is nothing they can do about it. That’s not close to sweet or anywhere near right.
The Term Paper on Mood Of The Poem War Owen Men
(i) How do sound devices and imagery in the poem contribute to the mood and increasing tension in the poem? Owen's use of exact diction and vivid figurative language emphasizes his point, showing that war is terrible and devastating. Furthermore, the utilization of extremely graphic imagery adds even more to his argument. Through compelling imagery, sound devices like alliteration, assonance and ...
Finally, the most important words that exhibit this theme is “My friend, you would not tell with such high zest, to children ardent for some desperate glory, the old lie; Dulce et Decorum est Pro patria mori.” It portrays this theme because its says that people tell about dying for their country with high zest but you never know until you actually been through what Owen and many other soldiers have been through. Also, it reflects the theme because some people would think that it’s a proud thing to die for your country but really, most people wouldn’t think so highly about it after actually being affected by war. Lastly, the theme connects with this poem because is calls the saying “Dulce et Decorum Est est Pro patria mori” or, it is sweet and right to die for your country, a lie.
In conclusion, the theme The expectations of war rarely meet the reality of it is clearly in this poem. It is very agonizing to be in a battle, straining to keep up and keep safe. Also, Many people die as others watch in complete horror and see death glaring straight at them while they are trembling in their boots. The words “it is sweet and right to die for your country” would never be wrenched out a soldiers mouth after being reminded day in and day out of the desperation and absolute fright of the action of a battle. Dulce et Decorum Est? I don’t think so.
