Dulce et Decorum est, by Wilfred Owen. Essay -- English Literature

Dulce et Decorum est, by Wilfred Owen.The First World War was an event that brought to many people, pain,sorrow and bitterness. Accounts of the contend shows that no other strugglechallenged existing conventions, morals and ideals in the same way asdid World War. Many people touched by the terrror of the war havewritten pieces of lit about the massacre that was World War 1,wishing people to understand the horror and tragedy that befell thoseinvolved. Dulce et Decorum est, by Wilfred Owen, is unitary such(prenominal) elegythat presents to the proof ref a vivid, horrifying description of WorldWar 1, aiming to illustrate that war is not romantic and heroic, but asenseless and devastating event. In this poem, techniques such asimagery, alliteration, assonance, onomatopoeia and contrast are usedto express Owens angry and bitter view towards what happened in thewar.Dulce et Decorum Est uses strong images to convey Owens feelingsabout the war, and to force the reader to take his view. G hastlypictures of the war occur throughout the poem, largely in the laststanza, working together to present a vivid picture of the war. Theseimages, use by Owen, show the ultimate irony and the moral of thepoem, that it is not in fact a sweet fate to die for ones countryeven though others may mobilize it heroic. This irony is illustratedusing juxtaposition at the end of the poem. The men who enlist areinnocent, they are children who have learned that war is full ofhigh zest and this makes them ardent for some desperate glory.These innocent boys are willing to believe the Lie but will thinkdifferently once they experience the war first hand.Descriptive language is used throughout the poem to evoke specif... ...rd drowning is repeatedtwice to imprint on the readers mind the effect the gas had on thesoldier.The language used also helps to give a stronger impact on the readerby involving the use of one of the readers five senses. In Dulce etdecorum est, onomatopoeia is used to enhanc e the effect of the poem,by involving the readers sense of hearing. Words such as guttering,gargling and choking are used to try the horrific sounds ofa man dying from gas, as the sounds of the words can be likened towhat they are describing.The readers attention does not wander throughout the poem because ofOwens coherent imagery. By the end of the poem, the reader canfully appreciate the irony between the truth of what happens in thetrenches and the Lie being told at home. It is this attention to approach patternand imagery that makes the poem effective.