Summary In detail analysis of the poem "Dulce et Decorum Est" by Wilfred Owen
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Course
English Home Language
Institution
12th Grade
An in-depth line-by-line analysis of IEB prescribed poem "Dulce et Decorum Est" by Wilfred Owen.
Specific notes on the background of the poet, explanation of the title, structure of the poem, tone, alliteration, assonance, and rhythm.
Alexa Campbell Poetry notes
Dulce et Decorum Est
BY WILFRED OWEN
Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, - Heavy sounds, laboured, slow everything
down to mimic walking
- Similies enforce that they are suffering
- Old beggar old hag, they are not healthy
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed - a powerful verb, highlights how the men are at
near breaking point
through sludge, - Sludge = trench warfare = poor conditions
- Suggests something eerie – links to the
atmosphere/mood
Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs, - They carried on walking to their “distant” rest
And towards our distant rest began to trudge. - Suggests that they are exhausted - they are
plodding along – dragging their feet
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots,
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all - They are shoed in blood as their feet are so
raw
blind;
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots - the noise made by the shells rushing through
the air
Of tired, outstripped Five-Nines that dropped - Soldiers have struggled beyond the reach of
these shells which are now falling behind them
behind. as they struggle away from the scene of battle
PACE CHANGE
Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!—An ecstasy of fumbling - Punctuation, capital letters, exclamation
marks,
- Makes it quick and fast
- Frantic/fumbling as they are trying to put their
gas masks on
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time, - Only had seconds to get it on
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling - But: indicates a change
And flound’ring like a man in fire or lime.— - Imagery: fish out of water
- white chalky substance; can burn u alive
, Alexa Campbell Poetry notes
Dim through the misty panes and thick green - Colour of gas
light,
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning. - Drowning = the effects of the gas are similar
to that of someone drowning as you suffocate
– the gas fills his lungs like water would
- Again, reference to the colour of the gas –
now links the gas to that of an ocean that one
cannot breathe in
In all my dreams before my helpless sight, - We are made aware that this sight bothers
him still
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning. - Helpless…as he can do nothing!
- Refers to the sounds in the throat of the
choking man = spluttering
- Drowning = he repeats this word for impact
If in some smothering dreams, you too could - The repetition of the ‘If .. you’ highlights
Owen’s anger and direct (almost accusing)
pace communication to his readers.
- Again, we are aware that the poet is still
haunted by these visions = nightmares
- Direct address to the reader
Behind the wagon that we flung him in, - Flung - suggests a detachment/dehumanised
- The effects of the gas = indicates his pain
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face, - Hanging face: his head is hanging limply
(strong visual imagery
His hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin; - Simile = can a devil be sick of sin? Shows you
just how horrific this death is
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood - Strong sound imagery
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, - Effects of gas
Obscene as cancer, - Cancer is something horrific, just like this
scene of this young soldier is
bitter as the cud - normally the regurgitated grass that cows
chew; here a similar looking material was
coming from the soldier's mouth
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,— - Incurable – nothing can be done as these
young innocent men are dead
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