Comprehensive in-depth analysis and commentary of "Spring Offensive" by Wilfred Owen. Besides textual analysis, includes background and literary device effects analysis. Notes were prepared by an IB 45/45 Pointer for IB Individual Oral Commentary (IOC).
Apologia Pro Poemate Meo(Wilfred Owen) Poem Analysis
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Owen War Poems
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Spring Offensive
CONTEXTUALISE
The poem spring offensive is written by Wilfred Owen in Scarborough on July 1918, and revised
again in September 1918, in France.
The poem follows after a real-life battle in April 1917 in France, of which Owen was a part of. The
battle was as described in the poem, with the British troops springing an attack on the German
troops who had the upper hand, as they were on a hill, while the British troops were on lower
ground.
SUMMARIZE
Like many of Owen’s poems, this poem adopts a sorrowful tone, as it contrasts nature’s beauty
with the brutality and reality of war. As put nicely in Wilfred Owen’s preface, his poems, including
Spring Offensive, are about the subject of war and the pity of war.
This ties in with the mood of the poem, which is that of apprehension and tension in the midst of
tranquility, which progresses to hopelessness in the later stanzas during the battle.
The title, “spring offensive”, encapsulates the poem’s contents rather well. There are two
meanings of the word “spring”, the first being the season, which is symbolic of warmth, hope and
new life. Though tying in with some beautiful nature imagery in the poem, it stands in contrast
with the word “offensive”, making the title rather oxymoronic.
The second meaning would be the idea of springing an attack, which would also apply in this
poem.
CONTENT (1)
The first 3 lines begin with a sense of tranquility and camaraderie, as the soldiers are resting on
each other:
Polypopton: “eased”, “ease”
However, still had an ominous sense
“Last hill”, reminded of the impending battle, creates a sense that the soldiers would soon
face their death “last”
At the same time, some dehumanization of soldiers, tying in with “disabled”
2nd line, animalistic
“chest”, “knees”, reduced to body parts
Rather tranquil mood is disrupted:
Caeusra
“But”, plosive
Moves on to give an ominous, foreboding sense:
“Stark blank sky”, bareness and emptiness links to emptiness, bleakness and
hopelessness faced by the soldiers at the uncertainty of their lives. Ties in with
“mysterious glass” in last line of first stanza.
“stood still”; “stark blank sky”, sibilants here emphasizes that notion of uncertainty of
lives
“Knowing their feet had come to the end of the world”, impending death
Sense of pity is built again
“Marveling”, at such a normal sight. Death is a scene common to them. Link to
“insensibility”.
Sleepy, serene atmosphere
“Marveling”, “may”, “murmurous”, “midge”: soporific effect that slows down pace and
rhythm of poem
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