preview

Compare And Contrast Dulce Et Decorum And Who's For The Game

Decent Essays

The two World War I based poems “Dulce et Decorum”by Wilfred Owen, and “Who’s for the Game?” by Jessie Pope convey two different views on World War I. “Dulce et Decorum” by Wilfred Owen, is being told from a soldier’s perspective during a poison gas attack and the gruesome events he sees around him. The soldier realizes that war is a lie and the phrase “Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori” is also a big lie, the poem’s only purpose is to be aimed toward children or young men who desperately want glory. Wilfred Owen is depicting war as a grimacing occurrence to take part in, and is encouraging young men not to enlist. “Who’s for the Game” by Jessie Pope, is lionizing war, promoting young men to enlist or they might miss out on the fun of war. …show more content…

Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen is written 3 years later in 1918, after “Who’s for the Game” by Jessie Pope. His perspective on war is gravely affected on how the war has been on him. He talks about the excruciating pain the majority of the soldiers were in and the spontaneous chemical gas bomb that blew up on their way home. Many of the soldiers themselves were in horrid conditions. “Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge”(1-3) In “Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen the title is a shortened version of the phrase “ Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori”, meaning “it is sweet and proper to die for one’s country” It is used ironically in this poem because the whole point of this poem is revealing the truth that it is not sweet and glorious to die for one’s country. In fact, the truth is that phrase is a lie meant to persuade children who are desperate for glory and popularity to join the war. “To the children ardent for some desperate glory, The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori”(27- 280) This creates the mood of sadness, because of the idea that so many kids have been lied to and just gave up their …show more content…

The tone in “Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen is disappointment that he fed into the lie that promised him and others glory. Wilfred Owen exposes the lie that dying for a country is glorious but the harsh reality is that it is heinous. The tone of “Who’s for the Game” by Jessie Pope is that if you don’t join the war then you’re a coward. Wilfred Owen poem is in a way written as a response to Jessie Pope poem since he does not agree with the idea that war is glorious and that it’s fine to die for your

Get Access