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Essay Comparing Dulce Et Decorum Est And Anthem For Doomed Youth

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In both poems, “Dulce et Decorum Est” and “Anthem for Doomed Youth”, Wilfred Owen explores the theme of war. Although there are some similarities there are countless differences. In “Dulce et Decorum Est” we get an image of the war and its grotesque effects on the human body; however, “Anthem for Doomed Youth” is focused on how the soldiers were denied the funeral they deserved and contains more religion.
Owen deliberately utilises irony in both of his titles. The first title “Dulce et Decorum Est” is ironic because it translates as ‘It is sweet and noble to die for your country’; nevertheless, the poem is anti-war. Furthermore, “Anthem for Doomed Youth” is an example of Owen’s use of irony. An “Anthem” is a song of loyalty or devotion, as …show more content…

The rhyming couplets GG and FF are anomalies in the poem as corresponding lines rhyme. This is done to give a temporary smooth read of the poem. It also adds to the slightly different rhyme scheme of the poem compared to traditional Elizabethan poems. The inconsistent rhyme scheme is used to convey an unpleasant message; however, a song or love poem will use a consistent rhyme scheme to portray a positive message. This can be linked to the poem as it says “The shrill demented choirs of wailing shells”. The use of the word “shrill” suggests that it is a screech like sound. Synonyms of “shrill” include deafening, discordant and ear-splitting. The use of this word shows how the poet is trying to describe the atmosphere of the battlefield as dangerous and undesirable. He also uses “demented” which is associated with something which is possessed by a spirit or demon. This is used to create a dark and dull atmosphere. The penultimate and final lines “Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds and each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds” are deliberately rhymed to show how the families are waiting for their loved ones to return and instead of coming back they are killed at war. I perceive that the soldiers have died because of “a drawing-down of blinds”. After someone dies the family pulls down the blinds as a sign of respect. On the contrary, in “Dulce et …show more content…

This is “Men marched asleep”. "Men marched asleep" is an oxymoron, on the grounds that it is a contradiction, a physical impossibility. The use of the oxymoron is a deliberate attempt to create a rhetorical effect. The usage of the oxymoron shows how Owen is portraying mixed feeling or emotions. The use of the word “asleep” makes the action impossible as the soldiers could not do anything whilst sleeping, just like any ordinary person. This leads to the oxymoronic This technique is used in many poems such as Havisham where it says “sweetheart bastard”; however, its use in “Dulce et Decorum Est” is different than in Havisham as the poet intentionally doesn’t express mixed emotions but decides to express a physically impossible action. In “Anthem for Doomed Youth” Owen doesn’t utilise oxymora in “Anthem for Doomed Youth” as it is supposed to be a straightforward poem, which shows a clear and simple religious message for all to be able to apprehend and, therefore, it doesn’t have oxymora which show a contradiction of views from the viewpoint of the poet. This represents how, without a shadow of doubt, Owen believed that the soldiers deserved a funeral and shows no other emotions via

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