“An ecstasy of fumbling,
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time,”
These two lines create a sense of panic and the words, filled with clumsy consonants, add to the tension. “Ecstasy”, normally associated with excitement, strangely fits very well in the phrase as it conveys horror brilliantly. The simple word “But” destroys any sense of relief in just one word as the reader knows straight away that something has gone wrong. The pace of the poem is slowed right down by the Assonance used, helping the reader realize that one of the soldiers didn’t get his helmet on “just in time”.
“As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.”
The simile used paints a graphical picture for the reader and you are able to see all the soldiers standing around, wanting to help but not being able to. The repetition of ‘ing’ in the next stanza reinforces the pain and suffering the man is going through. The three words “guttering”, “choking”, and “drowning” give such a strong image and is very shocking the way they are said one after the other. “Guttering” is almost onomatopoeic; allowing you to visualize and hear the torture the soldier is going through.
The audience is attacked in the next stanza as Owen suddenly involves the reader in the poem. The use of alliteration:
“And watch the white eyes writing in his face”
intensifies the agony of the soldier and almost makes you feel guilty for not being there even if there were no way you could help. However the next line is such a powerful description that the picture created is so vivid.
“Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,”
This line is so disgusting and horrific making the event, all the more chilling. The use of Assonance is so straight forward emphasizing the revolting scene.
“Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues.
In the last stanza it talks to the audience as “My friend” changing the relationship between the poet and the reader from the previous stanzas. This gesture is encouraging, allowing the reader to feel more comfortable. The words “children”, “ardent”, and “desperate” tell the reader that the young boys are too passionate about going to war for the “glory” that they are blinded by what really happens. Owens constant use of imagery does not allow the readers mind to wonder.
The last two lines emphasize that war is not glorious or brave. Owen’s use of rhyming words helps bring the poem to a finale and also help you flow through to the end. The use of the capital letter in “The old Lie:” enhances the meaning of “Dulce et Decorum est: Pro patria mori.” This makes the message stand out very clearly.
The intense descriptions throughout the poem are spine chilling and compel the reader to see through the eyes of the poet, allowing them to contemplate the bitterness of war. Owen expresses the reality of war, contradicting the glorification some may see it as like in the “Conquerors,” by Henry Treece. However, towards the end of this poem, Treece depicts the immoral and inhumane aspects of war.
“Conquerors,” is also about war but not quite as disgusting and shocking. The mood is very sombre and melancholy. There is no rhyming pattern; however there are many enjambments which allow the readers to flow through the poem.
The pace of the poem is very slow and thoughtful. It is not very straight forward which makes the reader think carefully about the message Treece is trying to get across.
The first few lines make you aware of your senses and you can picture that everything is silent and untouched.
“For the sorry drip of rain from blackened trees”
This line is very picturesque and emphasizes the sad, depressing tone of the poem. The two words ”sorry”, and “melancholy”, increase the poems grey, low key mood.
The use of Assonance and enjambment pulls you through the poem, helping you read on to the next line.
“Then through a broken pane some of us saw
A dead bird in a rusting cage, still”
Treece’s use of words such as “dead”, and “rusting”, perceive to the reader that the village has been isolated and a lot of time has passed. The Alliteration in the next line moves the reader swiftly on and at the same time stresses what had happened in the village. The description of the bird gives the reader an idea of the fear and the sense of being trapped or locked in that the people of the village had before they died.
The silence almost makes the soldiers feel scared or guilty as they rush to get out. The dog described in the poem is fragile and weak. “to die at least in peace”, implies that there must have been an uproar or panic in the village when the people were killed, contrasting with the dog’s death.
Treece expresses his message in the next line express conveying that war is not so victorious after all:
“No one had told us victory was like this.”
The reader realizes that the soldiers are starting to regret and the joy of conquering is not so triumphant after all.
The “grey child” leaves such a poignant image in the readers mind and it makes you want to stop and think. The horrific picture in your mind makes you think of the innocent children being left to die.
The last line removes all the glorious feelings the ‘conquerors’ would have had before coming to the village. The soldiers forget all about their victory and the only thing on their minds are the families.
This poem has a very dreamy, unrealistic feeling to it. The images are very poignant and allow the reader to remember the picture vividly. The message is portrayed throughout the whole poem and leaves the reader to stop and think about it. The poem portrays the cruelty and misery war beholds on people and stresses the love everyone has for their families, no matter what side they come from.
Both poems indicate how inhumane war can be. I thought “Dulce et Decorum est” was very vivid and disgusting. The poem illustrated the ugly and brutal reality of war, depicting the horror many soldiers go through. “Conquerors”, was more emotional, making me feel a certain amount of sorrow and distress about the consequences of war. Each poem portrayed its message through to the reader using different poetic devises and tones and was successfully able to convey them.
