Compare and contrast 3 war poems - Dulce et decorum est by Wilfred Owen, What are these? by Siegfried Sasson and Suicide in the trenches by Siegfried Sasson.

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In this essay I will compare and contrast 3 war poems. This essay will compare and contrast these poems in terms of subject matter, styles and techniques used. The 3 poems are; Dulce et decorum est, by Wilfred Owen, What are these?, by Siegfried Sasson and Suicide in the trenches, by Siegfried Sasson.

These poems were some of the best war poems that were ever written and these poems criticised generals and people who were staying at home doing nothing. These poems also told you about life in the trenches. They were very significant poems.

Here is some biographical information.

SIEGFRIED SASSON

Siegfried sasson was born in 1886. He joined the army in 1914 and after the war he started to write poems about war (mainly in the trenches). He turned out to be one of the best war poets ever. He combined the reality of war, to produce these poems.

WILFRED OWEN

Wilfred Owen was born in 1893 and from an early age, he started to write poetry. He entered the war but was then hospitalised for shock. In hospital he met Siegfried Sasson and they created brilliant work together. He was renowned for his traditional poetry and his poems contained disturbing content. He died in 1917 and his poems were published later.

SETTING + SUBJECT MATTER

Suicide in the trenches was about a boy who kills himself because he couldn’t take the life in the trenches. He shot himself and no one spoke of him again. It is set in the trenches where there is a lot of disease and death. There is a gloomy, dark setting in this poem.

The poet uses the words ‘ dark ’ and ‘ gloomy ’, to create this.

Wilfred Owen also criticises the generals in this poem.

STYLE + TECHNIQUE

This poem has a simple style, which is effective. The poet keeps it short, but adds effective words, which sum up all the aspects like criticising and life in the trenches. This is what Wilfred Owen and Siegfield Sassoon contained in their poems.

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The poet starts off by describing the boy as ‘ simple ’ and ‘ empty ’. He maybe stating that this boy is sad and lonely. 8 syllables per metrical line and a AABB rhythm is used to keep the poem simple, but very effective. He also describes the trenches as ‘ cowed ’ and ‘ glum ’, to give the idea that it is gloomy. The poet describes how disgusting the trenches are by using the words ‘ crumps ’ and ‘ lice ’. I he also uses    ‘ hell ’ as a metaphor for death and ...

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