Both poems are about war although each poem has a completely different opinion on war. Owen’s poem ‘Dulce et Decorum est’ reads like a diary and is a first hand account of war and is anti-war while Tennyson’s ‘Charge of The light Brigade’ is propaganda wrote for the times newspaper and is in favour war.
Owens poem begins very dreary and sluggish this due to the use of four line sentences which creates a slow and steady pace. This sets the atmosphere and gives the feeling and image of the soldiers walking back to base camp withered and ruined. Tennyson uses short well structured lines and a fast moving rhythm and pace, which creates drama and tension. The use of repeated words “Half a league, Half a League Half a league” creates the sensation of the light brigade charging forward. As dulce et decorum est progresses the sentences become shorter which produces a faster moving rhythm hence creating excitement and anxiety.
The imagery and words used in Owen’s poem: “bent double, like old beggars under sacks, knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge.” Illustrates to the utmost the effects war has. These men used to be strong and brave and now after fighting in the war they have been destroyed and emasculated. The personification Tennyson uses: “ the valley of death” and “the mouth of death”. Portrays the valley the light Brigade attacked as terrifying and evil, thereby depicting the men of having
extreme bravery.
The tone in both poems is very different from each other. In Owen’s poem the tone is bitter, ironic, pessimistic, unpatriotic whereas in Tennyson’s poem it is the opposite and is celebratory, exultant and patriotic. The title of Owen’s poem Dulce et decorum est which means it is a sweet and seemly thing to die for your country, is very ironic as Owens whole poem is about how war destroys and kills people. He mocks this statement calling it the old lie.
Owen uses oxymorons: “An ecstasy of fumbling” this shows the effect war has had on the men, they need to rush to get their helmets on before the gas kills them but as they are rushing they are falling all over the place due the weakness and frailty caused by the war. Owen also uses similes: “floundering like a man in fire or lime. ” this phrase is showing how to man was writhing and jumping about like a fish out of water or like a man being burned to death. Tennyson does not use oxymorons although his whole poem could be described as an oxymoron as he is celebrating the fact that people have died. Tennyson repeats words and phrases: “theirs not to make reply, theirs not to reason why, theirs but to do and die.” He is portraying the men of the light brigade of being heroes, as they know they are going to dies but they are going to obey the order they were given. Also at the end of the first three stanzas he repeats the phrases: “into the valley of death” “Into the mouth of hell” these phrases again are emphasising the bravery of the men. Both poets use direct speech in their poems, which adds tension and drama. It also adds a more personal feeling to the poems and makes you fell as if you were in the middle of the action
In the last stanzas of Owens poem we see how atrocious war really is by the imagery used. Owen has been affected for life by death of the anonymous man. The image of the man being flung into the back of a cart like a piece of meat is particularly disturbing as it is suggesting they do not care about this man and how this man has died for nothing. The image of even the devil being sick of sin is symbolising the pointlessness of war. Owen describes in great detail the pain and agony of death we can almost feel it as we read it: “white eyes writhing in his face” and “the blood come gargling from the froth corrupted lungs, bitter as the cud.” He uses this much detail to disgust the reader into realising how war is a bad thing and “the old Lie” is not true.
In the last stanzas of Tennyson’s poem he describes how the light brigade rode through the valley of death “volley’d and thunder’d” and “while horse and hero fell.” Some of the men returned back from the mouth of hell. The images again used here: “plunged in the battery smoke” are showing the intense courage held by the men of the light brigade.
The last stanza in each poem is shorter than all the rest. In both poems it seems to be as if the rhythm and metre from previous stanzas have been leading up to these final statements. Owens makes a very bitter and undeviating statement mocking, “the old lie” and showing the ghastly truth behind sentiments that influenced the soldiers to fight, he still thinks off them as heroes but thinks they died like animals. Tennysons last stanza is more straight forward with one meaning which is to show the valour of the men of the light brigade and to honour them for eternity.
Although both poems are diametrically opposed, they have the same common goal to get the reader to believe in their view of war. We see at the end of each poem we are being told what to believe. In owens poem we are told that dying for your country is sweet and seemly is a lie and in Tennysons poem we are told honour the light brigade honour the charge they made
After carefully comparing and contrasting these two poems I have come to the conclusion that, Wilfred Owen’s ‘Dulce et Decorum est’ view of war is true. His poem was outstanding. The imagery he used illustrated to the highest his view of war and the tone and atmosphere was created perfectly by a good rhythm and pace which move along with the poem.
