The poem does not rhyme throughout but does contain several rhyming couplets. One of these is “stumbling” and “fumbling” which are used at the beginning of stanza two when the gas attack has just begun. By only choosing certain lines to rhyme, Owen controls the poems rhythm and has used a more flowing rhythm in places like stanza two, to help the reader absorb the images easier.
It is clear that for a poem, of any sort, to be successful in portraying the reality of a situation, an image must be created in the readers head, a sure way of doing this is to use visual imagery. Owen does so throughout the poem and his remarkable use of powerful imagery undoubtedly enables the reader to ‘observe’ the soldier’s death as if they too are witnessing the gruesome spectre, therefore fully achieving the poem’s purpose of retelling the truthful story of what was occurring on the front line.
Visual imagery is continually used in the first stanza. The extensive use at the beginning allows for Owen to truly capture the reader and entice them to read on, enthralled. Indeed the first line supplies a powerful image:
“Bent double, like old beggars under sacks.”
By using images and words that are directly connected to dirt, filth and old age, Owen shatters the traditional views of healthy, tall, young, men returning victorious. Also, “bent double” is a severe contrast to the proud upright view of soldiers, as “bent double” suggests someone worthless with little self-confidence let alone pride. Beginning the poem by contradicting customary views of war, Owen draws the reader further into the poem.
Visual imagery is again used successfully later in the first stanza when Owen makes the comparison between the soldiers and beasts of burden. This is evident in this quote;
“But limped on, blood-shod.”
It is apparent that Owen is comparing the soldiers to horses – frequently used as beasts of burden – by his use of “shod”, a term used to describe the process of attaching iron horseshoes to the hooves of horses. Owen uses the comparison to represent the way in which soldiers were treated during the war. More specifically, the way the soldier’s were ‘kept’ in small cramped spaces with dismal food and then ‘herded’ out of trenches in front of the enemy guns to be slaughtered. The lack of dignity and respect, as well as the atrocious conditions faced by the soldiers, are akin to the conditions faced by beasts at the slaughterhouse, this is clearly the point Owen makes here.
Throughout the poem, visual imagery is used connecting the unfortunate soldier who is dying due to gas and water:
“As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.”
“Green Sea” and “drowning” are both related to water. The comparison is unusual as the soldiers death has nothing to do with water. However, it could be said that the soldier’s dilemma is related to lack of oxygen and difficulty in breathing; drowning also involves lack of oxygen and trouble breathing.
The relation to water is continued when the soldier’s distressed movements are described using word “floundering”. “Floundering” is a word commonly used to describe the movements of a fish taken out of water and by using it, Owen helps conjure a more vivid image of the distressed soldier in the readers head.
Owen skilfully uses sound imagery to enrich his account. The best example is the last line in stanza three;
“He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.”
“Plunges”, “guttering” and “choking” are all examples of onomatopoeia and all give the effect of enriching the reader’s image of the situation by adding the sounds being heard at the time.
Sound imagery is also used to further detail the lack of respect the soldiers receive and the link between them and beasts of burden. This reference is evident when the poet mentions “the wagon that we flung him in”. By using the onomatopoeic word “flung”, Owen compares the treatment and transport of the dying soldier to a peaceful, respectful, funeral vehicle that would be expected after a ‘heroic’ death.
The image is continued a few lines later when the poet describes the journey of the soldier and the noises made at every “jolt”. By again using an onomatopoeic word, Owen shows the contrast to a slow, steady funeral ride and shows how the undignified soldiers and their treatment contrast to the home-felt sense of glory and honour.
Owen’s own personal opinion of the soldiers’ predicament is made clear in the last stanza. He addresses the reader as “you” and the tone changes from being a general non-accusatory tone to a direct almost angry tone. The change of tone and the content of the poem up until the end of stanza four show Owen’s sarcasm when he refers to the reader as “my friend” which is obviously not the case. His reasons for this change of tone are unknown but it does give the effect of addressing the reader on a more personal level and driving home the event the poem deals with.
Owen uses the very last lines to drive home the bitter feelings and irony felt towards the war. A rough translation from Latin is “..it is sweet and fitting to die for ones country.” And through the sickening event Owen retells, he fulfils his purpose of shattering this “old lie” and replacing it with the more truthful images of modern war – an unjust, undignified and bitter slaughter of millions.
