How does Wilfred Owen portray the horror of war in 'Dulce et Decorum est'?

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How does Wilfred Owen portray the horror of war in ‘Dulce et Decorem est’?

Owen’s ‘Dulce et Decorem est’ is a painful, poignant and blunt depiction of the squalid conditions and distressing experiences which had a permanent effect on the soldiers of the 1st world war. He addresses the subject with absolute honesty and frankness as a soldier himself, which brings out the stark contrast of the reality of war to the propaganda which enticed young soldiers to fight to begin with; Owen’s use of language here shows his deep loathing towards war and misleading propaganda.

Firstly I will address the idea in the poem that war is irreconcilable and contradictory to the notions displayed by propaganda posters of courage, bravery, honour, glory and patriotism. The first stanza of the poem is heavy with negative connotations- the men are ‘beggars’, weak, destitute and dejected, lacking in hope; they are ‘coughing like hags’ due to living in the trenches- rife with illness, disease, gas attacks and dead bodies.

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The use of words like ‘haunting’, ‘distant’, ‘asleep’, ‘lame’ and ‘drunk’ create a feeling of inevitable doom; ‘knock-kneed’, ‘coughing’, ‘limped’, ‘blood-shod’ and ‘dropped’ indicate ill health and disease. The theme of loss is also significant here; ‘many had lost their boots’, ‘all blind’, ‘deaf even’, connoting the loss of sense organs as well as property, the small comfort of simply having boots. Through the ‘sludge’ the men ‘curse’ those who were the cause of their suffering, the Germans, war, propaganda.

Nevertheless there is still the theme of duty, and/or a small light of hope amongst the disheartened men- ‘Men marched ...

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