War, as a theme for poetry, Has reflected changing attitudes over the centuries - With reference to 'Dulce Et Decorum Est' and 'Charge of the Light Brigade' Discuss these changing attitudes.

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War, as a theme for poetry, Has reflected changing attitudes over the centuries.

With reference to 'Dulce Et Decorum Est' and 'Charge of the Light Brigade'

Discuss these changing attitudes.

In this essay we must analyse and assess these two poets contrasting representations of the theme of war and the source from which they came. First we must research and discuss the historical background of the two poets. "The charge of the light brigade" by Alfred Lord Tennyson is a poem describing the account of British soldiers and their humiliating defeat at the hands of the Russians and all that it entailed. "Dulce et Decorum est" by Wilfred Owen describes the horror of existing inside a world war one trench. It gives a first hand account of how he watched his compatriots die alongside him in the struggle to defend against the German army.

“Half a league, Half a league onward”

This quote dictates a rhythmic marching tempo for the poem. This also is a good example of alliteration as it is a series of words with repeated sounds.

“All in the valley of death rode the six hundred”

This gives us a first harsh and unexpected sign of their impending doom. We see from this quote that the will end in death and destruction. We see this, as the valley is a characteristic of death itself.

“Forward the light brigade! Charge for the guns”

This extract increases the tempo and tension of the poem and is deliberately added by Tennyson to make the battle sound exciting and heroic. As it was his aim to captivate the imagination of his audience, the male youth of Britain in an attempt to join the already sparse troops of the fear filled British army.

“Not though the soldier knew, Some one had blundered: Their’s not to make reply, Their’s not to reason why, Their’s but to do and die.”

This gives us an impression of a nameless, faceless commander barking orders at his troops. This quote shows us that the typical British soldier had no rights whatsoever and was made to follow blindly, even if they knew their fate as pawns of the British Empire.

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“Cannon to the right of them, Cannon to the left of them, Cannon in front of them.”

This reinforces the impending doom of the soldiers and sheds light onto the advantage of the enemy.

“Volleyed and thundered; Stormed at with shot and shell, Boldly they rode and well,”

This sounds the barrage of the enemy fire, which the troops are made to endure in the name of their country.

“Into the jaws of death, into the mouth of Hell rode the six hundred.”

Death is personified as being a beast; e.g. it’s jaw. This is an oxymoron as death can ...

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