Throughout the poem, Owen provides highly emotive language to convey the idea of war’s brutality. Predominantly, the octet of the poem offers a merciless impression to the reality of the battlefields:
“-Only the monstrous anger of the guns.” (Octet line 2)
These words are particularly effective as it largely contrasts with society’s belief of how a civilised culture commemorates its dead. “monster” reinforces this idea of viciousness and the lack of mercy shown on a battlefield creating a deep emotional response from the reader as this is not how we as a civilised community imagine society to function.
Funeral imagery is frequently employed throughout the poem foreshadowing the men’s deaths. Significantly, and using powerful word choice, the first line of the poem indicates their sacrifice:
“What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?” (Octet line 1)
“passing-bells” suggests these men will not be given the rights of a respectable and decent funeral service. This demonstrates this stanzas contrast of civilised vs uncivilised behaviour as these men are left only to die amongst the horrors of open warfare. “die as cattle” reveals the extent of the lack of humanity present in war and the dehumanisation of the soldiers being viciously slaughtered in such a great extent.
Religious symbolism recurs throughout the whole poem. The first stanza offers an evident disparity between religion and the cruelty of war which combines to reveal how the weapons used to kill the soldiers ironically become symbols of religion:
“Only the stuttering rifles’ rapid rattle
Can patter out their hasty orisons.” (Octet lines 3-4)
The elevated word “orisons”, a prayer given in Latin, is exploited to appeal to the readers emotions while contrasting with the dreadfulness of battle. “hasty” gives the impression of insensitivity and swiftness reinforcing the speed and merciless nature of the rifles’ bullets. The use of religious symbolism reveals Owen is searching for redemption on behalf of these men for what has happened on the battlefields.
The sestet however, provides respectful and sanctified images of death intentionally opposing the incivility of war and to reveal what is truly important after the loss of these men:
“What candles may be held…/in their eyes
Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.” (Sestet lines 1-3)
This suggests that the death of these soldiers and their funerals are being treated with dignity. However, Owen proposes that what’s actually important is the true quality of civilisation from within ourselves – the “eyes” and “the tenderness of patient minds” of those at home.
The sestet is designed to capture the true essence of love and remembrance with the intention of creating a strong emotional response from the reader through touching images:
“The pallor of girl’s brows shall be their pall;
Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,” (Sestet lines 4-5)
This is a more decent and fitting praise for those who died so brutally in war. The mood and setting of the poem has changed from the gruesome and bitter style of the octet to becoming romantic and paying real tribute to those soldiers unfortunate to have lost their lives. It is this stanza which creates the real, intense sentiment within the reader as it reminds us how important it is to honour the men’s courage and remember them for their heroism.
This theme is again echoed in the last line of the poem:
“And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.” (Sestet last line)
This line, not only being a reference to the traditional drawing of curtains to signify the death of a loved one in the house, also removes the reader from the brutal impact of the first line of the poem. This idea, insinuated throughout the sestet, proclaims love is the single most important thing in a world of cruelty and war and implies it will always triumph.
Wilfred Owen’s “Anthem for Doomed Youth”, through word choice, structure and theme, effectively arouses a strong emotional impact within the reader. Owen, while revealing the true reality of open warfare, protests that love and commemoration is a more adequate appraisal
