The word “slink” describes how he leaves the conversation. Also a metaphor is used to describe the word “slink”. If you didn’t go to war you would be unwanted also it would persuade people to go to war and would want to be left out.
This poem persuades people to go to war by describing that you would feel guilty and be ashamed if you didn’t go to war and that you would feel lonely and left out.
The tone of this poem is very friendly and encouraging to persuade the reader to join the army.
He also uses enjambment,
“Shouting their love to the lads come back from the foe they rushed to beat? Will you send a strangled cheer to the sky and grin tell your cheeks are red?”
He has done this to create a flow in the poem and that one idea flows into the next so the reader can sign up.
He uses rhetorical questions to involve the reader,
“With a girl who cuts you dead?” this quote involves the reader so the reader by questioning him. He also does this so the targeted audience, who are men, get fired up and want to sign up.
The poet has a friendly and informal tone. “For men who are brave and strong”
This implies he is trying to act like he is the reader’s age by quoting things that would appeal to young men.
The poet talks directly to the reader by talking very persuasive and involving the reader by asking questions.
“And Britain’s call is gods”
This shows that the idea of the poet talks directly to the reader. He wants them to feel guilty as god is the only hope for Britain. So the young men would feel sympathy towards their country and would sign up.
The poet also uses images.
When you sit by the fire in an old mans chair and your neighbour’s talk of the fight?” this is a striking as he imagines the future and makes the reader think there’ll be regret for the rest for their life.
He also uses striking phrases.
“Will you slink away”? This is a striking because it makes the reader feel like they aren’t cowards and that they can do this.
He also mentions god, “and Britain’s call is God’s?”
This infers that war is holy, and that you have to go for your country but also for god and religion.
The poet for “who’s for the game” is a comparing war to a game like a game of football. She is showing all the positive things in detail and the negative in less and she makes war sound “fun” and “exciting”. She uses rhetorical questions to talk directly to the reader. In the poem “fall in” the poet doesn’t mention any injuries as this would be a negative response to war. The tone of this poem is positive.
The poems “fall in” and “who’s for the game” are similar as both poems have same amount of stanza with same amount of lines. They are different by that “fall in” is a longer poem and “who’s for the game?” is shorter.
“Who’s for the game?” is short and sweet as this would easily appeal to its audience. They both are similar as they want young men to sign up. This means that they ge5t the same point across.
The structure of each poem in each stanza reflects at the same contrasting message during the recruiting time. They use encouraging tone so the men get excited and that they want to join up.
The tone of each poem is upbeat and positive as this builds up excitement and is very encouraging. This will draw attention away form death and all things concerning to war. They both use repetition as this emphasises the reader to join up and that also makes them feel guilty.
In 1916 the conscription started there were no need for recruiting posters or poems conscription is when men aged 18-34 had to go to war. But not if they were a farmer or a miner because they had to gets the industry going.
The attitudes changed dramatically after men experienced the horrific realities of war and that it was mentioned in the recruiting poems and posters. Also that it was not a good thing and that it ruins young men’s life.
One of the poets who wrote about the horrors of was Wilfred Owen. Wilfred’s poems are different to the recruiting poems because they have the sad images of war and his poems lead to sickening scenes of war to show war was not like how it was in the recruiting poems.
“Dulce ET Decorum Est” is a description of war written by Wilfred Owen. It shows the realties of war and the main message of the poem is completely the opposite of the title. The title is ironic and the poem talk about that it is not good, sweet or honourable to die for your country.
He uses vivid images of how the soldiers were going through war. The theme of this poem is to show the true realties of war. Wilfred Owen wants to tell the reader that war is not like a game and that dying for your country isn’t glorious. He wants the reader to feel pity and sympathy for the soldiers as the soldiers had to go through gas attacks and they had to die a slow painful death.
Towards the end the reader also feels angry because the soldiers were lied about war being fun.
The poem has a rhyme, where each other line rhymes, all the stanzas are quite long expect for the third stanza which is only two lines long. In this stanza Owen write about the gas attack, that’s why it is short compared to the rest of the stanzas.
The tone changes at the start of the second stanza because the rhythm and the pace quickens because of the emergency.
He uses many similes, metaphors and symbols.
“Like old beggars under sacks”
“As under a green sea, I saw him drowning”. The use of simile and metaphor here is a shock to the reader because we expect the soldier’s to be happy and brave as they are fighting for their country.
The word “green” is used to describe the colour of the “green sea” describes the colour of the gas. It makes the reader imagine someone in the sea that has been affected by the gas that is making them drown in their own body. It makes a vivid image of the war conditions and shows how the soldiers were affected by the gas. In addition a solider is compared to a candle which is used to symbolise their life’s being blown out.
There is a slow but steady rhythm to the poem, it is supposed to make the reader read at a speed that they can realise the horrors of war without rushing through it.
The movements are described in the first stanza. They “trudge along the distant rest”. It makes a vivid image of the conditions they are in. in addition it is an example of onomatopoeia is used to describe how the soldiers are moving.
“Distant rest” implies that they are tried and it also shows that the pace and the conditions they have to put up with. In addition alliteration is used to add to the picture. The quote” fatigue” describes the men being tried”
He also uses vivid images to describe the men.” Hanging face, like a devils sick of sin” also “gargling from the fourth corrupted wing, obsceneas cancer”. This quote again shows us the vivid images to show the reader how the soldiers are dying like this meant a good thing but in this poem it is shown as a vivid imagery. Harsh sound words are used when reading to make it sound horrible and gutful. Similes are used to compare him to really hideous things as if he looks bad as an innocent child.
Owen talks directly to the readers in line 17 as he wants them to make the reader feel guilty and ashamed of themselves if not going to war. “You” shows that he is talking directly to the reader. Also he wants to talk strongly to them so they understand.
The last four lines are spoken in an angry tone because Wilfred Owen is angry at Jessie Pope and other poets who spoke about war being fun and adventurous. This is because he is trying to show the realities of war. Also war was not the thing they thought to be like as it was mentioned in the recruiting poems.
Wilfred Owen refers to the soldiers as “children” in line 26. “To children ard ent for desperate glory…” this tells the reader that the realties of war and the horrific conditions and some of them were children when joining war.
The Latin phrase is called an “old lie” the old lie, Dulce et decorum propart mor” implies that it is sweet and honourable to die for your country. But this quote is ironic because the poem shows all the vivid and horrific images in war.
The message of this poem is the opposite of the Latin phrase. The first stanza describes the men coming back from the battle. “Bent double, like old beggars under sacks” also “knock kneed coughing like hags”. The simile is used too describe the soldiers. The reader finds it shocking because the other poems were completely opposite to this. This quote also creates a very vivid image of the conditions they are in. In addition it makes a picture of what has happened in war.
I think this poem is goof and effective at getting the points across. If you read the poem it is completely the opposite to die for your country. As they experienced more of war they found war wasn’t a game and that it wasn’t something to be proud of but a dreadful thing to do to young men. The words “distant rest” “blood shed” implies that it could be the end of their life’s.
“Disabled” is another poem which shows the realties of war and the horrific conditions in war. “Disabled” was written by Wilfred Owen. This poem shows a men’s point of view and how his life changes due to being disabled.
There are 6 stanzas in this poem and it has an irregular structure in the poem. This is because the stanzas are different lengths.
This poem is of a man who came back from war with 1 leg and an arm also it shows how life changes due to being disabled and how everyone acts differently because he was fighting for his country and was disabled of that.
It shows his point of view after war and how he gets ignored. Also how other people react being disabled. “Ghastly suit of grey” this quote shows that how his life now and how dull his life is now because of the colour “grey”. Before being disabled he used to love to play football and getting involved in things. He was handsome and young who liked to touch girl’s waist.
In the third stanza it shows the artists that they want to paint them.” There was an artist…for the younger than his youth, last years.” This shows that the artists would want to paint a portrait of him. But after war they didn’t wanted to paint as he looked old and that he was disabled.
The first three lines create a picture of the solider. “He sat in a wheeled chair waiting for dark…in his ghastly suit of grey” this is a shocking image for the reader because he used to be handsome and young. But now his life is dull and monotonous. Alliteration is used to add to the picture because the colour “grey” adds to the description about his life being dull.
There are many reasons why he joined the war.” he’d look like a god in kilts”, “be too please his meg”. These quotes show the reasons why he joined the war.
He thought if he had joined war everyone would be pleased with him.” Smiling they wrote his lie, aged nineteen year”. This quote explains that he was too young to join the army but he was recruited anyway because they needed people. Also he was drunk when he took this decision and he didn’t know what war was really like.” And cares of arms”, this quote shows that he is naïve as he didn’t know what was expected of war.
The tone of the poem is sad, bitter, and angry and reflecting what war was really like.” Wonders why”, this quote shows us that he regrets everything about joining the army. This is because he hasn’t got anyone to help him when he needs help. Also when he came back from war he was being ignored because he had lost 1 leg and an arm.
Like in” Dulce et decorum est” there are many shocking images in this poem. “Leap of purple spurted from his thigh.” This quote lets the reader imagine the amount of blood lost. Also it is a horrific picture of war.” Poured it down shell – holes till the veins ran dry”. These quotes help the reader imagine the conditions. It says that he had lost all of his blood and that’s why the veins ran dry.
In the 4th stanza irony is used.” One time he liked blood – smear down his leg”. This is ironic because he doesn’t have a leg and lets the reader know how the conditions are like. Also in war he had lost quite a lot of blood. He used to play football and likes getting involved in things. Also when playing football he didn’t mid having blood running down his body.
When he came back from the army he was treated badly. “some cheered him home, but not as crowds cheer goal”. This tells the reader that he wasn’t cheered that much when he came back home. Also when he played football he was cheered a lot after the matches. This shows us that his life has changed due to going to war, because the way everyone was treating him.
In the final stanza a line is repeated. “why don’t they come and put me into bed? why don’t they come and put me into bed? why don’t they come?” This line is repeated because he wants to go to sleep so he can forget his life and the dull, monotonous moments. It also makes the reader feel sympathy for him.
“women’s eyes passed from him, to the strong men that were whole”. This shows inferior and we get sympathy for him like a half of a person. “some cheered him home, but not as…” This makes the reader feel sympathy for him because he went to war and not a football match. “All of them touch him like some queer disease”. This also shows the reader that he is ignored by girls because of disability. It makes the reader feel sympathy and guilty for him.
The main message of war isn’t glorious and it ruins young men’s life. War is not like a game as it much worse was being injured in a football match that is exact war because it would be much worse.
“Spring offensive” is another poem that is written by Wilfred Owen. This poem was written in September 1918 and it was one of his last poems. It was written at the end of World War 1 also this poem is about the feelings and tensions of the soldiers and the poet’s reflections.
At start of the poem the soldiers are described. “Easy” and “comfortable”, these words show that they are relaxed also repetition is used to describe their feelings. Onomatopoeia is used to describe the sound and the scene. It shows the reader that they are not worried or concerned by war.
The same kind off language is used which is positive and is getting the same message across like “Dulce et decorum est” has.
The soldiers thought tat war was a good thing but it was a horrible and a very ashamed thing to do to the young little men. They thought that war was going to end by Christmas but they were wrong as it went on for several years. The soldiers changed as war went on because they thought it was a game and they didn’t think they’d come home with lots of injuries besides a scratch but they were wrong. As they found more and more about war they found it was a disgusting thing to do to a poor little young men’s. they became very against it and think that any one should go there again when it had ended.
“Does it matter” is written by Sassoon in 1916. Siegfried Sassoon was another famous war poet just like Wilfred Owen; Sassoon wrote the real truth about war. In this poem is about the different kinds of injuries caused by war and how people would always be kind to you. Furthermore irony is used in the poem.
The injuries in this poem were “losing your sight for people will be kind by losing your leg and arm. These were the injuries in the poem and the quote is ironic because people would not be kind to you if you lose your leg or your sight.
I would say that both of the injuries are worse because if you lose your leg you wouldn’t be involved in things and if you lose your sight you wouldn’t have best jobs to do. Also it is highly ironic because it is a question to people asking “does it matter?” losing your leg or your sight.
After being injured your life would be different “to gobble their muffins and eggs” this quote tells the reader his life would be different after war. Hw wouldn’t be able to take part in things their friend’s are involved in.
In this poem repeated rhetorical questions are used, “does it matter?”. This quote makes the reader thing and make them feel guilty of what they done.
Repetition is also used in this poem. “and people will be kind”. This quote is repeated in each of the stanzas to show that people wouldn’t be kind if losing your sight or leg.
Ellipsis is used to make the reader think and give an answer to the question. “…” those three dots are repeated throughout the poem for emphasis.
Sassoon uses sarcasm to sharp the effect in the poem. “there’s such as splendid work for the blind” this quote shows the reader the opposite of this because there isn’t any work for the blind people. Also it makes the reader laugh and comes straight to the point.
Stanza 1 is the most striking as it shows irony about people being nice to you if you lose your sight. It shows how life would be different after war as you wouldn’t be involved in things that your friends would be involved in.
The attitude that Sassoon uses are attacking in this poem because as it says war is not glorious and that life changes after war and that you are not valued no more also you get ignored by people.
Recruiting poems are different to the realties poem to the reality poems because recruiting poems are positive and persuading people to go to war. Young men were encouraged to join war as it would be described as a “game”. So the men thought it would be a laugh and that they would be home by Christmas. That’s how recruiting poems are described so the young men could join the army and show bravery. However the realties poems were shown as a negative thing because it is shocking and horrific and that how the reality poems were describes. Also they were saying that war was not a good thing and that young men didn’t have glorious death.
In Sassoon’s “the hero” war and death is looked at from three different points of view. The mother, the officer and the poet. The poem highlights the dreadful conditions in war and it shows what things men would try to do to leave the battlefield. It shows the things that people don’t find out the true realties of war and the real truth behind it.
In this poem the mother feels that her son was brave and died in battle for his country. She feels hw would have liked as she also thought he was glamorous. “jack felt as he’d have wished” she was proud but lied to.
The brother officer thought that jack was actually useless. “useless swine” the officer knew jack had committed suicide, he feels jack is a coward.
The poem is written to show the reader that war isn’t glorious and the soldiers didn’t want to die or enjoy fighting for their country.
Sassoon is trying to tell pole at home that they are naïve about war and they should be told what was going on. As they didn’t know the true realities of war but the lies they got told.
The language used is simple and direct “and no one seemed to care” you can understand exactly what Sassoon is saying straight way. “useless swine is used to describe jack” it is colloquial and effective and we know what the officer thinks of him.
Each verse has a different person’s views of jack, all a similar length.
The poem is very down beat and sow paced, it is fairly short as it written to get straight to the point.
The mother’s reaction to the letter is “we mothers are proud our dead soldiers”. This shows how her mother reacts and it also shows how proud she is of her dead son. Furthermore she thinks that war is a positive thing because that’s how war was shown to her. She thinks that her son has died a brave and glorious death.
At the front jack was actually frightened and panicked.” He panicked down the trench”. This quote explains to the reader that he was panicked going over the top because he didn’t want to risk his life. He was frightened because it could have mean at the end of his life.
“brother officer” thinks that he was a useless swine. “brother officer” “knows he died a “cowards death” , also he had thought that didn’t care that he died because he was a useless solider.
He had to lie to his mother that he died a glorious death and not that he was blown into bits.
The different kind of language that Sassoon used was a positive language for the mother’s feelings and also the negative language for the “brother officer”. the language was simple nut hard hitting “at last, he died, blown to small bits” . This language gets straight to the point of how he dies also the language is simple so it could be shocking image to the readers.
The main message of this is that people don’t get to know the realties of war and that war is a harsh thing and that it ruins young men’s life. The poet is trying to express his feelings about the horrible conditions in war and how they die.
“suicide in the trenches” also written by Siegfried Sassoon, it is very straight to the point and it tell a short account on how a young boy killed himself to escape war. The purpose of this poem, like in most Sassoon’s poems was to show the truth about war. The poem has a rhyme and up beat, steady rhythm “simple soldier” this alliteration gives the reader the basic but clear image of one of the soldiers. In each of the stanzas the soldiers feelings change.
In stanza one he is explaining as being very happy with life; he is a bit lonely. In stanza two his life is being described as in the war. The simple soldier knew that he himself had fallen for the lies, so he shot himself and was forgotten. After his stanza there a pause to make the reader think about it for a minute. This is effective as it helps the reader realise what is really going in war. Sassoon begins to tell people that they don’t know how it was like.
“you smug – faced crowds…” was is described as “hell” his words are clear so the reader knows what he is saying. Sassoon is trying to make people at home feel guilty and sorry for the soldiers.
He uses “you to involve the reader which forces these feelings on them.
The last stanza like a summary of the reasons many soldiers like to die in war. In the whole poem Sassoon is able to show the realities of war and to show that war is like “hell” and not a “game” he emphasises guilt and sympathy on the three stanzas of four lines. His language is simple, basic and colloquial which leads straight to the point.
Sassoon uses some metaphors and also have double – meanings as well. “The hell where youth and laughter go”. This describes how gruesome war is and that it ruins their life’s in an extreme way.
“ I knew a simple solider boy?”, this is sentence with a double meaning. On one side this could describe how happy the boy was before way. On the other side it could show that the boy couldn’t figure out things as fast as other people
The rhyming words and sentences give it more up beat sound but with a sad and serious subject. This poem shows and tells us that how war can affect people’s life that they end up killing themselves. It also shows that they were desperate to go out and that’s why they have to such steps like this boy done.
Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon’s poems are in detail and they both have similarities and differences both poets have similar subjects and the same purpose for their poem as they both are saying war is like “hell” furthermore they both show the realties of war and prove that war is not like a game. The emotions of their poems also appear to be similar as they are trying to make the reader feel guilty and sympathetic.
Although they wrote for the same reason, the difference is that Owen uses more gruesome language to describe the horrible things that went on in war. At the same time more serious tone.
The views in which, they look at war are seen and shown differently, Owen looks at how it’s really is for the soldiers at war and how they suffer. On the other hand Sassoon tells people what it’s like for these at home.
Although in Sassoon’s poems, he tells of the injuries after war. He says how people would treat you if you had experienced war and became disabled in some way and he uses sarcasm to shock the reader he also doesn’t use gruesome language, he used words and wrote sentences which re easier to understand.
While Owen was more sympathetic Sassoon wrote in an ironic and in an angry tone and manner. He wants the reader to feel angry that the young soldiers were lied to and had to suffer in war. In Owens’s poem he wants to show more of what was really like. Sassoon on the other hand tells about people sitting at home of what was like and addresses to them.
Recruiting poems didn’t do any of this their aim was to persuade people to join war and try to get as many people to join war an some people lied about war to join war because the recruiting poems made them feel guilty. Furthermore it showed all the false responses to the true reality that they could show. Sassoon and Owen wanted to show the readers how war was like as they already experienced it.
The similarities between Owens and Sassoon’s poems are that they both show the vivid images and how the men have their death. The difference between Owens and Sassoon’s is that Owen uses imaginative language to get his message across about war. Sassoon’s poems are simple and gets straight to the point but hard hitting.
My favourite poems are “Dulce et decorum est” and “suicide in the trenches”
“Dulce et decorum est” shows all the realities of war and the conditions they are in. instead of the other poems who were lying about war to persuade them to go to war and make them feel guilty if not joining war. Furthermore this poem let’s everyone show the horrific conditions and the vivid images to show what war was really like and that war is not like a game of football and that it isn’t glorious to die for your country.
“Suicide in the trenches” was very effective because it’s simple but still hard hitting. The first two verses tell the extreme effects of war that had on the soldiers and that it also shows how people didn’t want to know what really happens in war and how naïve people were.
Overall I found the realities of war poems were more effective at putting forward their message. I didn’t think the recruiting poems were very persuasive and that they lied about war being “fun” and “adventurous” and made people lose their life’s because describing war as a “game”
