With specific focus on Wilfred Owen's Futility, Anthem for Doomed Youth, Dulce et Decorum est, and Mental Cases evaluate the methods the poet uses to bring across his convictions, feelings and ideas.

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Hemant Sahi

English Literature Coursework: World War 1 Poetry

With specific focus on Wilfred Owen’s Futility, Anthem for Doomed Youth, Dulce et Decorum est, and Mental Cases evaluate the methods the poet uses to bring across his convictions, feelings and ideas.

“Who longs to charge and shoot,

Do you my laddie.”

        This jingoistic wartime poem by Jessie Pope ignites Owen’s anger at these false impressions of war. This is evident in such poems as Dulce et Decorum est, originally penned towards Pope, hence the initial title, To a Certain Poetess. Owen’s “senses were charred” at the sight of the “suffering of the troops”, such accusations about the nature of warfare fuelling the malice of his work. Owen never openly retaliates, instead opting to include his resentment towards writers like Pope in his poems. Owen frequently conveys his convictions of lost youth in Anthem For Doomed Youth by referring to “the hands of boys”, evidently refusing to acknowledge the maturity of the men.

Owen’s numerous references to religious symbols heightens the effects of his poems. In Anthem, we hear the “demented choirs of wailing shells.” Angelic choirs are ironically reversed as Owen negates Christian ritual as being unfitting for those who die amid screaming shells. In Mental Cases, we also bear witness to Biblical images, asking if we are:

“Sleeping, and walk hell

But who these hellish?”

Owen often compares war to Hell, comparing soldiers to creatures undergoing eternal torment, “Wherefore rock they, purgatorial shadows”. This adds to the created impression of those driven mad by war, as he asks if the “multitudinous murders” these men have committed has doomed them to Hell. Owen insists these soldiers are not to blame, for ‘we’ dealt them this “tormented” fate. Anthem is a similar reversal, where Owen utilizes heavenly elements, “orisons”. Yet, these spiritual references are used negatively: the only true regret is the “holy glimmers of goodbyes” in the dying soldiers’ eyes. The gloriousness of Heaven and God is ignored, extending the distressing impact of the poem on the reader, as similar devilish imagery is used in other poems, such as the gas victim’s “devil sick of sun” face in Dulce. This imagery is so contorted it is unearthly, and seemingly impossible – just as the devil becoming tired of sinning is impossible. Owen’s verbal images are parallel to artwork of the time, in particular Otto Dix’s Assault Under Gas, shown below.

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In this art piece, Dix mirrors the tortured, hellish scenes of Dulce, with the cries of “Gas!” almost audible. The visual imagery suggests the mental effects of the attacks on the soldiers, highlighted by the colour grey – as if life had been drained from them. Owen would have been aware of this, as he was treated at Craiglockhart Hospital for shellshock, amongst men whose “slumbers were morbid and terrifying.”

In Futility, the image of the Sun is frequently used. It is often associated with life and its joys, however, Owen is very sarcastic in his reversal of the sun, ...

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The Quality of Written Communication is very high as well. There is a plethora of appropriate terminology used and every word is spelt and used accurately. There is also a very good handling of grammar and a wide range of a variety of complex punctuation. This shows confidence and adeptness in language and is something often overlooked by some candidates however, this candidate demonstrates that their knowledge of English is of very high quality. I, and some examiners, may argue that it would not be a proper use of language though, to abbreviate the titles of published works from 'Anthem for Doomed Youth' to something like 'Anthem', and likewise with to other poems. This is entirely subjective though and some exam boards may allow this.

The Level of Analysis is simply outstanding. A very extensive essay, it covers each of the question ideas without once feeling systematic or like the analysis shown is regurgitated from a classroom. This shows the candidate has undertaken external independent research by which they fortify their answer with not only an understanding of the poems, but an understanding of Owen. This level of enthusiasm and drive really comes out in their essay, as they delve to a profound level of appreciation of the four poems. Examiners looks for evidence of independent research, and this can range to something extensive to anything a simple as realising that 'Dulce et Decorum est' was directed at jingoist Jessie Pope and was originally titled 'To A Certain Poetess'. The candidate, if wishing to improve their answer, may have commented briefly on the changes to titles 'Anthem For Dead Youth' (changed to 'Anthem for Doomed Youth') and 'Purgatory Passions' (changed to 'Mental Cases') and how these changes affect the poems' effect e.g. - "Doomed" holds greater resonance than "Dead", suggesting that from the minute they are in France, the soldiers may as well be dead as they are marching to their graves. There is an excellent use of quotes. I don't thinks there's a sentence without one and every single one of them is nicely embedded in the text. This shows an adeptness with language and also a close attention to detail in how to incorporate as much of the four poems as possible. The answer flows nicely and the use of these quotes create direct links to the poems being analysed, instating a further level of focus some candidates forget to even think about.

This is an extended essay directed to answer a question about the poetic devices Wilfred Owen uses to convey his convictions, feelings and ideas in 'Futility', 'Anthem for Doomed Youth', 'Dulce et Decorum est' and 'Mental Cases'. The answer demonstrates an exceptional level of focus on the four poems and how each one tells us a lot about Owen's passion to convey the falseness of War. The candidate concentrates on poetic devices such as irony, rhyme, Second Person address, and more, as well as discussing the literal and connotative messages and themes present in all four. An exemplary answer.