First World War Poetry - Owen's 'work embodies.... the changing values of the time': how?

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First World War Poetry

Owen's 'work embodies....the changing values of the time':

how?

In the early 20th Century social change was occurring, Queen Victoria had just died,  philosophers and scientists such as Nietzsche  and Darwin had just published books with secular and anti-establishment ideas causing a massive ripple affect amongst society comparable with that of the renaissance. For many, war was a welcome inspiration. England had become confused, complacent and static, war brought unity, patriotism and heroes. Rupert Brooke wrote in the poem 'Peace' that the war 'wakened ...(them)... from sleeping'. However, it eventually became clear that the war, despite its benefits, was futile and the lives of millions of men were sacrificed because the government were frightened of the shifts in power occurring in Europe. 

Public opinion changed from believing that there was glory and bravery in war to there was nothing but waste and pity in war. Owen's poetry summarises this change in attitude because he is trying to explain to those who do not yet understand, the pointlessness of war.

'Dulce et Decorum Est', is the title to a double sonnet written by Wilfred Owen, and is the beginning of the phrase 'Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori', meaning 'it is sweet and proper to die for your country'. The title indicates that 'Dulce et Decorum Est' is a pro-war poem, but it is ironic. The poem in fact portrays the horrific conditions the soldiers were living, fighting and dying in.

At the beginning of the poem, Owen uses monosyllabic words such as 'bent', 'knock-kneed' and 'hags' which are hard and have impact. The first verse expresses the weariness and misery of the men who were 'drunk with fatigue' and 'marched asleep'. Owen uses many adjectives to convey the soldiers' desperate situation, he describes how 'Many had lost their boots, But limped on, blood-shod.' and how they were so tired that they barely noticed the sound of gas-shells dropping amongst them.

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The second stanza of the first sonnet in 'Dulce et Decorum Est' suddenly changes tone. Owen uses direct speech, as in a story, when somebody yells 'Gas! GAS!...' and the pace of the poem quickens as the men fumble to fit their gas masks. The gas is described as a 'green sea' because it is every where and the soldier who does not fit his mask on in time seems to be drowning as he writhes around unable to breath.

The first two lines of second sonnet are in the present tense and first person as Owen describes how he ...

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