In the poem Dulce et Decorum Est Wilfred Owen uses a variety of poetic techniques to convey his anger at those who encourage young people to think that war is a sweet and noble thing

The next few lines are describing the soldiers injuries and exhaustion.

"Many had lost their boots, But limped on, blood shod"

This passage is explaining that many men had lost their clothing and equipment but they still had to go on. (This refers to the soldiers losing their boots ) By using the word "blood shod" which is a pun he is describing that instead of boots the soldiers feet are encrusted with blood . It also makes the reader think of the word blood shed which is caused by war.

In the next line down Owen uses a metaphor to describe how the soldiers were feeling.

" Drunk with fatigue"

This quote is suggesting that the soldiers were drunk but in fact they were so exhausted the acted in a drunk manor, they slurred their speech, staggered around and they were in an inhuman state. Also the soldiers were probably so shell shocked some of them didn't even know what was going on.

In the next verse Owen is describing the way the soldiers acted when a gas bomb hits them and the horrific death of a soldier who didn't manage to put his gas mask on in time. In the opening line Owen uses the phrase

"An ecstasy of fumbling"

This phrase is used to describe the way in which the soldiers acted to the deadly on coming gas. Owen uses the word "ecstasy" which means to be excited and worried shows that the soldiers were frantic , confused and disorientated .They were all fumbling around trying to find there gas masks.

In the next few lines Owen uses word choice to describe the mans death and how he associates it with drowning in water

"Floundering"

Floundering is a word to describe a person who is panicking in water, by this Owen is trying to compare the way in which the movement of the soldier to drowning, therefore associating it with water.

This following line represents the visual impact of what Owen witnessed in this horrific death.

"Misty"

Misty could be associated with the cloud of gas smothering Owen's fellow soldier. The term misty could also be referred to water again, as in how visually impaired you are when you are in water.

This next quote is describing the soldiers death again and also associates his death with water.

"Green sea"

Again Owen is comparing this mans death to drowning in water not a poisonous gas. All of these phrases indicate that Owen knows that he is choking in gas but he uses word choice here to describe it as if under water , this helps the reader imagine how horrific it would have been having to witness such an event.

In the next verse Owen is telling the readers how helpless he felt and how he still has the reoccurring nightmare of how this poor man died.

"In all my dreams before my helpless sight"

This verse is short yet dramatic and shows how terrible it is to watch a man die a do nothing.

In the next verse Owen is trying to put the reader in his shoes and watch the life drain out of the helpless soldiers eyes. He also describes the soldiers death.

"His hanging face like a devils sick of sin"

This line is using a simile. The simile however is very horrifying because Owen describes the mans face as hanging and this is showing how little dignity he had on his death bed. This line is showing how horrible his death was, like he had been hanged , and by saying " like a devils sick of sin" he is portraying how dreadful it must have been ,because if even the devil himself is fed up with it then the death must be really horrific.

In this verse Owen is talking about how appalling and unacceptable it was to inform children that dieing for your country is a noble and memorable gesture, he is also suggesting that the lie was of quite importance.

"The old Lie"

This line is showing the reader by using a capital L in the word Lie That this was a commonly held belief. He also uses the capital letter to emphasise the word to show his sarcasm in the title of the poem.

"Dulce Et decorum Est (pro patria mori)"

He is telling the readers and the people who influence war not to spread this lie in order to make families less scared at the prospect of there sons going away to war and to stop younger men feeling proud that they might remembered for their deadly duties in the war.

In conclusion Owens use of different poetic techniques to make the readers aware of how dangerous and horrifying war is. He uses these techniques very well to describe the dreadful way in which this young man died. He is also displaying his anger towards the government who send these young men to war and to the people who are encouraging young men to go to war thinking that dying for your country is noble and glorious. This poem displays Owens thoughts well and make readers feel sympathetic towards Owen and angry at those who sent young men out to die, who didn't know or realise the reality of what war was really like.