What attitudes to war have youfound in your reading of war poetry?

What attitudes to war have you found in your reading of war poetry?

Discuss these attitudes by examining three poems in detail; refer closely

to the content and style of each poem and compare the poems by

showing the similarities and differences you have found in your reading.

For the past eighty years people throughout the world have remembered the Great War. Partly the sheer scale of the casualties meant that more British, French, German and Belgian had lost sons, husbands, fathers, or knew families that had- than in any previous conflict. Studies estimate that between 10,000,000 and 13,000,000 combatants perished in battle or from wounds and disease related to the war. The Great War saw the end of several ancient monarchies, and the alignment of power was radically altered even among the victors. At the time of the outbreak of war Britain owned about 25% of the world’s area containing 425,000,000 people. But by the end of the war both Britain and France lost their status as first-class powers, and America emerged as the strongest financial and industrial nation in the world. World war one began in 1914 and ended in 1918. During these four years there were enormous numbers of dead and wounded. Soldiers as young as 18 years old defending trench lines, which produced deadlock and nightmarish battles that ended in horrific consequences.

‘’They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old.

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,

We will remember them.’’

Famous lines written in 1914 by Laurence Binyon.

In all probability more has been written about the Great War than about any other war in history. Beforehand and especially in the Victorian age war was thought as heroic, honourable, patriotic and even romantic. Their notion of a young man going off to do and die for his Queen and country was seen as an honour, and many men would gladly lay down their lives for such a noble cause. Most of these thoughts on war during the Victorian age were due to many successful victories and conquests. As result of Britain’s military expansion, its empire came to cover 25% of the worlds land. The Press of course played a big part in this, and one could imagine a wealthy businessman sitting down to breakfast reading the results of a battle. Of course, The Press did not really give a completely truthful account of much that happened, instead they focused on the brave exploits of soldiers and commanders conquering or quelling yet another rebellion or country. Optimism was high among the people and they built upon these battles their views on war.

At the start of the Great War morale was high among the British ranks, Boys as young as 16 began to enlist, many of them were even inspired by their teachers! In fact many people falsely believed the war would be as they famously put it, over by Christmas. In actual fact it was not over by Christmas and a further four gruelling years were to be fought. But the British and French generals throughout the Great War thought that one great push through the German lines would win the war, of course this idea failed time and time again. It was seen as a stupid and pointless war, and that it was coming at a terribly high price. A stale-mate was created that seemed impossible to solve. Following the disastrous Battle of the Somme and the Gallipoli landings, support for the war decreased dramatically, and this was voiced by many famous poets of the First World War.

These poets changed forever our perception of war. It brought an uncomfortable reality to the generally held opinion that war is a glorious thing. People began to question the leadership, decision making, the role of the press, and the wisdom of war. Ordinary people had lost their loved ones, a generation of young men lost their lives; to what purpose? Back then a human life wasn’t worth much, merely a statistic. In war this becomes even more apparent, especially in the First World War where hundreds of thousands of young men would be sent to their deaths merely to gain a mile of land. This idea would be unthinkable nowadays, but it does prove the lack of worth of the average soldier who fought and died during the Great War.

It is however worth mentioning that during the early stages of the war some poets were still writing about the war depicting valour, great bravery and patriotism, one of these was Rupert Brooke. Among his most famous work: ‘The Soldier’. He died during the Great War; his untimely death was caused by blood poisoning while on a troop ship bound for Gallipoli. Poets like Rupert Brooke did help both to create the idea of a war poet and of the amateur soldier who was first and foremost a writer.

I have encountered three war poems in my reading that present three main attitudes to war, the first being a poem which depicts an underlying sad story but glorifies war. The second describing a completely different view on war, it blatantly mocks the ruling class officers and depicts that they have lost touch with reality, constantly deluding themselves about the severity of the situation. The third poet depicts horrific images of war, with no barring the reality of the situation to the reader.

The first poem I am going to discuss is the ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ by Alfred Lord Tennyson. Alfred Tennyson was born in 1809 in Lincolnshire, he was educated at Cambridge University and in 1850 he was made poet Laureate. In 1884 he was made a Lord. He died in 1892 at the age of 83 and was buried in Westminster Abbey. This poem is based on the famous Charge of the Light Brigade at the battle of Balaclava which took place on the 25th of October, 1854. The commander Lord Raglan mistakenly ordered the Light Brigade (a lightly-armed cavalry unit) to attack a heavily armed Russian position, this of course resulted in high casualties. Of the 607 that went into action, only 198 survived. The charge lasted only twenty-five minutes.

Alfred Tennyson has been widely criticised for his account of the ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’. The poem glorifies war and courage, even in cases of complete inefficiency and waste. It is believed that his outrageous glorification of Military exploits made poetry the instrument of jingoism, and that these views (shared by many) were in part responsible for the blind patriotism which whirled the British public into the Great War. But during his time war was thought of by all in this way, so it unfair to label one man responsible for this bygone idea of war.

This poem speaks very clearly about all things glorious to do with war. It speaks of patriotism, valour, bravery and bold men willing to die for a futile cause, for no more than a third made it back alive. Their charge is a shining example of valour, heroism, and against all odds. I am full of admiration for these young men. They answered their call of duty, with an unfaltering belief in their commander, who arrogantly sent them to their deaths. This poem, although seems to display courage and patriotism on the surface, does harbour a deep underlying feeling of sadness. It was a tragic loss of human-life, and one that could have been so easily avoided.

At the beginning of the first stanza the poem opens with a simple repetition:

‘’Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward,’’ This repetition in my opinion conveys the galloping of the horses as they gallop in unison with the sound of their hooves beating the ground. It has a very strong, driving rhythm. The use of this rhythm is very successful and brings a mental picture of the scene to our eyes. In the third line we see evidence of personification:

‘’All in the valley of Death’’, this line brings a deep foreboding sense of ...

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At the beginning of the first stanza the poem opens with a simple repetition:

‘’All in the valley of Death’’, this line brings a deep foreboding sense of malice and doom. It tells us of the great peril that the soldiers face. Of course there is no valley, but the poet uses this personification perhaps describing a trap that will engulf the soldiers on all sides.

We then see an order shouted perhaps by the leader of the brigade:

‘’Forward, the Light Brigade! Charge for the guns!’’ This shout displays a great valour, these men know the severity of the task before them, but they ride unflinchingly onward to a terrible onslaught. At the end of the stanza we see this line:

‘’Rode the six hundred.’’ Repeatedly throughout the first, second and third stanza. This repetition shows us that although soon The Light Brigade will suffer heavy casualties, and many of their number shall fall, they still ride together, proud and strong. None of them turn back or flee; they ride on together willingly against insurmountable odds.

Here we see a shout from a member of the brigade:

‘’Forward, the Light Brigade!’’ This shout perhaps strengthening their morale, for at this point they are probably close to the firing range of the cannons. Reminding them that they have a duty to upkeep the honour of their Brigade. But following this line we see a question brought up on the wisdom of this charge:

‘’Was there a man dismay’d?’’ This question emphasises for the first time a question of doubt from the soldiers, on whether their mission is a wise one. Their question is the first indication that they are unsure of their commander’s decision, and that they now begin to speculate on the outcome of their charge. The following lines show the reality of the situation:

‘’Not tho’ the soldier knew Some one had blunder’d’’ So finally we see that the soldiers are completely unaware of their impending doom. This line seems to be vaguely referred to Lord Raglan. Because of his mistake, hundreds of men are charging needlessly against an overwhelming foe, his arrogance sacrificing hundreds of lives.

Alfred Lord Tennyson then gives us a view at the patriotism and bravery of the soldiers, and their willingness to fight for their country:

‘’Their’s not to make reply, Their’s not to reason why, Their’s but to do and die’’. It lays emphasis on what we might now perhaps view as the poem’s strong jingoistic slogans These lines seem to display the patriotic duty that the soldiers have taken upon themselves, but in my opinion it also hides a cruel truth. The last line especially:

‘’Their’s but to do and die’’, it brings a harsh reality to the situation. There is always tremendous risk involved with being a soldier, your life could end in a split second, or you could be forced to endure a long painful death. It is their duty to obey and fight for their country, but in a situation like this, they’re lives are being thrown needlessly away. A rhyme is also apparent here, which fits in well with content of the stanza. The use of rhyme is in my view used to speed up the poem, this poem focusing heavily of course on the cavalry charge at the Russian position. It displays the effect of galloping horses.

At the beginning of the third stanza the Light Brigade are now in range of the Russian guns and are fired upon from all sides:

‘’Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of them, Cannon in front of them,’’ These lines depict the Light Brigade surrounded by numerous cannons. It is here that poem makes use of anaphora, the method creates a sense of unrelenting assault; at each line our eyes meet the word "cannon" just as the soldiers meet their flying shells at each turn. The rhythm of the lines is also echoed by the repetition of the phrasing, again used for dramatic purposes, stressing the perils they faced. This suggests a hopeless situation, perhaps even a deadly trap, where the soldiers are surrounded on all sides. The next lines display the ongoing onslaught of the cannons:

‘’Volley’d and thunder’d;’’ Here we see how the onomatopoeia of the active verbs in the line reinforces the impression of desperate danger. Another use of alliteration is present here:

‘’Storm’d with shot and shell.’’, to add emphasis to the ferocity of the battle.

In the following line although the Russians have drawn first blood, the Light Brigade continue on relentlessly through the vast plumes of smoke towards their foe: ‘’Boldly they rode and well,’’ This line shows us that the men of the Light Brigade are incredibly brave, they ride forward through a wall of fire and death. These patriotic young men although faced with an impossible task, give no sign of giving in to their daunting enemies. The following lines depict that the Brigade are charging into certain death, like a lamb wandering into a wolverines den:

‘’Into the jaws of Death, Into the mouth of Hell’’ This is a chilling personification of the Light Brigade courageously charging the Russian position. It is very dramatic, and perhaps shows us the image of a huge terrible beast swallowing the hapless Brigade whole.

The fourth stanza finally sees the Light Brigade plummeting into the Russian positions. Their swords and spears ready for battle:

‘’Flash'd all their sabres bare, Flash'd as they turn'd in air,’’ These lines paint a vivid picture in our minds, as the Cavalry are finally able to draw their weapons on their enemies. A rhyme is apparent here, one could imagine the terrible rhythmic motion of the sabres slashing and hacking through the Russian lines. ‘’Sabring the gunners there,’ : Here the writer conveys a chaotic scene with the mounted cavalry bringing their weapons down left and right, arcing down in deadly swings. With the Russian soldiers having no choice but to stand their ground as they are mercilessly cut down. The next line again shows the enormity of the task they have undertaken, and that the smoke from the guns has created an artificial fog.

‘’Plunged in the battery-smoke

Right thro’ the line they broke’’: These lines depicts the soldiers plunging into a tide of smoke, as if jumping into water. The use of ‘plunging’ dramatically emphasises this.

But then towards the end of the stanza we see a break in the repetition:

‘’Then they rode back, but Not the six hundred.’’ This line implies that the unit has been routed and are falling back. They have obviously sustained heavy casualties in their valiant charge. It is also the first break in the repetition (this line having been at the end of every previous stanza as: ‘rode the six hundred’).

At the fifth stanza we see the Light Brigade pulling back from the battlefield, being picked off even as they flee the carnage left behind them. Alfred Lord Tennyson focuses heavily on the bravery and patriotism of the soldiers here:

‘’While horse and hero fell,

They that had fought so well’’ These lines display the heroism of the soldiers, dying for their country. Hailed as heroes, and immortalised for countless years to come. Tennyson praises the men who so bravely charged forward into the unknown and lost their lives.

‘’Came thro’ the jaws of Death, Back from the mouth of Hell,’’: These lines again show the Light Brigade barely escaping death, the personification reminds us of the desperate danger the Light Brigade faced. It dramatically shows the horror of the battle.

‘’All that was left of them,

Left of six hundred.’’: Again we see a break in the repetition. It shows us that only a small number of the Light Brigade is alive, and that the remnants of the Brigade are desperately escaping the bloody carnage behind them.

In the last stanza the poet pays tribute to the bravery and valour of the Light Brigade.

‘’When can their glory fade?’’: Here we are asked a rhetorical question by the author, it asks us whether people will forget the tremendous sacrifice of the Light Brigade. And answer is never. The poet again remarks on the heroism of the Brigade:

‘’O the wild charge they made!’’ Again Tennyson reminds us of the bravery of the Light Brigade, and that in the face of great peril carried out their mission, however foolish it was.

He asks us to honour the Light Brigade, remember their brave plight, and not to forget the soldiers who did not make it back:

’’Honour the charge they made!

Honour the Light Brigade,

Noble six hundred!’’ The poet immortalises the Brigade, asking us never to forget the duty they did in the name of Queen and Country. Their recklessly brave sacrifice, earning them a place as heroes.

I am now going to discuss ‘Base Details’ by Siegfried Sassoon. Siegfried Sasson was born in 1886. At the age of 18 he enlisted into the Sussex Yeomanry as a trooper two days before the outbreak of the First World War. However, after a riding accident whilst doing some field-work (he had put his horse at a fence blind with summer vegetation and a hidden strand of wire brought the horse down on top of him, leaving Sassoon with a badly broken right arm), Sassoon was commissioned in the Royal Welch Fusiliers. In July 1917 he was sent to Craig Lockhart War Hospital, Edinburgh, officially suffering from shell-shock, where he met Wilfred Owen. In November 1917 he was passed fit for General Service, and after a brief trip to Palestine with the 25th Battalion of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, he was back at the front lines. Despite the responsibility of being a Company Commander. Sassoon decided to attack the German trenches opposite them. His actions were paid for with a wound to his head on July 13, 1918, and Sassoon was invalided back to England. That was the end of Sassoon's War. After a period of convalescence he was placed on indefinite sick leave until after the Armistice, eventually retiring officially from the Army in March 1919.

We recognize a change in attitude and beliefs to war in the First World War poets. Siegfried Sassoon’s ‘Base Details’ is a fine example of this new attitude. No longer would people of warring nations apathetically back their governments and armies. A concerted and public effort on the part of this literary circle attacked government propaganda. The first noticeable thing about the poem is it’s title. The word ‘base’ is a pun for the fact that ‘base’ means headquarters as well as dishonourable and cowardly, which implies that he will talk about the dishonourable activities at the Army headquarters. ‘Base Details’ presents the huge gulf between the ordinary soldier and the Commanding Officers. It blatantly mocks the ruling class, depicting them as fat bald men, with no actual idea about the reality and severity of the situation. Siegfried Sassoon describes the attitudes of these people with disdain, accusing them of having alienated themselves from the ordinary soldier. Sassoon's contempt towards the officers is seen through his vivid descriptions of an officer in ‘Base Details’. The poet’s use of bitterness and satire is obvious in the poem, he condemns and criticises the ruling class and makes no attempt to hide this.

‘’If I were fierce, and bald, and short of breath,

I’d live with scarlet Majors at the Base,’’: Siegfried Sassoon makes the ruling class the butt of his humour here. He depicts the senior officers as bald and short of breath, the use of adjectives here shows his hatred towards these men. We see the poet’s use of ‘Scarlet Majors’, this being a ‘slang term’ used to mockingly describe the officers. The ‘scarlet’ could be used to describe their facial attributes, mocking the officers appearance as well. Depicting them as foolish, red-faced and short of breath.

‘’And speed glum heroes up the line to death.’’: Here the poet shows the complete lack of caring and arrogance of the officers. They have no idea of the reality of the situation, and arrogantly send those men to their deaths. However we also see the poet throwing aside the foolish notion of patriotism with ‘glum heroes’. It shows that the soldiers are unwilling to throw their lives away, in order to become ‘heroes’ in death.

‘’You’d see me with my puffy petulant face,

Guzzling and gulping in the best hotel,’’: Here Sassoon describes the officer as having a puffy and petulant face; this gives us the impression that the officer is short-tempered, well-fed and hard of breathing. The Scarlet Majors would order the men to fight from the safe position of comfort and indulgence. In the phrase ‘’Guzzling and gulping’’ Sassoon uses both alliteration and onomatopoeia. This image suggests that the people in the 'best hotel' are self-indulgent, flamboyant fools. Squandering luxurious food and drink while the men in the trenches are forced to eat meagre rations.

‘’Reading the Roll of Honour. ‘Poor young chap,’

I’d say –‘I used to know his father well;’’: Here we see that the Scarlet Major’s would acknowledge the death toll, the roll of honour. But in a detached, impersonal manner.

The major isn’t really concerned, since he refers to the corpse as ‘’chap’’ and not ‘’a friend’’ or something more personal.

‘’Yes, we’ve lost heavily in this last scrap.’’: This line shows that the officers cannot comprehend what war is like, the officer calls it a scrap like it’s a fight between boys at school.

‘’ And when the war is done and youth stone dead,

I’d toddle safely home and die – in bed.’’: The last line in the poem starkly contrasts the lives of the common soldier and the commanding officers. While the officers have the luxury of dying peacefully in bed, the soldiers will die among the rats. Siegfried Sassoon’s hatred and condemnation of the commanding officers is blatantly obvious here, and his poem is effective in conveying simply the arrogance and foolhardiness of the ruling class.

The last poem I am going to discuss is ’Dulce et Decorum Est’ by Wilfred Owen. Wilfred Edward Salter Owen was born on March 18th 1893. He was on the continent teaching until he visited a hospital for the wounded, he then decided, in September 1915 to return to England and enlist. Owen was injured whilst in action in March 1917 and sent home; he was fit for duty in August 1918, and returned to the front. At November 4th, just seven days before the Armistice, he was caught in a German machine-gun attack and killed. He was twenty-five when he died.

‘Dulce et Decorum Est’, the name of the poem is in fact Latin. The English translation roughly means: ‘It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country.’ Owen was greatly concerned about the patriotism of people who knew nothing of the horrors of fighting. In general terms Wilfred Owen is describing a specific example of the horror and squalor of war. The poet depicts horrific images of war, with no barring the reality of the situation to the reader. There is a gas attack while a handful of wounded men are making their way back from the front line. One soldier is too late in putting on his gas mask, and is forced to endure a long, painful death. Wilfred Owen makes the reader realise how hollow, the old idea that it is brave and fitting to die for your native land. He emphasises the suffering and horror of the situation with direct language e.g. harsh, ugly, cruel, stark etc... He also uses powerful imagery and undignified happenings. The poet describes graphically the mentality of the soldiers, and uses dramatic unbroken rhythm in the poetry - making the reader feel the immediacy of the situation.

The first two lines establish the indignity of the soldiers struggling back from their position:

‘’Bent double, like old beggars under sacks.

Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge.’’

This sets the mood of the poem. He refers to the soldiers as 'hags', 'old beggars', who are 'bent double' and 'knock-kneed'; creating an impression of tired, filthy, unshaven, pitiful people, no longer young, but moving like old men destitute of everything. Alliteration is used to create the desperate mood in these two lines, by repeating the heavy sounds of the 'b' - "bent double... old beggars'’, and the 'k' sound - "Knock-kneed, coughing...cursed".

‘’Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs,’’ The light in the scene comes from the flares, which are 'haunting' the men with memories of the barbaric confilict they are trying to leave behind, to seek a distant rest, and recovery.

‘’And towards our distant rest began to trudge.’’:

The word ‘'trudge’' here emphasises the difficult terrain, and the difficult movements associated with exhaustion. The next line: "Men marched asleep", is a paradox which simply states their overwhelming weariness. The alliteration of the 'm' and 'n' sounds "Men Marched...Many" adds to this effect. This is developed by words such as limped, lame, blind and "Drunk with fatigue’. Which suggests how oblivious the soldiers are to their surroundings, and how they stagger and fall as if drunk. They are so exhausted they can no longer feel. Even the noise of the bombs behind cannot penetrate their numb minds. There is also ironic meaning in:

"Of gas-shells dropping softly behind".

The gas-shells are a symbol of violence, and a weapon of war but one which silently and "softly" transforms horribly.

Having established the tiredness of the men in the first stanza, the second stanza shocks the reader:

‘’Gas! GAS! Quick, boys! – An ecstasy of fumbling,

Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time,’’

The repetition of the word ‘'Gas!'’, highlights the frenzied cries of the soliders as they realise they are being attacked. This repitition also builds tension. The unusual use of the word ecstasy in the phrase "An ecstasy of fumbling", emphasises the weary but quickened movements of the soldiers as they reach for their "clumsy helmets". The term: ‘’Ecstasy’’ would normally suggest a time of extreme emotion, normally joy, however in this situation it is used as a term of irony as this is a completely bewildering time for the men. The personification of ‘’helmets'’ by the use of ‘’clumsy’', outlines how ‘’drunk with fatigue’' the soldiers are, uncoordinated in their actions.

The tension is relieved as the reader discovers that the gas-masks are on, only to be reinstated with the next line:

"But someone still was yelling out and stumbling". A soldier is singled out, he has been unable to fit his mask in time. There is use of a simile here:

"floundering like a man in fire or lime’’ This horrific image refers directly to the pathetic thrashings of a person on fire, or covered in lime (which burns the skin), as he vainly try’s to get the fire out, or get the lime off. Owen appeals to the sense of sight by describing:

"Dim through the misty panes and thick green light" The green light is describing the colour of the chlorine gas, and the words "misty" and "thick" illustrate the overpowering atmosphere that is smothering the men.

"As under a green sea, I saw him drowning", links directly back to the impression created by "flound'ring", of someone struggling to stay alive, but is going to die in agony, regardless - quite like someone drowning.

The couplet (verse 3) brings us to the poets present time, here Owen brings us a pitiful scene, quite brutal in its intent:

‘’In all my dreams before my helpless sight’’ Here we find out that the images still haunt the poet’s memories. Because we discover that he was unable to help the dying man.

‘’He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.’’: The assonance of the ‘ing’ in the ‘’guttering, choking, drowning’’, is continued from the previous stanzas, where it is used to extend the agony of death. While the assonance emphasises the guttural onomatopoeic sounds, ‘’Plunging’’ suggests a violent action, the man almost attacking the poet in his effort to get help. It is in the present tense, as though the action is still taking place, being repeated over and over again in his dreams. ‘’Guttering, choking’’ reinforces the idea of drowning suggesting plunging through water. The onomatopoeia sound is harsh, hard and unpleasant; bringing to mind the fate the man has suffered. Ironically the recurring dream, ensures that the man will be remembered.

In the fourth stanza, Owen refers directly to the reader, and in contrast to the third stanza, where the dying man's pleas are directed at Owen. Owen drags us in to confront the horror. The dying man is treated like chunk of meat. Owen uses gruesome imagery to portray the man's death:

"White eyes writhing in his face" This creates a feeling of revulsion in the reader. The paradox:

"Devil's sick of sin" is used to emphasise the distorted, revolting face. Dramatic and desolate imagery is used, which is appealing to both the sense of sound and sight:

"If you could hear...the blood come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs", the unusual words ‘’froth-corrupted’’ draw attention to the torture of the young soldier’s death.

The sense of taste repels the reader. The contrasting line:

“Incurable sores on innocent tongues’’, stresses the injustice of war. The innocent die through the effects of "incurable" sores, painfully, slowly; without dignity.

The finale of the poem is a desperate plea. A begging for, an end to the pain, the agony, the misery, and an end to the acceptance of such pointless death:

‘’My friend, you would not tell me with such high zest

To children ardent for some desperate glory,

The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est

Pro patria mori.’’ (Sweet and Appropriate it is to die for your country). The original Latin saying is used, because it comes across as a motto, something that is believed to be true and worthy, but Owen believes it not. The title is ironic, the experiences of the soldiers, the misery of their deaths, are not sweet. Graphically sketched in words are the inglorious horrors of the real war as he experienced.

Of the three poems that I have studied two were written during the Great War, and one written before 1900. The contrasting themes between these three poems are very apparent. Alfred Lord Tennyson, the author of ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’ describes war as being a thing of bravery, heroic and patriotic. However, Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon completely quash this view of war. They see war as being horrible, stupid and that the notion of going off to die for your country is complete and utter nonsense. Although Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen present these attitudes differently, they still both aim to condemn those who think of war as seen in Tennyson’s poem.

Tennyson only sees the romantic view of war, the seeking of honour and glory for their country. The soldiers become heroes; the country is placed first. One can argue that this is a superficial quality because a glossy image is portrayed; a picture of perfection is seen in his poem. ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ shows life sacrificed willingly for Queen and Country. The soldier who is to die is presented as a man who has led a blessed/perfect life. A life full of beauty, an appreciation of human relationships, experiences of nature and pleasurable sensations and has appreciated all aspects of life (the Romantic Movement). This is the theme presented in ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’; the men have led a wonderful life, and give it up willingly for their country.

However Sassoon’s poem does not dwell on the brave or foolish exploits of the soldiers, instead he implies criticism towards the commanding officers. Sassoon’s theme in the poem shows the huge gulf between the ordinary soldier and the commanding officers. Sassoon contrasts the two situations – the imagined and the reality. He claims that only the common soldier knows of the true reality of war, and that the commanding officers know very little. Sassoon presents a scene of great suffering in an understated manner and in simplistic terms. He overtly paints a picture of the commanding officers who seem to be doing their duty, by the book and behaving in a perfect manner. But in actual fact their behaviour is unacceptable.

Owen’s poem on the other hand directly attacks views like Tennyson’s, their two poems contrasting enormously. While Wilfred Owen believes that the idea that it is sweet to die for your country is a blatant lie, Tennyson shows the complete opposite. In ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ we see how resentful Owen is that people should still believe in such a sentiment. Owen’s poem is designed to shock the reader; it shows the harsh realities of war. But Tennyson’s poem does not dwell on such things, instead it strives to show that war is a glorious thing.

Through studying and reading these poems, I have learnt a great deal about people’s attitude towards war. These remarkable poems each have their own unique view on warfare, and I enjoyed reading them all. My first reaction to Tennyson’s poem was how well he had portrayed the valour of the Light Brigade. His poem focuses heavily on patriotism, bravery and courage. Although it does not really convey the reality of war, it does successfully show the heroism of the soldiers, and honours their memory. Tennyson’s poem is effective in portraying the arrogance of the commanding officers and the brave patriotism of the soldiers who tragically gave their lives for Queen and Country.

Base details on the other hand is a very entertaining look at the commanding officers during the First World War. Siegfried Sassoon depicts them as bald, irritable men, who have absolutely no idea of what is happening around them. Although the poem is not as serious as ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’, Siegfried Sassoon makes no attempt to hide his disdain and contempt for the ruling class. Siegfried Sassoon’s poem is very effective in presenting the huge gulf between the ordinary soldier and the commanding officers.

Wilfred Owen’s poem is a direct attack at those who believe that the old saying: ‘Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori’ (it is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country) is true. He wants people to realise that it is a lie, and that war is not glorious at all. Owen uses strong imagery and equally strong language to show the true nature of war. There is no barring the horror to the reader, who witnesses the war through his eyes.

My favourite of the three poems was ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ by Wilfred Owen, although it is disturbingly graphic and shocking in its intent. His powerful imagery helps convey the horror of war, and we feel revulsion at the painful death of the soldier. In my opinion it show’s the true nature of war, and reminds us never to believe again the old lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori.

Thank you for reading my War Poetry Appreciation,

Hywel Rhys Jones.