Dulce et Decorum Est

a simile in the first line "like old beggars under sacks". Soldiers are supposed to be fit men and a comparison with old beggars indicates that they have been brought down to such a level that they are now equal of hunched, tired, unfed, homeless and old people. Even their uniforms have lost their militaristic crispness, as Owen describes them as "sacks." This picture is a definite contrast to the idealized marching formations of troops shown in the war poster where men in crisp uniforms walked in a merry mood. Owen again shows the tiredness of the soldiers in the last line of that stanza when he say" Of gas shells dropping softly behind" which is very contrasting from how actual gas shells dropped. They make a loud hissing noise and can be heard from far. Thus Owen shows that the soldiers senses had dulled. Only a completely exhausted soldier with no strength could be in this state of mind to not have heard the gas shells in a battle field where the soldiers need to be alert of everything going around them. When Owen mentions the "haunting flares" he seems to be telling the readers that the soldiers could see their own deaths and that as if they knew their was near. This is a very horrifying experience and would mark these men for life if they were to get out of this god forsaken place. Another rather unusual choice if diction is in the next line itself "coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge". The simile coughing like hags suggests that these young and healthy men have seen too much for their age and have a permanent coughing fit as old people do. The fact that Owen compares them to hags who are old ugly women suggests that the war has made youthful and healthy into good for nothing women who have a permanent coughing fit due to old age and illness. Owen calls the ground as sludge suggesting that the mud has started rotting with the blood in the trenches and is like walking in garbage.. "But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;" gives the feeling that these men have become dehumanized and are reduced to an animal-like state. The use of the term "shod" evokes a connection to horses as opposed to men. The picture created by Owen is contrasting and surprising and that of an exhausted animal and no longer that of an ordinary human. Thus arousing the question as to how could this be glorious. A side theme is highlighted in the first stanza: as to how are young and robust men with bright futures reduced to old ragged men benefit the nation