Revision Notes - Anthem for Doomed Youth by Wilfred Owen

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Woodfarm High School

English Department

Intermediate 2 English

Revision Notes

Critical Essay: Poetry

“Anthem for Doomed Youth” by Wilfred Owen

Context: WW1 1914-18 Wilfred Owen was a soldier in the First World War. He was against war and was appalled by the horror of war.

Form: A sonnet – a 14 line formal poem. “Anthem for Doomed Youth” has two sections, each beginning with a question that the remainder of the section answers. It has a strict pattern of rhythm and rhyme. There is an octet (8 lines) and a sestet (6 lines). The octet is dominated by the sound of battle. The sestet is characterised by muted grief. Linking these two sections is the sound of the bugle.

Throughout the poem, Owen draws the comparison of traditional/religious/funeral rituals and ceremonies with the actuality of death for a soldier on the battlefield. The table below gives a brief outline of these comparisons.

Owen draws these comparisons to highlight two main themes:

  1. The horror of war and the terrible conditions facing the soldiers, even after they have died.
  2. The futility, meaninglessness and inadequacy of religion in response to such horror as seen during the war.

For a detailed analysis of each of these lines, see below.

Title: “Anthem” – musical item – heard at formal/large occasions – usually at a time of gathering of

a community  - usually has religious connotations.

“Doomed” – ill-fated– cursed – definitely going to die.

“Youth” – young people as a group, word has connotations of life and vigour.

Technique: - assonance – “doomed youth” – repeated vowel sound – gives the title an ominous tone.

Commentary: The title of the poem gives the reader the impression that they are about to hear a formal musical item. The fact that the “youth” are “doomed” is clearly wrong. The musical item does not materialise, as we are led by the poet into the battlefield to hear the sounds of war, rather than the music of a memorial service.

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Line-by-line Analysis

L1. “What passing bells for these who die as cattle?”

The poem opens with a question – asking what sign/signal will be sounded to mark the death, the “passing” of the soldiers. The manner of their deaths is being compared to the mass slaughter of animals.

“passing-bells” – bells tolled to announce a death, to call the people to mourn .

“as cattle” – the deaths are impersonal, mass, in a group. Connotations of slaughter.

Commentary – the poet’s opinion is clear from the outset. He is appalled by the inhumane deaths these young men experience. He feels as if ...

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