Owen makes us, the reader, have a sympathetic feeling towards the men that fought in The Great War. He uses imagery, repetition and many metaphors to convey his experiences with us throughout the poem Dulce Et Decorum Est. A sense of determination, confusion, chaos, terror and gloom strikes one, about how harsh the war would have been.
The author gave me a feeling of betrayal and guilt throughout the poem especially in the first line when he describes the soldiers as being “Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,”. This emphasises how much the war had had an impact on their health and physical ability. The soldiers walked with their back bent due to the fact that they had been carrying heavy machinery and weapons in the battle. Usually, one will take such a thing for granted whereas in the war it was luxury to have a healthy body.
Secondly, the writer creates a panicky atmosphere when the leader cries, “Gas! Gas! Quick, boys”. Repetition is used to emphasize the fact that there is a Gas attack. This can be traumatising for the soldiers and made me guilty as to why they had to go through such an atrocious war. Personally, I was fearful for them and was worried about their safety and wellbeing.
Thirdly, Owen creates a sense of chaos in the third verse as one of his friends chokes in a sea of thick green poison. He is described to be “guttering, choking, drowning.” which creates a horrific image in one’s mind. The words Wilfred Owen used are distressing and upsetting making you feel helpless. This presents war to be dreadful and can make us as the reader feel sympathy for the men who died in distressing ways.
Finally, as Owen’s friend dies he watches his “white eyes writhing in his face, His hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin;” This compares the soldier with a devil. A devil lives for sin, discovers he is sick If it. This is a disappointment where