Wasteful Realities of War: Analysis of Wilfred Owen Poem
What is war? is it the heroic act that we have always been told? Or have pretty lies misguided our judgement?
I’m going to expose the truths of war to you, through the use of Wilfred Owens poetry. Owens poetry gives insights into the futility, realities and the extent of human suffering within warfare. Shattering the idea of heroism while educating the public on the truths of war. This is heavily shown throughout Owens poetry through an array of literary techniques. Yet today I will only focus on only 2, the poems ‘futility’ and anthem for doomed youth’.
Owen speculates on whether events are really happening as it seems like a horrific dream, while questioning if his hope is worth it. The use of affectionate personification of the sun thought-out the poem ‘futility’ which highlights the soldiers hopeless, hope, that they hold for their dead friend. This is communicated through the use of simple and naive language in the quote ‘ if anything might rouse him now the kind old sun will know’, which shows us the soldiers desperation and refusal to accept the truth of the situation, how their youth has been taken from them and replaced by their new reality and the harsh experiences of warfare. This coupled with the symbolic nature of the quote ‘Always it woke him, even in France.’ Which highlights that even in such a hellish place natural progressions continue despite the unnatural nature of warfare.
Owen directly and forcefully criticising the brutality of war successfully disproving the idea that war creates a man and exposing the waste of young life along with the true extent of human suffering caused. This is highlighted throughout the poem “anthem for doomed youth’ which instantly uses an ironic title to illustrate there is no reason to celebrate war, while beginning the confront the truth that warfare is neither heroic nor noble. This is communicated through the simile ‘die as cattle’ which highlights the view that these soldiers can be used as menial
I’m going to expose the truths of war to you, through the use of Wilfred Owens poetry. Owens poetry gives insights into the futility, realities and the extent of human suffering within warfare. Shattering the idea of heroism while educating the public on the truths of war. This is heavily shown throughout Owens poetry through an array of literary techniques. Yet today I will only focus on only 2, the poems ‘futility’ and anthem for doomed youth’.
Owen speculates on whether events are really happening as it seems like a horrific dream, while questioning if his hope is worth it. The use of affectionate personification of the sun thought-out the poem ‘futility’ which highlights the soldiers hopeless, hope, that they hold for their dead friend. This is communicated through the use of simple and naive language in the quote ‘ if anything might rouse him now the kind old sun will know’, which shows us the soldiers desperation and refusal to accept the truth of the situation, how their youth has been taken from them and replaced by their new reality and the harsh experiences of warfare. This coupled with the symbolic nature of the quote ‘Always it woke him, even in France.’ Which highlights that even in such a hellish place natural progressions continue despite the unnatural nature of warfare.
Owen directly and forcefully criticising the brutality of war successfully disproving the idea that war creates a man and exposing the waste of young life along with the true extent of human suffering caused. This is highlighted throughout the poem “anthem for doomed youth’ which instantly uses an ironic title to illustrate there is no reason to celebrate war, while beginning the confront the truth that warfare is neither heroic nor noble. This is communicated through the simile ‘die as cattle’ which highlights the view that these soldiers can be used as menial