World War I Gas Attacks
EN 102
April 7, 2013
WWI Paper: Draft One In the poem “Dulce et Decorum Est” written by Wilfred Owen, the audience is introduced to the horrifying experience of a gas attack in World War I. Owen goes into excruciating detail on every effect of the gas, and describes almost everything about the physical state of the infected, dying man. Thousands of soldiers were exposed to gas in the war, and unfortunately, many of them died from the effects. The first attack that the Germans unleashed on the allies was devastating. Over 5000 soldiers were killed with many more incapacitated (Christianson 30). While the attack was detrimental to the strength in numbers of the group, the effect reduced the psychological strength of the group as well, striking terror into the hearts of the soldiers. Overall, Wilfred Owen was accurate in his depiction of a World War I gas attack on a group of soldiers. From the very beginning of the poem, the soldiers are shown to be exhausted from the war. They are “Bent double, knock kneed, march[ing] asleep, [and] drunk with fatigue” (Owen 1). Clearly the reader can see the exhausted soldiers pushing on through the fields of mud and clay. All of a sudden, gas shells fall behind the men and the deathly green cloud slowly began to overtake the men. By the time the men realized what was happening, only some were able to apply their masks in time. From this point on, the description of the infected soldier begins. After the horrific description of the effects of the poison, the author tells the readers that if they had seen the attack then the parents would not tell their children “The old lie: Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.” (Owen 1). Translated to “It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country.” The reason for this quote is because it is not always sweet to die for one’s country, which is clearly displayed in the poem. This is an example of verbal irony because while the meaning of the words are strong and inspiring, they are
April 7, 2013
WWI Paper: Draft One In the poem “Dulce et Decorum Est” written by Wilfred Owen, the audience is introduced to the horrifying experience of a gas attack in World War I. Owen goes into excruciating detail on every effect of the gas, and describes almost everything about the physical state of the infected, dying man. Thousands of soldiers were exposed to gas in the war, and unfortunately, many of them died from the effects. The first attack that the Germans unleashed on the allies was devastating. Over 5000 soldiers were killed with many more incapacitated (Christianson 30). While the attack was detrimental to the strength in numbers of the group, the effect reduced the psychological strength of the group as well, striking terror into the hearts of the soldiers. Overall, Wilfred Owen was accurate in his depiction of a World War I gas attack on a group of soldiers. From the very beginning of the poem, the soldiers are shown to be exhausted from the war. They are “Bent double, knock kneed, march[ing] asleep, [and] drunk with fatigue” (Owen 1). Clearly the reader can see the exhausted soldiers pushing on through the fields of mud and clay. All of a sudden, gas shells fall behind the men and the deathly green cloud slowly began to overtake the men. By the time the men realized what was happening, only some were able to apply their masks in time. From this point on, the description of the infected soldier begins. After the horrific description of the effects of the poison, the author tells the readers that if they had seen the attack then the parents would not tell their children “The old lie: Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.” (Owen 1). Translated to “It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country.” The reason for this quote is because it is not always sweet to die for one’s country, which is clearly displayed in the poem. This is an example of verbal irony because while the meaning of the words are strong and inspiring, they are
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