The Chances by Wilfred Owen

What’s it all about? The poem is written in the form of a monologue, i.e. one person speaking, in this case a soldier. It is written in the language of a Tommy (British soldier) using colloquialisms (use of informal, everyday language) of the soldier. In Stanza 1 the soldiers are talking about ‘going over the top’ the next day. In Stanza 2, the persona tells us how they all fared.

Remember; poet is reflecting although we do not know from what vantage point battle/over the top I mind as 'ow the night afore that show Us five got talking; we was in the know, "Ah well," says Jimmy, an' he's seen some scrappin' -- "There ain't no more than five things as can happen; You get knocked out; else wounded, bad or cushy; Scuppered; or nowt except you’re feeling mushy." fighting slightly not in the best condition killed nothing lists five likely outcomes of going into battle

pieces killed One of us got the knock-out, blown to chops; One lad was hurt, like, losin' both his props; And one - to use the word of hypocrites - Had the misfortune to be took by Fritz. Now me, I wasn't scratched, praise God Almighty Though next time please I'll thank 'im for a blighty, But poor young Jim, he's livin' and he's not; He reckoned he'd five chances, and he had; He's wounded, killed, and pris’ner, all the lot -- The flamin’ lot all rolled in one.  Jim's mad. legs Germans A wound, serious enough to be sent home, but not serious enough to kill Irony – although Jim was the experienced soldier, he is the one now suffering the most and the worst.

Use of colloquial language, reflecting everyday speech, gives the poem realism Regular use of rhyming couplets The poem is written largely in iambic pentameter, giving it a slowness of speech and thought Metaphor of war as a game/sport Rhyme scheme A B C I mind as 'ow the night afore that show Us five got talking; we was in the know, "Ah well," says Jimmy, an' he's seen some scrappin' -- "There ain't no more than five things as can happen; You get knocked out; else wounded, bad or cushy; Scuppered; or nowt except you’re feeling mushy." Use of the direct quotation from an experienced soldier – makes it more personal and realistic; makes his fate all the more poignant. Use of caesura slows the pace, makes the reader reflect on what’s being said

Repetition of ‘one’ (three times) to highlight their fate; verify what Jim had said the night before. Alliteration – highlights the almost unemotional tone of the persona Continuation of rhyme scheme D E F One of us got the knock-out, blown to chops; One lad was hurt, like, losin' both his props; And one - to use the word of hypocrites - Had the misfortune to be took by Fritz. Now me, I wasn't scratched, praise God Almighty Though next time please I'll thank 'im for a blighty, But poor young Jim, he's livin' and he's not; He reckoned he'd five chances, and he had; He's wounded, killed, and pris’ner, all the lot -- The flamin’ lot all rolled in one.  Jim's mad. Rhyme scheme changes to G H G H to prepare us for and to highlight Jim’s fate. Emotive language to elicit sympathy Use of caesura slows down the reader in order to prepare for the final two words and allow reader to reflect on them. List the three fates of Jim - emphasis

Narrator Recounts the fate of his comrades in an almost unemotional way. Only when he speaks of ‘poor, young Jim’ and his fate do we feel his sympathy. Escapes death and is unharmed, but knows that because of that, he will have to face the same scenario again.