The Dead Beat by Wilfred Owen

What’s it all about? The persona recounts an episode in the trenches, where a fellow soldier’s mind suffers as a result of the war (shell-shock). He is accused of malingering (skiving) by others. Although not physically wounded, he mysteriously dies the next day. The poem highlights the irony that the soldier is in conflict, not just with the enemy, but with those on his own side as well.

What’s it all about? He is telling the story of a man who gives up in the war and loses his mind. He will not fight so he is worthless to the army. They are as glad he died as if he had been an enemy. They forget about the "bold uncles" in England, politicians, conscientious objectors and others who will not fight, and pour out their hatred on this one man. They don't believe anything is wrong with him, and then he dies.

Simile highlights how useless the soldier is Use of this simile suggests that men were seen as no more than meat in those times Persona (Owen?) includes himself in the bad treatment of the soldier. He dropped, -- more sullenly than wearily, Lay stupid like a cod, heavy like meat, And none of us could kick him to his feet; Just blinked at my revolver, blearily; -- Didn't appear to know a war was on, Or see the blasted trench at which he stared. "I'll do 'em in," he whined, "If this hand's spared, I'll murder them, I will." Illustrates the violence of ordinary trench-life ‘Them’ - is he referring to the Germans or to those in the following stanzas? Soldier is past caring

He sees England and all the people left behind Courage/fighting spirit A low voice said, "It's Blighty, p'raps, he sees; his pluck's all gone, Dreaming of all the valiant, that AREN'T dead: Bold uncles, smiling ministerially; Maybe his brave young wife, getting her fun In some new home, improved materially. It's not these stiffs have crazed him; nor the Hun." Uncles suggest that his wife is having fun, perhaps with other men, in a house paid for by the soldier Bitterness/sarcasm at the ‘bold’ (brave) uncles safe at home? It isn't the dead people or fear of the Germans that makes him give up; it's the idea of England and home.

Accused of skiving, not being brave; highlights the lack of sympathy towards the man. Highlights the physical fitness of the man; yet, still he died We sent him down at last, out of the way. Unwounded; -- stout lad, too, before that strafe. Malingering?  Stretcher-bearers winked, "Not half!" Next day I heard the Doc.'s well-whiskied laugh: "That scum you sent last night soon died.  Hooray!" Highlights how worthless this man has become because he will not fight. Leaves the reader with a disgusted feeling Again, sarcasm & bitterness: the contrast of the Doctor’s better conditions to the life of the soldiers in the trenches. The reaction of those we would expect to be caring shocks us Strong language shows how little even the doctors at the front knew about the mental effects the war had on front-line soldiers.

Complete the following grid on the poem Subject Matter (what it is about) Structure (how it look, stanzas, lines, etc.) Language (words/ phrases of interest) Techniques (e.g. similes. alliteration, etc). Imagery Rhyme Scheme Effect of punctu-ation, caesura Eff-ect on rea-der