This project and its actions were made possible due to co-financing by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals Poetic terms in Anthem for Doomed Youth Subject(s):English Age group(s):12–14, 15–16 Topic: Analysing poetry EAL Nexus resource Licence information | This resource is free to use for educational purposes. © British Council 2015 Source | This resource was originally developed by Alison Fisher and has been adapted by EAL Nexus.

Poetic terms You are going to work with a partner to make sentences using some common poetic terms. Try to make your sentences as interesting as you can.

NounVerbAdjective contrast contrasting There is a contrast between war and the idea of a church funeral back home. The poet skilfully contrasts the war and the idea of a peaceful country funeral. The contrasting ideas of war and a peaceful church highlight the poem's negative tone. The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells; And bugles calling for them from sad shires.

NounAdjective alliterationalliterative The poet uses alliteration to create a staccato effect. The alliterative use of the -r sound helps create the sense of the rifle firing. Only the stuttering rifles’ rapid rattle R R R

NounVerbAdjective a symbolsymbolisesymbolic The religious images are symbols of the sanctity of life. They also symbolise how death should be sacred. The religious images are symbolic of the sanctity of life and death. passing-bells, hasty orisons, prayers, bells, choirs, candles

NounVerbAdjective effectaffecteffective This image creates the effect that the men are like animals. It affects the reader by creating a highly negative tone. There is an effective use of imagery comparing the battlefield to the slaughterhouse. What passing- bells for these who die as cattle?

NounVerb personificationpersonify Personification is used when the guns are described as ‘angry.’ The poet personifies the guns by describing them as ‘angry’. Only the monstrous anger of the guns.

NounVerb juxtapositionjuxtapose The juxtaposition of the two worlds is an important theme of the poem. Owen juxtaposes the idea of a Christian choir with the horror of the trenches. The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;

NounVerb comparisoncompare The poet makes a comparison between the horror of war and the peaceful life back home. The poet compares the two different worlds of the soldier – at home and at war. The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells; And bugles calling for them from sad shires.

NounAdjective onomatopoeiaonomatopoeic Onomatopoeia is used in the word ‘stuttering’. The onomatopoeic use of the word ‘stuttering’ recreates the sound of gunfire. Only the stuttering rifles’ rapid rattle

The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall; Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds, The pallor of girls' brows pall NounAdjective/Adverb a metaphormetaphorical/metaphorically Owen uses this metaphor to suggest that the pale faces of girls will replace the pall as there is no real coffin for the soldiers. Here, funeral flowers are represented metaphorically. Flowers are used to remember but the soldiers will only be remembered in ‘patient minds’.

Noun a simile This simile implies that the men are being killed in the same way that cows are slaughtered. This dehumanises them. What passing- bells for these who die as cattle?

I love to hear her speak, yet well I know That music hath a far more pleasing sound; I grant I never saw a goddess go; My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground: And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare As any she belied with false compare. A sonnet is usually a romantic poem. It has 14 lines which are split into an octet (eight lines) and a sestet (six lines). The octet often has an abab rhyme scheme and the poem ends with a rhyming couplet. What candles may be held to speed them all? Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes. The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall; Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds, And each slow dusk a drawing down of blinds. NounAdjective ironyironic There is irony in the poem’s structure because sonnets are usually romantic. The ironic use of the sonnet form emphasises the horror of war. Sonnet 130 – William Shakespeare My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; Coral is far more red than her lips' red; If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. I have seen roses damask'd, red and white, But no such roses see I in her cheeks; And in some perfumes is there more delight Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. Anthem for doomed youth What passing-bells for these who die as cattle? Only the monstrous anger of the guns. Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle Can patter out their hasty orisons. No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells, Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs, - The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells; And bugles calling for them from sad shires. octet sestet