ANALYSIS OF ‘DULCE ET DECORUM EST’

Planning your response Before you can plan your response you need to know the message Owen was trying to convey to his audience. Before you can plan your response you need to know the message Owen was trying to convey to his audience. This means understanding the social and historical context in which the poem was written. This means understanding the social and historical context in which the poem was written. Then you can judge how successful Owen has been by looking at the poetic techniques he has used. Then you can judge how successful Owen has been by looking at the poetic techniques he has used.

Poetic techniques The following will give you a format for approaching a task of this type: Structure (including use of punctuation) Structure (including use of punctuation) Language (choice of words) Language (choice of words) Imagery (simile, metaphor, personification) Imagery (simile, metaphor, personification) Rhyme and rhythm Rhyme and rhythm Meaning (message) Meaning (message)

Essay writing for literature It is important to relate your comments back to the original task It is important to relate your comments back to the original task You must use frequent references to the text to support points made You must use frequent references to the text to support points made Remember – PEE Remember – PEE You must try to get into the mind of the writer. Find out what he was trying to do and how effective or successful you think he was. You must try to get into the mind of the writer. Find out what he was trying to do and how effective or successful you think he was.

Modelling a response The style of your response needs to reflect the fact that you are writing a literature essay. The style of your response needs to reflect the fact that you are writing a literature essay. For example, comments on Owen’s use of language could read something like this: For example, comments on Owen’s use of language could read something like this: Owen has used language which reflects the appalling conditions the soldiers had to endure. He needed to convey, to an often ignorant audience (an audience brought up on government propaganda where bad news was banned) the true horror of the war. Owen has used language which reflects the appalling conditions the soldiers had to endure. He needed to convey, to an often ignorant audience (an audience brought up on government propaganda where bad news was banned) the true horror of the war.

“ He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning “ “ He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning “ The graphic detail he has used creates a truly horrific picture – one that would have had a dramatic impact on the reader. This is further reinforced by the following lines: The graphic detail he has used creates a truly horrific picture – one that would have had a dramatic impact on the reader. This is further reinforced by the following lines: “the blood Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,” “the blood Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,” The words used here to describe the soldier’s dissolving lungs is a very graphic description of an appalling event that Owen witnessed. It is a description of a situation unknown to the British public who were used to the glory and success of the British Empire rather than such a gory death. The words used here to describe the soldier’s dissolving lungs is a very graphic description of an appalling event that Owen witnessed. It is a description of a situation unknown to the British public who were used to the glory and success of the British Empire rather than such a gory death.

The intensity and power of this description continues in the next line: The intensity and power of this description continues in the next line: “watch the white eyes writhing” “watch the white eyes writhing” The use of the word ‘watch’ is key as it is an instruction to you, the reader, to be a part of this horrific death. The use of the word ‘watch’ is key as it is an instruction to you, the reader, to be a part of this horrific death. This alliterative description brings out the agony of dying in a memorable way. This alliterative description brings out the agony of dying in a memorable way. There is no glory here, only painful death, which was, of course, Owen’s intention. The reader is left in no doubt of the horror of war. There is no glory here, only painful death, which was, of course, Owen’s intention. The reader is left in no doubt of the horror of war.