1. How to respond to the question
Dulce et Decorum Est
How to respond to the question

2. Essay Question
Choose a poem which deals with an important issue such as war, crime, poverty or racism.
Explain how the poet deepens your understanding of the issue by the choice of content and the skillful use of poetic techniques.

3. Using The Essay Question
Choose a poem which deals with an important issue such as war, crime, poverty or racism.
Explain how the poet deepens your understanding of the issue
by the choice of content and the skilful use of poetic techniques.
“Dulce Et Decorum Est”
Issue of war
1st Stanza –
2nd stanza-
3rd stanza -
4th stanza -
Description of events/experience
Word choice/similes/metaphors/
Sentence structure/tone

4. Introduction Title Author (Poet) Refer to Question
Task Overview - Summary of topic sentences you will write in the essay.
Summary (brief summary of situation of poem)

5. Introduction – You need to refer to question in first line then justify how the question is relevant to the poem and set out how you will respond.
Example – “Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen is a poem which deals with the issue of war. (not “an issue such as war”)
Owen uses a variety of poetic techniques such as imagery, word choice and rhythm to illustrate the horrific conditions and the way this affected the soldiers. Owen also conveys the extreme physical danger and lasting mental torture suffered by soldiers through his vivid description of a gas attack. Owen clearly conveys the message that it was wrong that young men were told that it was sweet and honourable to die for their country in war.
The poet deepens our understanding of war by describing his harrowing experience of being a soldier in WW1 and watching a soldier die horrifically in a gas attack.

6. Remember - P.E.A.R Structure!
Point – topic sentence that should refer to the question
Evidence –should be relevant to question and should be the best quotation(s) to support your point.
Analysis – should be consistently relevant to question
Response – Should be a thorough explanation of how the evidence and analysis in the key point answers the question!!

7. Point – Topic Sentence
Initially, Owen deepens the reader’s understanding of the issue of war by demonstrating the dramatic effect of the dreadful conditions on the soldiers health.

8. Key Point 2 – Topic Sentence
Additionally, Owen improves the reader’s understanding of warfare by graphically illustrating the extreme physical danger of the soldiers and how one man suffered terribly.

9. Key Point 3 - Your turn Opener Reference to question
Outline the key point
Furthermore…

10. Key Point 4
Moreover or Finally…

11. Relevant Evidence
Key Point 1 – terrible conditions and effect on soldiers
“Bent double, like old beggars under sacks”
“And towards our distant rest began to trudge.”
Key Point 2 – Extreme dangers and suffering
“GAS! Gas! Quick, boys!–
“An ecstasy of fumbling, fitting the clumsy helmets just in time;”
“And floundering like a man in fire or lime.–”
Key Point 3 – Lasting psychological effects
“In all my dreams, before my helpless sight”
“He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.”
Key Point 4 – How it was wrong to lie to soldiers in this way.
“My friend,”
To children ardent for some desperate glory
The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori.

12. Analysis
When you explain the use of a technique – you must explain the effect of this either to 1. support the point you are making or 2. to relate to the question! (preferably both!!)
E.g The simile in the opening line illustrates:
1. The poor physical condition of the soldiers and how they have been changed because of the war.
2. Owen’s criticism of the lie about war told to the soldiers – (because of the stark contrast to the title/myth …

13. Response
You should of course be consistently relevant to the question – you generally are!
But the P.E.A.R structure is used to ensure you specifically respond to the question explain (not simply refer) the link to the question at the end of each key point.

14. Key Point 1 – You have just given at least two quotations and an insightful analysis of techniques used. – You now need to demonstrate that your point is relevant to the question
Owen deepens the reader’s understanding of the issue of war by using effective imagery and word choice to illustrate the dramatic effect the conditions and environment had on the physical state of the soldiers and to convey how war changes people.

15. Key Point 2 – Your Turn
The poet enhances the reader’s appreciation of the extreme suffering of warfare by illustrating the catastrophic effects of chlorine gas used during WW1. Through this Owen highlights how war is abnormal and alters people.

16. Key Point 3 – You again!
Owen’s harrowing description of his recurring nightmare deepens the readers understanding of war because he explains how the atrocities of war can have a lasting psychological impact on soldiers.

17. Key Point 4 – Yup you guessed it, this one is for you too!
Owen attempts to convince the reader about the true nature of war and to dispel the myth told by many that to die for your country is a sweet and honourable thing to do by using emotive language and a bitterly critical tone.