1. War Poetry

2. Wilfred Owen- 1893 to 1918

3. Born In Shropshire.

4. Joined up in 1915 and served with the Manchester regiment

5. ► Wilfred Owen finally succumbed to breakdown in mid April 1917, after heroic action at the beginning of the month, and 12 days in the line under harrowing conditions. ► During this time he was a victim of shell blast, and had to take refuge in a shelter where he was surrounded by the scattered remains of a fellow-officer.

6. Craiglockhart War Hospital Craiglockhart War Hospital

7. ► It was here that Wilfred met two important figures in his life. ► One was the medical officer Arthur Brock who, in his own words, encouraged Owen to face the 'phantoms of the mind' and even exploit them in his poetry – ► The other was fellow poet Siegfried Sassoon.

8. Returned to the trenches in 1918

9. Owen won the military cross for bravery

10. He was killed on November 4 th 1918

11. He left behind a collection of poems that stand as a powerful statement about the. He left behind a collection of poems that stand as a powerful statement about the truth of all wars.

12. “This book is not about heroes. English poetry is not yet fit to speak of them. Nor is it about deeds, or lands, nor anything about glory, honour, might, majesty, dominion, or power, except War. Above All I am not concerned with Poetry. My subject is War, and the pity of War. The Poetry is in the pity. All a poet can do today is warn. That is why the true poets must be truthful”

13. ► What does the first line say about English poetry? Why do you think Owen states this? ► What does the second line suggest about the preconceptions about poetry? ► Why do you think it is so important for poets to be truthful?

14. Anthem for Doomed Youth What passing-bells for these who die as cattle? What passing-bells for these who die as cattle? Only the monstrous anger of the guns. Only the monstrous anger of the guns. Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle Can patter out their hasty orisons. No mockeries for them from prayers or bells, No mockeries for them from prayers or bells, Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,— Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,— The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells; The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells; And bugles calling for them from sad shires. And bugles calling for them from sad shires.

15. What candles may be held to speed them all? What candles may be held to speed them all? Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes Shall shine the holy glimmers of good-byes. Shall shine the holy glimmers of good-byes. The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall; The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall; Their flowers the tenderness of silent maids, Their flowers the tenderness of silent maids, And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds. And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.