Dulce et Decorum est by Wilfred Owen Poem Analysis

In the poem, Dulce et Decorum Est published in 1920, Wilfred Owen describes the soldiers during WWI experience. They are struggling to battle and survive. The author uses literary strategies throughout the poem to depict soldiers were tired from fighting, in pain and disoriented from the gas exposure and traumatized by the whole experience.  The poem accurately depicts how they arrived at and experienced the terrible conditions which resulted in the suffering of soldiers in WW1. The simile shows the old soldiers comparing them to them being tired and drunk. It accomplishes showing the comparison of soldier to the brutally of the war. The imagery shows the destruction of violence and death in WW1. This accomplishes the civilians executed with cannons having terrible destruction. The personification shows feet being described as brown blood. This accomplishes the war as harsh. 

People in war were accurately depicted as being so tired that they could barely move, let alone concentrate.  “Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge, till on the haunting flares we turned over backs and towards our distant rest began to trudge. Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots but limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind; Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots of tired, outstripped Five-nines that dropped behind.” (Wilfred Owen Line1-8 pg. 442-443). This is an example of simile. The simile shows them being drunk.  The first scene shows WW1 with soldiers' lives lost, feeling drunk and dead tired by experiencing so much violence. It is miserable and kind of painful. In an article from Wilfred Owen’s Letter No.486 as a Source for “Dulce et Decorum Est” by Bryan Rivers, the author explains the sadness of the struggling soldiers being hurt. In an article on Wilfred Owen’s Letter No.486 as a Source for “Dulce et Decorum Est”, Bryan River notes “Sometimes the feet were covered with a brown, scaly, crust dried blood”.  (Wilfred Owen Line1-5 pg. 442-443) This is an example of personification. The personification shows the feet described as brown blood that are qualities in WW1. It explains the terrible conditions of WW1. They were very exhausted and wounded with pain, just miserable. The war was tough times and brutal with lots of violence in the field. The soldiers were able to push themselves through harsh conditions.   

Soldiers witnessed constant violence and death in WW1 which haunts them in their dreams. In the article, Dulce et Decorum Owen writes “The nightmarish scenes he had witnessed as a soldier in the trenches.” (Wilfred Owen1) This is an example of imagery. The imagery is describing the scenes being dark.  This quote is showing the soldier being tortured by his bad nightmares of  trench life. This was accurately portrayed in the poem as well. In the article, World War 1 by History.com, there was lots of destruction resulting in more than 16 million people dead. Through Wilfred Owen use of imagery, the author further emphasizes his message and shows civilians shot and executed with cannons causing terrible destruction with lots of blood. 

The 2nd scene shows soldiers being killed from gas attacks. Wilfred Owen states, “In all my dreams, before my helpless sight, he plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.” ( Wilfred Owen line 15-15 pg 442-443) This is an example of foreshadowing. It is able to talk about what is going to happen later on with suspense for the soldiers struggling in war when battling causing choking. The soldiers are struggling with dreams of the experiences they had. In the article, Germans Introduce Poison Gas by History.com, mustard gas used in World War 1 caused eye damage, blistering, lung damage and headaches. As a result, soldiers were stumbling and yelling as they were exposed to mustard gas due to their disorientation.  It is violent with people suffering with agony. They were tortured, tired and distraught from experiences pushing forward. (2010) There are nightmares about man’s death possible after a traumatic experience.

The poem's portrayal of the war is accurate because there are soldiers tired from fighting for so long they feel like they are drunk. The poem that I am analyzing is Dulce et Decorum Est. The author is Wilfred Owen. The literary strategies used are simile, personification, imagery and foreshadowing. They experienced trauma caused from witnessing lots of people being hurt and dying. The importance of accurate portrayals in literary pieces is that it shows what's actually going on so they can learn about the hardship that the soldiers of WWI experienced. People need to understand this so they can empathise with the hurt and sadness that others experience. The authors impact the readers because the reader gets to revere them as heros and treat them with respect.