Choose one poem from the English literary cannon which deals with the theme of war and compare it with any one of the five war poems you have studied in this unit. [Discuss aspects like the style of the poems, language employed, treatment of the theme of war, etc.] How are they different? Are there any similarities?
Themes: Contrasting Ideologies of War
1. "Charge of the Light Brigade":
Tennyson captures the grandeur of military valor, despite the flawed strategy behind the charge. The poem glorifies obedience and sacrifice, portraying war as a noble duty. The line “Honor the charge they made” reinforces the sanctity of their sacrifice.
War, in this poem, is seen as a necessary evil, a stage where men prove their courage and commitment to their nation. The focus is not on the horrors of war but on the unyielding spirit of the soldiers.
2. "Dulce Et Decorum Est":
Wilfred Owen shatters this romanticized notion of war, presenting it as chaotic, cruel, and dehumanizing. The soldiers are described as “bent double, like old beggars under sacks,” stripped of all glory and heroism.
Through vivid and grotesque imagery, Owen exposes the physical and psychological toll of war. He dismisses the patriotic notion encapsulated in the Latin phrase “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori” (It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country) as a lie perpetuated by those removed from the battlefield.
Language and Tone: From Grandiosity to Brutality
1. Tennyson’s Language and Tone:
Tone: Elevated, rhythmic, and reverent. The meter mirrors the galloping of horses, immersing the reader in the charge. The repetition of “Half a league, half a league” evokes movement and urgency.
Language: Romantic and lofty, with phrases like “Cannon to right of them, / Cannon to left of them” creating a sense of grandeur and inevitability.
2. Owen’s Language and Tone:
Tone: Bitter, haunting, and accusatory. The poem is a direct challenge to the romanticized views of war, with its closing lines questioning societal propaganda.
Language: Graphic and visceral, with images such as “blood / Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs.” The language shocks and unsettles, forcing readers to confront the stark reality of combat.
Perspective and Distance
1. Tennyson:
Written from a third-person perspective, Tennyson maintains a distance from the battlefield. This detachment allows him to focus on the ideals of heroism rather than the grim details of war. His account is an outsider’s homage to bravery.
2. Owen:
Owen’s first-hand experience as a soldier brings unparalleled authenticity to his work. The first-person perspective immerses readers in the suffocating horrors of war, as seen in lines like “In all my dreams, before my helpless sight, / He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.”
Philosophical Underpinnings
1. Tennyson’s War Idealism:
Tennyson’s Victorian context, with its imperial pride, shapes his portrayal of war as a space for nationalistic and personal honor. The soldiers are celebrated for their duty, irrespective of the futility of their mission.
2. Owen’s War Realism:
Owen, influenced by the disillusionment of World War I, challenges the narratives of honor and duty. His work critiques those who glorify war without understanding its devastating impact on human lives.
Similarities:
Shared Themes: Both poems address the themes of sacrifice and the cost of war.
Focus on Soldiers: Despite their different tones, both poets emphasize the soldiers' resilience and suffering.
Critique of Leadership: Tennyson subtly critiques military command (“Someone had blundered”), while Owen outright condemns the propagandists of war.
Differences: Romanticized Heroism vs. Harsh Reality
Tennyson: Views war as a stage for glory, even in tragedy.
Owen: Rejects all romantic notions, portraying war as inherently destructive and meaningless.
In conclusion, these poems serve as two sides of the same coin, reflecting the evolving perspectives on war. Tennyson glorifies, while Owen exposes. Together, they highlight the complexity of war and its enduring impact on humanity.
War poetry is not necessarily ‘anti-war’. It is, however, about the very large questions of life: identity, innocence, guilt, loyalty, courage, compassion, humanity, duty, desire, death." Discuss this statement in the context of any two of the war poems you have studied.
The statement that war poetry is not necessarily "anti-war" but grapples with profound questions of life—identity, innocence, guilt, loyalty, courage, compassion, humanity, duty, desire, and death—captures the depth and diversity of war poetry. To explore this idea, let us analyze "The Soldier" by Rupert Brooke and "Dulce Et Decorum Est" by Wilfred Owen.
1. Identity and Patriotism in The Soldier
Rupert Brooke’s "The Soldier" encapsulates the idealistic view of war and patriotism. The poem reflects on the identity of the soldier, tied deeply to his homeland.
Identity and Loyalty: Brooke portrays the soldier as a personification of England, suggesting that even in death, his body will enrich the foreign land with England’s virtues:
“If I should die, think only this of me: / That there’s some corner of a foreign field / That is forever England.”
Here, the soldier’s sense of self is inseparable from his duty and loyalty to his nation.
Innocence and Idealism: The poem exudes innocence and an untainted belief in the nobility of war. Brooke romanticizes death, viewing it as a noble sacrifice that ensures the continuation of England’s legacy.
While not explicitly "anti-war," the poem raises questions about identity, duty, and the individual's place in the collective narrative of war.
2. Guilt, Humanity, and Death in Dulce Et Decorum Est
Wilfred Owen’s "Dulce Et Decorum Est" offers a starkly contrasting view. While Brooke glorifies sacrifice, Owen exposes the trauma and guilt borne by soldiers.
Guilt and Compassion: Owen vividly describes a soldier's agonizing death from a gas attack, capturing the speaker’s helplessness:
“In all my dreams, before my helpless sight, / He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.”
The recurring nightmares underscore the survivor’s guilt and the lingering impact of war on humanity.
Death and Dehumanization: Owen depicts soldiers as physically and mentally broken:
“Bent double, like old beggars under sacks.”
This brutal imagery strips away the romanticism of war, emphasizing its destructive power over life and humanity.
Owen’s poem confronts the reader with the realities of death and suffering, challenging the "old lie" that it is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country.
Contrasts Between the Poems
Tone and Perspective: The Soldier adopts an idealistic tone, focusing on the nobility of sacrifice, while Dulce Et Decorum Est is bitter and accusatory, critiquing the glorification of war.
Themes of Death: In Brooke’s poem, death is a spiritual union with one’s country; in Owen’s, it is a grim, meaningless reality.
View on Duty: Brooke portrays duty as sacred and fulfilling, whereas Owen questions the purpose and morality of the duty imposed by war.
Similarities in Addressing Large Questions
Both poems grapple with the theme of death, though they interpret its meaning differently.
Both reflect on the soldier’s identity and humanity, whether in the context of patriotic pride or the dehumanizing effects of war.
War poetry, as demonstrated by these two works, delves into the profound questions of life without necessarily condemning or glorifying war. The Soldier emphasizes identity, loyalty, and the nobility of sacrifice, while Dulce Et Decorum Est exposes guilt, suffering, and the loss of innocence. Together, they highlight the multifaceted nature of war poetry, providing contrasting yet complementary perspectives on the human experience in war.
Compare Ivor Gurney's The Target with Wilfred Owen's Dulce et Decorum Est. What are some notable similarities and differences between these two war poets and their poetry?
Comparison of Ivor Gurney’s The Target and Wilfred Owen’s Dulce Et Decorum Est
Both The Target by Ivor Gurney and Dulce Et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen provide stark insights into the realities of war, yet their tone, perspective, and treatment of the subject differ.
Similarities
1. Realism and Authenticity:
Both poets write from personal experiences of war, grounding their poems in the harsh realities of battle.
Gurney’s soldier struggles with guilt and regret over killing ("You’d hardly know / I’d killed, but he — knew well"), while Owen’s soldiers endure the horrors of a gas attack.
2. Critique of War:
Both poems challenge romanticized notions of war.
Gurney’s work questions the morality of killing, reflecting on the psychological burden of war. Similarly, Owen exposes the futility and suffering of war, calling the propaganda of “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori” (It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country) a lie.
3. Focus on the Individual Soldier:
Both poems center on the individual soldier’s emotions—guilt, exhaustion, and helplessness.
Gurney’s narrator struggles with personal guilt, while Owen’s speaker reflects on the physical and emotional toll of witnessing a comrade’s death.
4. Imagery of Suffering:
Vivid imagery underscores the soldiers’ suffering in both poems. Gurney captures the soldier’s mental torment, and Owen’s graphic description of the gas victim (“guttering, choking, drowning”) emphasizes the physical horrors of war.
Differences
1. Perspective on Death and Guilt:
In The Target, Gurney’s soldier is haunted by the guilt of killing another man, reflecting on the moral implications:
“I shot him, and it had to be / One of us.”
In contrast, Dulce Et Decorum Est focuses on the death of a comrade and the survivor’s helplessness and guilt in failing to save him.
2. Tone:
Gurney’s tone is introspective, meditative, and personal, focusing on the moral and emotional burden of the soldier.
Owen’s tone is bitter and accusatory, directly addressing those who glorify war without understanding its horrors.
3. Critique of Propaganda:
Owen explicitly critiques war propaganda, calling it “The old Lie.”
Gurney’s poem is less overtly critical of external forces and instead focuses on the internal struggles of the soldier.
4. Language and Style:
Gurney uses conversational and reflective language, emphasizing the soldier’s internal dialogue.
Owen’s language is more vivid and graphic, employing striking imagery to shock and move the reader.
5. Focus:
The Target is more concerned with the soldier’s guilt and its impact on his psyche.
Dulce Et Decorum Est addresses broader themes of war’s futility and the betrayal of those who promote it.
Conclusion
While both poems critique the grim realities of war, The Target delves into the personal guilt and moral conflict of a soldier, whereas Dulce Et Decorum Est broadens the scope to condemn the societal glorification of war. Together, these works provide complementary perspectives—one introspective and the other confrontational—on the devastating human cost of warfare.
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