dulce et decorum est imagery essay

Dulce et Decorum Est Summary & Analysis by Wilfred Owen

• Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis
• Poetic Devices
• Vocabulary & References
• Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme
• Line-by-Line Explanations

"Dulce et Decorum Est" is a poem by the English poet Wilfred Owen. Like most of Owen's work, it was written between August 1917 and September 1918, while he was fighting in World War 1. Owen is known for his wrenching descriptions of suffering in war. In "Dulce et Decorum Est," he illustrates the brutal everyday struggle of a company of soldiers, focuses on the story of one soldier's agonizing death, and discusses the trauma that this event left behind. He uses a quotation from the Roman poet Horace to highlight the difference between the glorious image of war (spread by those not actually fighting in it) and war's horrifying reality.

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The Full Text of “Dulce et Decorum Est”

1 Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,

2 Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,

3 Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs,

4 And towards our distant rest began to trudge.

5 Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots,

6 But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;

7 Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots

8 Of gas-shells dropping softly behind.

9 Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!—An ecstasy of fumbling

10 Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time,

11 But someone still was yelling out and stumbling

12 And flound’ring like a man in fire or lime.—

13 Dim through the misty panes and thick green light,

14 As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.

15 In all my dreams before my helpless sight,

16 He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.

17 If in some smothering dreams, you too could pace

18 Behind the wagon that we flung him in,

19 And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,

20 His hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin;

21 If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood

22 Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,

23 Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud

24 Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,—

25 My friend, you would not tell with such high zest

26 To children ardent for some desperate glory,

27 The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est

28 Pro patria mori .

“Dulce et Decorum Est” Summary

“dulce et decorum est” themes.

The Horror and Trauma of War

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The Enduring Myth that War is Glorious

Line-by-line explanation & analysis of “dulce et decorum est”.

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge, Till on the haunting flares we turned our 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 gas-shells dropping softly behind.

Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!—An ecstasy of fumbling Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time,

Lines 11-14

But someone still was yelling out and stumbling And flound’ring like a man in fire or lime.— Dim through the misty panes and thick green light, As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.

Lines 15-16

In all my dreams before my helpless sight, He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.

Lines 17-20

If in some smothering dreams, you too could pace Behind the wagon that we flung him in, And watch the white eyes writhing in his face, His hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin;

Lines 21-24

If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,—

Lines 25-28

My friend, you would not tell with such high zest To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori .

“Dulce et Decorum Est” Symbols

The Dying Soldier

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“Dulce et Decorum Est” Poetic Devices & Figurative Language

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“Dulce et Decorum Est” Vocabulary

Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem.

• Knock-kneed
• Haunting flares
• Flound'ring
• Froth-corrupted
• See where this vocabulary word appears in the poem.

Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme of “Dulce et Decorum Est”

Rhyme scheme, “dulce et decorum est” speaker, “dulce et decorum est” setting, literary and historical context of “dulce et decorum est”, more “dulce et decorum est” resources, external resources.

Biography of Wilfred Owen — A detailed biographical sketch of Wilfred Owen's life, including analysis of his work.

An Overview of Chemical Warfare — A concise historical account of the development of chemical weapons, with detailed descriptions of the poison gases used in WWI.

Listen to "Dulce et Decorum Est" — A recording of "Dulce et Decorum Est," provided by the Poetry Foundation.

Representing the Great War — The Norton Anthology's overview of literary representation of World War I, with accompanying texts. This includes two of Jessie Pope's patriotic poems, as well as poems by Siegfried Sassoon and others and various contemporary illustrations. It also suggests many additional resources for exploration.

Horace, Ode 3.2 — One translation of the Horace ode that the lines "Dulce et Decorum Est" originally appear in. 

Digital Archive of Owen's Life and Work — An archive of scanned documents from Owen's life and work, including his letters, as well as several handwritten drafts of "Dulce et Decorum Est" and other poems.

The White Feather — A brief personal essay about the treatment of conscientious objectors in WWI-era Britain.

LitCharts on Other Poems by Wilfred Owen

Anthem for Doomed Youth

Mental Cases

Spring Offensive

Strange Meeting

The Next War

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“Dulce et Decorum Est”: A Complete Analysis

April 1, 2024 | by poemread.com

Let’s take a closer look at “Dulce et Decorum Est,” an emotionally charged poem by Wilfred Owen. In this exploration, we unravel the layers of Owen’s anti-war sentiment, vivid imagery, and powerful message. Through gripping descriptions and emotional resonance, Owen challenges the glorification of war, exposing its harsh realities and the toll it takes on soldiers. Join us as we analyze the themes, structure, and literary devices used in this timeless piece of literature.

About the Author: Wilfred Owen

• Description of Soldiers' Experiences

Depiction of Horrors of War

Irony and criticism of patriotism, direct address to the reader.

• Society's Romanticized View of War
• Owen's Harrowing Experiences
• Description of War's Reality in the Poem

Impact and Legacy

• Theme: War's Futility and Brutality

Opening Imagery: Despair and Grim Realities

Gas attack: terror and chaos, tone: somber, disillusioned, and bitter, direct address to the reader: confronting the reality of war, combination of two sonnets, stanza structure and progression, use of imagery and enjambment, rhyme and meter, impact on readers and literary legacy.

• Line-by-Line Analysis of "Dulce et Decorum Est"
• Poetic and Literary Devices of "Dulce et Decorum Est"

Exposing the Horrors of War

Challenging romanticized notions, condemning war propaganda, urging reflection and change, legacy and impact.

• Interactive Summary of "Dulce et Decorum Est"

Wilfred Owen’s journey as a soldier began in 1915, when he enlisted in the British Army with optimism and eagerness to serve his country. However, witnessing the brutalities of war firsthand on the Western Front quickly turned his enthusiasm into disillusionment. The relentless shelling, constant fear of death, and devastating gas attacks he experienced deeply influenced Owen’s poetry, which became a powerful medium for expressing his anti-war sentiments.

His notable works like “Dulce et Decorum Est” and “Anthem for Doomed Youth” vividly depict the pain and suffering of soldiers, contrasting the patriotic propaganda with the grim reality of war. Owen’s writing style, which drew inspiration from Romantic poets like Keats and Shelley, incorporated themes of nature and life’s fragility, showcasing both darkness and moments of beauty and tenderness.

Tragically, Owen’s promising career was cut short when he was at the age of 25. Despite his untimely death, Owen’s poetry continues to be celebrated for its raw honesty, immortalizing the experiences of soldiers and serving as a reminder of the sacrifices and consequences of armed conflict.

Subject of “Dulce et Decorum Est”

The poem “Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen explores the harsh realities and devastating effects of war, specifically focusing on the experiences of soldiers fighting in World War I. The poem extensively describes the physical and mental toll that war takes on the soldiers, highlighting the pain, suffering, and disillusionment they endure.

Description of Soldiers’ Experiences

In the opening lines of the poem, Owen sets the tone by describing the soldiers as “bent double, like old beggars under sacks.” This image immediately conveys the physical exhaustion and degradation that the soldiers face on a daily basis. The use of simile emphasizes the stark contrast between the idealized notions of war and the grim reality that the soldiers face.

As the poem progresses, Owen takes the reader into the heart of the battlefield, painting a vivid picture of the horrors of war. He describes a gas attack, recounting the panic and chaos that ensue as the soldiers scramble to put on their gas masks.

The use of vivid imagery, such as “flound’ring like a man in fire or lime” and “guttering, choking, drowning,” evokes a sense of suffocation and helplessness. Through these powerful descriptions, Owen exposes the true nature of war—a brutal and dehumanizing experience that strips away the soldiers’ dignity and humanity.

Furthermore, Owen challenges the notion of war as something noble and honorable. The Latin phrase “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori,” which translates to “It is sweet and honorable to die for one’s country,” is used ironically throughout the poem. Owen mocks the romanticized idea of war by depicting the gruesome reality that the soldiers face. He exposes the falsehood of patriotic propaganda and highlights the hypocrisy of those who glorify war without experiencing its true horrors.

In the final stanza of the poem, Owen directly addresses the reader, urging them to confront the harsh truth about war. He implores the reader to “watch the white eyes writhing in his face” and to “smothering dreams” of war’s glory. By involving the reader in this way, Owen forces them to confront their own complicity in perpetuating the myth of war as something noble and honorable.

In summary, “Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen is a powerful and moving poem that exposes the harsh realities and devastating effects of war. Through vivid imagery and irony, Owen challenges the romanticized notions of war and forces the reader to confront the true horror and futility of armed conflict. This poem serves as a stark reminder of the sacrifices made by soldiers and the urgent need to work towards a world free from the ravages of war.

Context of “Dulce et Decorum Est”

“Dulce et Decorum Est” was written in 1917 during World War I, a time when war propaganda often glorified the idea of sacrificing one’s life for their country. Owen, who had firsthand experience with the horrors of war, sought to refute and expose the romanticized ideas about war that society upholds. The poem was published posthumously in 1920, two years after Owen’s death in battle.

Society’s Romanticized View of War

During World War I, many people believed that going to war was a noble and heroic act. Propaganda posters and patriotic speeches portrayed soldiers as brave and selfless individuals who were willing to lay down their lives for their country. This sentiment was captured in the Latin phrase “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori,” which translates to “It is sweet and honorable to die for one’s country.” This phrase was often used to justify the sacrifice of soldiers and encourage others to enlist.

Owen’s Harrowing Experiences

However, Owen’s experiences on the front lines of the war shattered this romanticized view of war. He witnessed the horrors of trench warfare, the devastating effects of gas attacks, and the physical and psychological toll it took on the soldiers. Owen himself suffered from shell shock and was sent to a hospital to recover. It was during this time that he wrote “Dulce et Decorum Est” as a response to the propaganda that he believed misled young men into enlisting.

Description of War’s Reality in the Poem

In the poem, Owen describes the gruesome reality of war. He depicts a group of soldiers trudging through mud and gas-filled trenches, exhausted and in a constant state of fear. Suddenly, there is a gas attack, and one soldier fails to put on his gas mask in time.

Owen describes the agonizing death of this soldier, as he chokes and suffocates from the poisonous gas. The poem ends with a powerful plea to the reader, urging them to reconsider the glorification of war and the notion that it is honorable to die for one’s country.

The publication of “Dulce et Decorum Est” after Owen’s death had a powerful impact on the perception of war. It exposed the harsh realities of combat and challenged the prevailing narrative of heroism and sacrifice. Owen’s poem developed into a potent anti-war statement that called into question the glorification of war and highlighted the psychological and physical trauma that soldiers go through. It served as a wake-up call to society, forcing them to confront the true cost of war and the need for peace.

Owen’s legacy as a war poet continues to resonate today. His powerful and poignant poetry has become synonymous with the horrors of war and the futility of violence. “Dulce et Decorum Est” remains a timeless reminder of the human toll of war and the importance of understanding the true consequences of conflict.

Theme and Tone of “Dulce et Decorum Est”

Theme: War’s Futility and Brutality

The theme of “Dulce et Decorum Est” revolves around the idea that war is not glorious or honorable but rather a futile and brutal endeavor that inflicts immense suffering on those involved. Wilfred Owen emphasizes this theme through vivid and disturbing imagery, highlighting the physical and mental trauma experienced by soldiers.

The poem opens with vivid imagery depicting soldiers trudging through mud with “blood-shod” feet and “knock-kneed” postures, “coughing like hags.” This imagery immediately sets a tone of despair and paints a grim picture of the soldiers’ deteriorating condition, setting the stage for the theme of war’s brutality.

As the poem progresses, Owen describes a gas attack that captures the terror and chaos of the moment. Soldiers scramble to put on gas masks, but one fails and suffers a slow, agonizing death. Graphic imagery like “white eyes writhing in his face” shocks and disturbs the reader, reinforcing the senseless brutality of war and the theme of its futility.

The poem’s tone is somber, disillusioned, and bitter, reflecting Owen’s anti-war sentiments. He challenges the idea of dying for one’s country as sweet and honorable, instead portraying it as a lie perpetuated by those who have not faced war’s horrors firsthand. The tone reinforces the theme of war’s brutality and the need to confront its realities.

The poem concludes with a direct address to the reader, urging them to confront the reality of war and reject its glorification. Owen’s intention is to awaken the reader to the true horrors of combat and to inspire a reevaluation of the romanticized notions surrounding war.

In summary, “Dulce et Decorum Est” is a powerful anti-war poem that explores the theme of war’s futility and brutality through vivid imagery and a somber, disillusioned tone. Owen challenges the glorification of war and calls for a deeper understanding of its devastating effects on those who experience it firsthand.

The Form and Structure of “Dulce et Decorum Est”

“Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen defies traditional poetic structures by combining two sonnets into one cohesive composition. A break comes after the first 12 lines of one sonnet, and then another sonnet with 12 lines follows. Although the spacing between them is regular, the overall effect resembles that of a French ballad. The irregular breaks between the sonnets emphasize the imperfectness of the world portrayed in the poem.

This unconventional structure adds depth and complexity to the poem, allowing Owen to explore different facets of the war experience. The break between the sonnets serves as a moment of reflection for readers, emphasizing the contrast between the romanticized ideals of war and the harsh realities depicted in the poem.

The poem is divided into four stanzas, each serving a distinct purpose in conveying Owen’s anti-war message. The first stanza sets the scene and introduces the physical condition of the soldiers, describing them as “Bent double, like old beggars under sacks.” This vivid imagery immediately immerses readers in the grim reality of war.

The second stanza abruptly shifts in tone as Owen vividly describes a gas attack, utilizing urgent phrases like “Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!” to depict the chaos and horror of warfare. The third stanza focuses on the aftermath of the gas attack, highlighting the suffering and death caused by such atrocities. Finally, the fourth stanza delivers a powerful condemnation of the glorification of war and the false ideals of honor and sacrifice.

Owen’s skillful use of imagery and enjambment adds depth and intensity to “Dulce et Decorum Est.” Enjambment, the continuation of a sentence beyond the end of a line, creates a sense of urgency and fluidity in the poem. It mirrors the relentless march of soldiers and the chaotic nature of war, drawing readers into the harrowing experiences described. The vivid imagery employed throughout the poem, such as “blood-shod,” “white eyes writhing,” and “froth-corrupted lungs,” evokes visceral reactions and reinforces the brutality of war, leaving a lasting impact on readers.

While “Dulce et Decorum Est” does not adhere to a strict rhyme scheme, Owen strategically uses occasional rhymes to enhance certain lines and create a rhythmic flow. The meter varies throughout the poem, contributing to its natural and conversational tone while also intensifying the emotional impact of specific lines. This deviation from traditional rhyme and meter adds to the poem’s raw and authentic portrayal of war, capturing the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the battlefield.

The form and structure of “Dulce et Decorum Est” significantly contribute to its emotional impact on readers. The fragmented lines, irregular breaks, and powerful imagery work together to convey Owen’s anti-war message with poignancy and depth. This poem continues to resonate with audiences, serving as a timeless reminder of the human cost of conflict and the urgent need for peace. Wilfred Owen’s innovative approach to form and structure in “Dulce et Decorum Est” has cemented its place as a classic anti-war poem that continues to inspire reflection and critical discourse on the realities of war.

Line-by-Line Analysis of “Dulce et Decorum Est”

Stanza one: setting the scene.

The poem opens by describing soldiers who are physically worn out and downtrodden. Owen compares them to “old beggars under sacks,” highlighting their fatigue and hardship. This imagery immediately introduces readers to the harsh conditions of war, where soldiers endure exhaustion and discomfort as they navigate through the trenches.

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,

The opening line sets a tone of weariness and degradation. The soldiers are portrayed as bent over, resembling old beggars burdened by heavy sacks. This imagery immediately conveys the physical toll and exhaustion of war.

Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,

The second line further emphasizes the soldiers’ physical state, highlighting their weakened knees and persistent coughing. The comparison to hags adds a sense of weakness and suffering. The soldiers are shown navigating through difficult terrain, cursing their way through the mud.

Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs,

This line introduces the element of danger with “haunting flares,” indicating enemy activity. The soldiers instinctively turn away from these flares, suggesting a constant threat and the need for vigilance.

And towards our distant rest began to trudge.

Despite their exhaustion and the looming danger, the soldiers press on toward a distant place of rest. The word “trudge” implies a slow and laborious journey, underscoring the hardship they endure.

Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots,

The following lines depict the extreme fatigue of the soldiers, who are so exhausted that they appear to be marching in their sleep. The mention of lost boots adds to the image of their disarray and deprivation.

But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;

These lines intensify the imagery of physical suffering. The soldiers continue to move forward despite being “blood-shod,” indicating their injured and bloody feet. The repetition of “all” emphasizes the widespread impact of the war, with everyone affected by injury and blindness.

Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots

The soldiers are described as “drunk with fatigue,” highlighting the overwhelming exhaustion they face. They are so fatigued that they become deaf to external sounds, such as the hoots of approaching gas shells.

Of gas-shells dropping softly behind.

The line suggests the constant threat of gas attacks, with shells dropping quietly in the background. This subtle yet menacing imagery adds to the atmosphere of danger and unpredictability.

Stanza Two: The Gas Attack

In the second stanza, Owen vividly portrays a gas attack during wartime. The tone becomes urgent as he exclaims, “Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!” This abrupt shift in atmosphere captures the suddenness and chaos of such an attack. Readers are plunged into the frantic and terrifying moments when soldiers scramble to protect themselves from deadly gas, showcasing the relentless danger faced on the battlefield.

Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!—An ecstasy of fumbling

The sudden cry of “Gas! GAS!” creates a sense of panic and urgency. The soldiers scramble to put on their gas masks in a chaotic and frantic manner, described as an “ecstasy of fumbling,” highlighting the desperate struggle to protect themselves.

Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time,

The soldiers manage to put on their gas masks at the last moment, underscoring the narrow margin between life and death on the battlefield.

But someone still was yelling out and stumbling

Despite their efforts, there is a sense of helplessness as someone continues to yell and stumble, unable to protect themselves adequately.

And flound’ring like a man in fire or lime.—

The imagery of someone “flound’ring like a man in fire or lime” evokes a vivid and agonizing picture of someone in distress, struggling and suffering.

Dim through the misty panes and thick green light,

The scene transitions to a misty and eerie atmosphere, with the soldiers’ vision obscured by gas and smoke.

As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.

The comparison to a “green sea” further enhances the suffocating and overwhelming nature of the gas attack. The speaker describes witnessing someone drowning in the gas, helpless to save them.

Stanza Three: Aftermath of Horror

Following the gas attack, the third stanza delves into its aftermath. Owen paints a haunting picture of a soldier struggling in agony, likening him to someone “flound’ring like a man in fire or lime.” This vivid imagery conveys the horrific suffering and helplessness experienced by victims of gas attacks. The descriptions of physical trauma and suffocation provide a stark portrayal of the brutal realities of warfare.

In all my dreams before my helpless sight,

The speaker reflects on the haunting impact of the gas attack, which continues to haunt them even in dreams.

He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.

The image of the drowning soldier is vividly described, emphasizing their agony and imminent death.

Stanza Four: Condemnation and Plea

The final stanza delivers a powerful condemnation of war’s glorification and the false notions of honor associated with it. Owen directly addresses the reader, exposing the lie that it is “sweet and proper to die for one’s country” (translated from Latin). He challenges the romanticized ideals of war and urges readers to reconsider their beliefs about its supposed glory. This stanza serves as a genuine plea for truth and recognition of the true costs of conflict.

If in some smothering dreams, you too could pace

The speaker invites the reader to imagine experiencing the suffocating horrors of war in their dreams.

Behind the wagon that we flung him in,

The image of throwing a wounded soldier into a wagon suggests the harsh and impersonal treatment of casualties in war.

And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,

The description of the soldier’s “white eyes writhing” adds to the graphic and disturbing imagery of suffering and death.

His hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin;

The comparison of the soldier’s face to a devil’s sick of sin conveys a sense of grotesque and unnatural suffering.

If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood

The speaker continues to describe the visceral and gruesome realities of transporting wounded soldiers, with blood gurgling and splattering with each movement.

Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,

The description of blood gargling from corrupted lungs adds to the horrific and disturbing imagery.

Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud

The comparison of the blood and injuries to cancer and bitter cud emphasizes the repulsive and devastating nature of battle wounds.

Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,—

The imagery of incurable sores on innocent tongues underscores the senseless suffering and damage caused by war.

My friend, you would not tell with such high zest

The speaker addresses the reader directly, questioning their enthusiasm and glorification of war.

To children ardent for some desperate glory,

The mention of children eager for glory highlights the danger of perpetuating false ideals about war to future generations.

The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est

The poem concludes with a powerful condemnation of the idea that it is sweet and honorable to die for one’s country. The phrase “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori” (translated as “It is sweet and honorable to die for one’s country”) is labeled as “the old Lie,” challenging the false glorification of war and sacrifice.

Overall Impact and Themes

Through its detailed imagery and shifting tones, “Dulce et Decorum Est” effectively conveys the harsh realities and devastation of war. Each stanza contributes to the poem’s overall theme of disillusionment with war’s glorification. The vivid descriptions and direct language create a powerful emotional impact, leaving readers with a profound understanding of the physical and psychological tolls of armed conflict. Owen’s message, challenging the notions of honor and sacrifice in war, resonates as a timeless anti-war sentiment that continues to hold significance today.

Poetic and Literary Devices of “Dulce et Decorum Est”

Wilfred Owen’s “Dulce et Decorum Est” is a masterful display of poetic and literary devices that enhance the impact of his anti-war message. Let’s examine some of these devices and their significance in the poem:

The poem opens with vivid imagery, describing the soldiers as “Bent double, like old beggars under sacks” and “Knock-kneed, coughing like hags.” This imagery immediately sets a grim tone, conveying the physical toll of war and the soldiers’ degraded state.

Owen employs metaphors to convey the dehumanizing effects of war. For instance, he describes the soldiers as “drunk with fatigue” and “deaf even to the hoots / Of tired, outstripped Five-Nines.” These metaphors emphasize the soldiers’ exhaustion and desensitization to the dangers around them.

The comparison of soldiers to “old beggars under sacks” and “coughing like hags” through similes highlights their degradation and suffering, painting a vivid picture of their plight.

Alliteration

Owen uses alliteration to create rhythm and emphasis. For example, phrases like “blood-shod,” “flound’ring like a man,” and “froth-corrupted lungs” not only enhance the auditory experience but also intensify the imagery.

The repetition of “Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!” conveys the urgency and panic during a gas attack, immersing the reader in the chaos of the moment.

The poem is steeped in irony, particularly in its title and concluding lines. Owen challenges the notion that it is honorable to die for one’s country, labeling it as “the old lie.” This ironic twist exposes the falsehood of patriotic propaganda.

Owen’s use of enjambment creates a flowing rhythm, mirroring the relentless march of the soldiers and the chaotic nature of war. This technique adds to the urgency and emotional impact of the poem.

Juxtaposition

The contrast between the graphic imagery of war and the idealized notions of heroism and patriotism creates a stark juxtaposition. Owen juxtaposes the gruesome image of a dying soldier with distant “haunting flares,” highlighting the stark contrast between reality and perception.

Sensory Imagery

Owen incorporates sensory imagery, such as “thick green light” and “white eyes writhing,” to evoke a visceral response from the reader. These descriptions appeal to the senses, intensifying the emotional and visual impact of the poem.

Personal Experience

Owen’s personal experience as a soldier adds authenticity and depth to the poem. His firsthand knowledge of war’s horrors lends credibility to his critique and invites readers to empathize with the soldiers’ experiences.

Overall, Wilfred Owen’s use of poetic and literary devices in “Dulce et Decorum Est” amplifies the emotional resonance of his anti-war message, challenging romanticized notions of war and urging readers to confront its harsh realities.

Implications and Meanings of “Dulce et Decorum Est”

The implications and meanings of Wilfred Owen’s “Dulce et Decorum Est” delve deep into the harsh realities of war and the hypocrisy of glorifying it. Let’s explore the profound implications and overarching meaning of this anti-war poem:

The poem serves as a stark reminder of the brutal and dehumanizing nature of war. Through vivid imagery and graphic descriptions, Owen portrays the physical and psychological toll that soldiers endure on the battlefield. The poem’s detailed accounts of gas attacks, injuries, and suffering expose the inhumanity and senseless violence inherent in armed conflict.

Owen’s use of irony is central to the poem’s meaning. The title, “Dulce et Decorum Est,” which translates to “It is sweet and honorable,” is followed by the assertion that it is a lie. This challenges the traditional narrative that dying for one’s country is noble and glorious. Owen exposes the falsehood of patriotic propaganda and critiques those who perpetuate the myth of war’s honor without experiencing its true horrors.

The poem condemns the manipulation of young minds with false ideals of heroism and sacrifice. Owen directly addresses the reader, particularly those who propagate the glorification of war, cautioning against the dangers of instilling false notions of glory in the minds of impressionable youth. He warns against the allure of patriotic fervor that blinds individuals to the grim realities of war.

Ultimately, “Dulce et Decorum Est” urges readers to reflect critically on the true costs of war and the misguided glorification of sacrifice. By vividly depicting the suffering of soldiers and exposing the hypocrisy of war propaganda, Owen calls for a shift in societal attitudes towards war. The poem advocates for empathy, understanding, and a rejection of the romanticized narratives that perpetuate cycles of violence.

The poem’s enduring impact lies in its ability to evoke empathy and provoke introspection. It has become a timeless anti-war statement , resonating with audiences across generations. “Dulce et Decorum Est” continues to serve as a powerful reminder of the human toll of war and the urgent need for peace and understanding in a world plagued by conflict.

In essence, Wilfred Owen’s “Dulce et Decorum Est” confronts the harsh realities of war, challenges the glorification of sacrifice, and calls for a reevaluation of societal attitudes towards armed conflict. It stands as a poignant testament to the horrors of war and the imperative of seeking alternatives to violence in pursuit of a more compassionate and peaceful world.

Interactive Summary of “Dulce et Decorum Est”

Immersion in the horrors of war.

In “Dulce et Decorum Est,” Wilfred Owen vividly immerses the reader in the harsh realities of war through powerful imagery. Soldiers are depicted as “bent double, like old beggars under sacks” and “coughing like hags,” painting a grim picture of exhaustion and degradation. This imagery challenges romanticized ideals of war, highlighting its dehumanizing effects.

Raw Emotions and Empathy

Owen’s raw emotions resonate throughout the poem, evoking empathy and compassion in the reader. Descriptions of a gas attack, with a soldier suffering a slow, agonizing death, convey horror and helplessness. The poet’s visceral language, like “guttering, choking, drowning,” intensifies the emotional impact, exposing the true brutality of war.

Challenging Societal Narratives

“Dulce et Decorum Est” serves as a critique of societal narratives that glorify sacrifice in war. Owen directly addresses the reader, challenging the belief that dying for one’s country is sweet and honorable. Instead, he reveals the devastating consequences of war on individuals and calls for a nuanced understanding of its true costs.

Call for Reflection and Understanding

In conclusion, Owen’s poem urges reflection on the realities of war and the need to question romanticized ideals. “Dulce et Decorum Est” emphasizes the futility and brutality of combat, reminding us of the true costs and complexities of armed conflict. It serves as a reminder to approach discussions of war with empathy, understanding, and a critical lens.

If you enjoyed the powerful anti-war message of “Dulce et Decorum Est,” we highly recommend exploring Alfred Lord Tennyson’s “The Charge of the Light Brigade” for its gripping depiction of valor and sacrifice in the face of military orders.

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A Short Analysis of Wilfred Owen’s ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’

By Dr Oliver Tearle

‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ or, to give the phrase in full: Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori , Latin for ‘it is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country’ ( patria is where we get our word ‘patriotic’ from). The phrase originated in the Roman poet Horace, but in ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’, Wilfred Owen (1893-1918) famously rejects this idea.

For Owen, who had experienced the horrors of trench warfare and a gas attack, there was nothing sweet, and nothing fitting, about giving one’s life for one’s country. Focusing in particular on one moment in the First World War, when Owen and his platoon are attacked with poison gas, ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ is a studied analysis of suffering and perhaps the most famous anti-war poem ever written.

Dulce et Decorum Est

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge, Till on the haunting flares we turned our 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 gas-shells dropping softly behind.

Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!—An ecstasy of fumbling Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time, But someone still was yelling out and stumbling And flound’ring like a man in fire or lime.— Dim through the misty panes and thick green light, As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.

In all my dreams before my helpless sight, He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.

If in some smothering dreams, you too could pace Behind the wagon that we flung him in, And watch the white eyes writhing in his face, His hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin; If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,— My friend, you would not tell with such high zest To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori .

‘Dulce et Decorum Est’: background

In October 1917, Wilfred Owen wrote to his mother from Craiglockhart Hospital: ‘Here is a gas poem, done yesterday……..the famous Latin tag (from Horace, Odes) means of course it is sweet and meet to die for one’s country. Sweet! and decorous!’

Although he drafted the poem that October, the surviving drafts of ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ show that Owen revised and revisited it on several occasions thereafter, before his death the following November – one week before the Armistice.

Although he wrote all his poetry while he was still a young man – he died aged just 25, like the poet he so admired, John Keats – Wilfred Owen was a master of form and metre, although the extent to which ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ is carefully structured is not necessarily apparent from reading it (and certainly not from hearing it read aloud).

‘Dulce et Decorum Est’: form

The first two stanzas, comprising eight lines and six lines respectively, form a traditional 14-line sonnet, with an octave (eight-line section) and sestet (six-line section).

The line break after the fourteenth line only brings this home: there’s a pause, and then we find ourselves returning to the word ‘drowning’, locked in it, fixating on that word, ‘drowning’ to describe the helpless state of the poor soldier suffocating from poison gas. The helplessness, of course, is Owen’s too, being unable to do anything for his falling comrade: all we can do is watch in horror.

‘Dulce et Decorum Est’: imagery

The imagery is as striking and memorable as the structure, though a little more explicit: the first stanza bombards us with a series of similes for the exhausted men trudging through mud (‘like old beggars’, ‘coughing like hags’) and more direct metaphors (‘blood-shod’ suggesting feet caked in blood, implying trench-foot and cut legs; with ‘shod’ putting us in mind of horses, perhaps being used to plough a very different kind of muddy field; and ‘drunk with fatigue’ bitterly reminding us that this isn’t some sort of beer-fuelled jolly, a bunch of friends out for a night on the town).

Then we are shocked by the double cry of ‘Gas! GAS!’ at the beginning of the second stanza, with the two successive heavy stresses grabbing our attention, much as the cry from one soldier to his comrades is designed to – and they all fumble for their masks, struggling to put them in place to protect them against the deadly gas attack.

Even after he physically witnessed the soldier dying from the effects of the poison gas, Owen cannot forget it: it haunts his dreams, a recurring nightmare. The recurrence of the word ‘drowning’ neatly conveys this.

In that final stanza, Owen turns what until now has been a descriptive poem into a piece of anti-war propaganda, responding with brilliant irony to the patriotic poets such as Jessie Pope (whom Owen specifically has in mind here), who wrote jingoistic doggerel that encouraged young men to enlist and ‘do their bit for king and country’.

‘Dulce et Decorum Est’: further analysis

If in some smothering dreams, you too could pace Behind the wagon that we flung him in, And watch the white eyes writhing in his face, His hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin …

If people like Pope, Owen argues, addressing her directly (‘If in some smothering dreams you too could pace…’), could witness what he has witnessed, and were forced to relive it in their dreams and waking thoughts every day and night, they would not in all good conscience be able to write such pro-war poetry, knowing they were encouraging more men to share the horrific fate of the soldier Owen had seen killed.

Jessie Pope and her ilk would not be able to feed the ‘Old Lie’, Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori , to impressionable young men (some of them so young they are still ‘children’: it’s worth remembering that some boys lied about their age so they could join up) who are ‘ardent for some desperate glory’.

‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ is a fine example of Owen’s superb craftsmanship as a poet: young he may have been, and valuable as his poetry is as a window onto the horrors of the First World War, in the last analysis the reason we value his response to the horrific events he witnessed is that he put them across in such emotive but controlled language, using imagery at once true and effective.

As he put it in the draft preface he wrote for his poems: ‘My subject is War, and the pity of War. The poetry is in the pity.’

Image (top): Wilfred Owen (author unknown: image taken from 1920 edition of  Poems of Wilfred Owen ),  Wikimedia Commons . Image (bottom): John Singer Sargent,  Gassed , via Wikimedia Commons .

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8 thoughts on “A Short Analysis of Wilfred Owen’s ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’”

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Excellent analysis of a great poem.

Thank you :)

Wilfred Owen is one of the many talented war poets that inspired me to love literature!

Good piece here on a powerful poem. And I still think ‘Disabled’ is his best…

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A very good analysis of one of my favourite poems. Arguably the best of any war poet.

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Dulce et Decorum Est

by Wilfred Owen

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge, Till on the haunting flares we turned our 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 gas-shells dropping softly behind. Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!—An ecstasy of fumbling Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time, But someone still was yelling out and stumbling And flound’ring like a man in fire or lime.— Dim through the misty panes and thick green light, As under a green sea, I saw him drowning. In all my dreams before my helpless sight, He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning. If in some smothering dreams, you too could pace Behind the wagon that we flung him in, And watch the white eyes writhing in his face, His hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin; If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,— My friend , you would not tell with such high zest To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori.

Summary of Dulce et Decorum Est

•   Popularity: “ Dulce et Decorum Est” is a famous anti-war poem by Wilfred Owen. It was first published in 1920. The poem presents strong criticism of the war and its aftermath. The poet details the horrors of the gas warfare during WW1, and the miserable plight of the soldiers caught in it makes up the major point of the argument of the poet. Since its publication, the poem has won immense popularity on account of the presentation of the brutalities of war.
• “Dulce et Decorum Est” as Criticism on War: As this poem is written in the context of war, the poet describes the gruesome experiences of war. As a soldier in the WW1, he experienced the sufferings of the war and its pains. By depicting the death and destruction caused by the war, he declares that war is not a heroic deed. Many innocent souls are lost for the sake of their country. He considers war as a devil’s work that brings violence, destruction, and ruination to the people. In the first part of the poem, he tells about a specific war-related past event. The tired, limping and wounded soldiers are returning from the battlefield when there is a gas attack, and the speaker observes the helplessness of coughing, choking and dying soldiers. He seems immoveable from the incident when he watches a soldier succumbing to the deadly gas. Later, this image of the floundering soldier constantly haunts him. The second part of the poem further illustrates the pathetic and frenzied events of the war. What enchants the readers is the lifelike images of traumatic incidents demonstrated by the poet to explain the inhumanity of war.
• Major Themes of “Dulce et Decorum Est” : Death and horrors of war are the major themes of the poem. The poet incorporates these themes with the help of appropriate imagery . He says that those who have lived these miserable moments will never glorify war. He negates the glorious description of the war by presenting the brutal graphic realities of the battlefield. These themes are foregrounded in powerful phrases such as “like old beggars under sacks,” “haunting flares”, “blood-shod”,” guttering, choking, drowning” just to show that the poem depicts this universal thematic idea.

Analysis of the Literary Devices used in “Dulce et Decorum Est”

literary devices are used to bring richness and clarity to the texts. The writers and poets use them to make their texts appealing and meaningful. Owen has also employed some literary devices in this poem to present the mind-disturbing pictures of the war. The analysis of some of the literary devices used in this poem has been discussed below.

• Alliteration : Alliteration is the use of the same consonant sounds in the same line such as the sound of /s/ in “ But someone still was yelling out and stumbling” and /w/ sound in “And watch the white eyes writhing in his face.
• Simile : Simile is a figure of speech used to compare something with something else to describe an object or a person. Owen has used many self-explanatory similes in this poem such as,” Bent double, like old beggars under sacks”, “Knock-kneed, coughing like hags”, “like a man in fire or lime” and “like a devil’s sick of sin.”
• Metaphor : There is only one metaphor used in this poem. It is used in line seven of the poem, “ Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots.” It presents the physical state of the men.
• Onomatopoeia : It refers to the words which imitate the natural sounds of the things. Owen has used the words “hoot”, “knock” and “gargling” in the poem to imitate sounds.
• Consonance : Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line such as the /r/ sound in “Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs.”
• Synecdoche : It is a figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole. For example, the word “sight” in the second stanza represents the speaker.
• Imagery : Imagery is used to make the readers perceive things with their five senses. Owen has successfully used a lot of imageries to create a horrific picture of war, pain, and The following phrases show the effective use of imagery as he says, “old beggars under sacks”, “had lost their boots”, “His hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin” and “white eyes.”
• Assonance : Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line such as /o/ sound in “Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues.”

The careful glimpse of literary analysis shows that the poet has skilfully projected his war experiences under cover of these literary devices. The appropriate use of the devices has made this poem a thought-provoking piece for the readers.

Analysis of Poetic Devices in “Dulce et Decorum Est”

Poetic and literary devices are the same, but a few are used only in poetry. Here is the analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem.

• Structure: The poem is a combination of two sonnets. In the first sonnet , the poet describes his experiences of the war whereas in the second sonnet he becomes analytic and attempts to correct the outlook of others about the war.
• Sonnet : A sonnet is a fourteen-line poem in which a single idea floats throughout the poem.
• Rhyme Scheme : The whole poem follows the ABAB, CDCD rhyme scheme in iambic pentameter .
• Iambic Pentameter : It is a type of meter consisting of five iambs . The poem comprises iambic pentameter such as, “Bent Dou ble, like old beg gars un der ”

Quotes to be Used

• These lines can be used when describing the awful situation of the people facing droughts , illness or diseases.

“Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge.”

• These lines can be used when narrating any personal experience of pain or depression.

“Dim through the misty panes and thick green light, As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.”

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Imagery in Owen Wilfred’s “Dulce et Decorum est” Poem Essay

It is very difficult to picture to oneself a more disgusting and horrible thing than war. It is a war that maims thousands of people, injuring not only their bodies but ruining their souls, razing their dreams to the ground. Thousands of novels, stories, and poems convey the feelings of those who have experienced war, who have witnessed all atrocities of war. Those works of imaginative literature were created for different purposes: to share personal experience, to show the past to descendants, to glorify the soldiers who were ready to sacrifice their lives for the good of their motherland. However, the poetry of Wilfred Owen, mainly his poem “Dulce et Decorum Est” differs from patriotic literature dedicated to war. The poet’s main aim, which is achieved due to the horrific imagery of the work, is to show the real nature of war, terrible horrors, and absurdity of pain that the soldiers suffered during a battle instead of the nobility of death in the name of the country.

The title of the story contributes to the disclosure of the main theme by arguing with Horace’s idea “that it was a sweet and noble thing to die for one’s country” (Spurr 65). Owen intentionally gives only the beginning of Horace’s quotation; it makes the impression that the author finds it unable to cite the Roman poet up to the end because of his absolute disagreement with him. What is more, the line from Horace’s poem makes Owen absorb his war past revealing the whole truth about war. However, the poet gives the full quotation in the final stanza of the poem: “The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est Pro Patria Mori” (Owen lines 27-28). Thus, the author makes use of framing, beginning, and ending the poem with Horace’s quotation. Still, he is sure that the reader will accept his point of view on witnessing the horror of war. By means of a “control shot”, the poet introduces the personification of “Lie” stressing the enormity of this lie and his inability to accept it.

The author resorts to the creation of the impression of immediate presence and duration of action as one of the means of expression of the main idea of the poem. The reader is initiated into the action by the author’s resorting to personal pronouns “we” (Owen lines 2, 3, 18), “you” (Owen line 17). Direct speech is also used with the same purpose: “Gas! Gas! Quick, boys!” (Owen line 9). The poem sends shivers down the spine of a reader; it makes him/her feel the taste of lime and burning fire on the skin. The impression of duration is created with the help of present participles, which the poem abounds in: “guttering, choking, drowning” (Owen line 16). However, the poet is aware that the reader was not present on the battlefield. This is why to keep this atmosphere of presence, he hints at the nature of events as if it were a dream: “Men marched asleep” (Owen line 5). The “fatigue” (Owen line 7) and inability to move fast when one needs to are usual things in nightmares. Thus, the author keeps the atmosphere of presence making the reader believe that he/she saw a nightmare.

Besides, Owen distorts the image of a courageous and noble soldier who is eager to sacrifice his life in order to save his country. He makes use of a number of similes showing the real state of soldiers: “like old beggars”, “coughing like hags” (Owen lines 1, 2). The creatures described by the author are miserable, he vividly describes their physical degradation and exhaustion: “Men marched asleep” (Owen line 5), “all blind” (Owen line 6). The metaphor “drunk with fatigue” (Owen line 7) symbolizes the utter state of moral and physical tiredness of the men. They are not heroic, they are doomed to death, and they are helpless as is shown by the epithet “my helpless sight” (Owen line 15).

Drawing a conclusion, it may be stated that the author has managed to initiate the reader into the real war experience. Now it is impossible to be indifferent when you know the truth. No matter if it was real or it happened in a nightmare, it has changed your life. The revelation is that the young men should not be deluded by eloquent legends about the heroism of those who died at war. The poem “Dulce et Decorum Est” shows the bitterness of war instead of the “sweetness” of the sacrifice of people. The imagery of the literary work makes it convincing, realistic, and personal, aimed at everyone.

Owen, Wilfred. “Dulce et decorum Est.” Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama . X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia NY: Longman, 1999: 543-544.

Spurr, Barry. Wilfred Owen . Glebe: Pascal Press, 2004.

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IvyPanda. (2021, November 27). Imagery in Owen Wilfred’s “Dulce et Decorum est” Poem. https://ivypanda.com/essays/imagery-in-owen-wilfreds-dulce-et-decorum-est-poem/

"Imagery in Owen Wilfred’s “Dulce et Decorum est” Poem." IvyPanda , 27 Nov. 2021, ivypanda.com/essays/imagery-in-owen-wilfreds-dulce-et-decorum-est-poem/.

IvyPanda . (2021) 'Imagery in Owen Wilfred’s “Dulce et Decorum est” Poem'. 27 November.

IvyPanda . 2021. "Imagery in Owen Wilfred’s “Dulce et Decorum est” Poem." November 27, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/imagery-in-owen-wilfreds-dulce-et-decorum-est-poem/.

1. IvyPanda . "Imagery in Owen Wilfred’s “Dulce et Decorum est” Poem." November 27, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/imagery-in-owen-wilfreds-dulce-et-decorum-est-poem/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Imagery in Owen Wilfred’s “Dulce et Decorum est” Poem." November 27, 2021. https://ivypanda.com/essays/imagery-in-owen-wilfreds-dulce-et-decorum-est-poem/.

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Wilfred Owen: Poems

By wilfred owen, wilfred owen: poems summary and analysis of "dulce et decorum est".

The boys are bent over like old beggars carrying sacks, and they curse and cough through the mud until the "haunting flares" tell them it is time to head toward their rest. As they march some men are asleep, others limp with bloody feet as they'd lost their boots. All are lame and blind, extremely tired and deaf to the shells falling behind them.

Suddenly there is gas, and the speaker calls, "Quick, boys!" There is fumbling as they try to put on their helmets in time. One soldier is still yelling and stumbling about as if he is on fire. Through the dim "thick green light" the speaker sees him fall like he is drowning.

The drowning man is in the speaker's dreams, always falling, choking.

The speaker says that if you could follow behind that wagon where the soldier's body was thrown, watching his eyes roll about in his head, see his face "like a devil's sick of sin", hear his voice gargling frothy blood at every bounce of the wagon, sounding as "obscene as cancer" and bitter as lingering sores on the tongue, then you, "my friend", would not say with such passion and conviction to children desirous of glory, "the old lie" of "Dulce et decorum est".

"Dulce et Decorum est" is without a doubt one of, if not the most, memorable and anthologized poems in Owen's oeuvre. Its vibrant imagery and searing tone make it an unforgettable excoriation of WWI, and it has found its way into both literature and history courses as a paragon of textual representation of the horrors of the battlefield. It was written in 1917 while Owen was at Craiglockhart, revised while he was at either Ripon or Scarborough in 1918, and published posthumously in 1920. One version was sent to Susan Owen, the poet's mother, with the inscription, "Here is a gas poem done yesterday (which is not private, but not final)." The poem paints a battlefield scene of soldiers trudging along only to be interrupted by poison gas. One soldier does not get his helmet on in time and is thrown on the back of the wagon where he coughs and sputters as he dies. The speaker bitterly and ironically refutes the message espoused by many that war is glorious and it is an honor to die for one's country.

The poem is a combination of two sonnets, although the spacing between the two is irregular. It resembles French ballad structure. The broken sonnet form and the irregularity reinforce the feeling of otherworldliness; in the first sonnet, Owen narrates the action in the present, while in the second he looks upon the scene, almost dazed, contemplative. The rhyme scheme is traditional, and each stanza features two quatrains of rhymed iambic pentameter with several spondaic substitutions.

"Dulce" is a message of sorts to a poet and civilian propagandist, Jessie Pope, who had written several jingoistic and enthusiastic poems exhorting young men to join the war effort. She is the "friend" Owen mentions near the end of his poem. The first draft was dedicated to her, with a later revision being altered to "a certain Poetess". However, the final draft eliminated a specific reference to her, as Owen wanted his words to apply to a larger audience.

The title of the poem, which also appears in the last two lines, is Latin for, "It is sweet and right to die for one's country" - or, more informally, "it is an honor to die for one's country". The line derives from the Roman poet Horace's Ode 3.2 . The phrase was commonly used during the WWI era, and thus would have resonated with Owen's readers. It was also inscribed on the wall of the chapel of the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst in 1913.

In the first stanza Owen is speaking in first person, putting himself with his fellow soldiers as they labor through the sludge of the battlefield. He depicts them as old men, as "beggars". They have lost the semblance of humanity and are reduced to ciphers. They are wearied to the bone and desensitized to all but their march. In the second stanza the action occurs – poisonous gas forces the soldiers to put their helmets on. Owen heightens the tension through the depiction of one unlucky soldier who could not complete this task in time - he ends up falling, "drowning" in gas. This is seen through "the misty panes and the thick green light", and, as the imagery suggests, the poet sees this in his dreams.

In the fourth stanza Owen takes a step back from the action and uses his poetic voice to bitterly and incisively criticize those who promulgate going to war as a glorious endeavor. He paints a vivid picture of the dying young soldier, taking pains to limn just how unnatural it is, "obscene as cancer". The dying man is an offense to innocence and purity – his face like a "devil's sick of sin". Owen then says that, if you knew what the reality of war was like, you would not go about telling children they should enlist. There is utterly no ambiguity in the poem, and thus it is emblematic of poetry critical of war.

Wilfred Owen: Poems Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Wilfred Owen: Poems is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

How could we interpret the symbol of ‘fruits’?​

Poem title, please?

What are the similarities between the poems Next War and Dulce et Decorum est? for example how grief is portrayed through both is almost the same fashion

I'm not sure what you mean by "next war".

Experience of war in Dulce Et Decorum Est

"Dulce et Decorum est" is without a doubt one of, if not the most, memorable and anthologized poems in Owen's oeuvre. Its vibrant imagery and searing tone make it an unforgettable excoriation of WWI, and it has found its way into both literature...

Study Guide for Wilfred Owen: Poems

Wilfred Owen: Poems study guide contains a biography of Wilfred Owen, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis of Wilfred Owen's major poems.

• About Wilfred Owen: Poems
• Wilfred Owen: Poems Summary
• Character List

Essays for Wilfred Owen: Poems

Wilfred Owen: Poems essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Wilfred Owen's poetry.

• “Fellowships Untold”: The Role of Wilfred Owen’s Poetry in Understanding Comradeship During World War I
• Analysis of Owen's "Strange Meeting"
• The Development of Modernism as Seen through World War I Poetry and "The Prussian Officer"
• Commentary on the Poem “Disabled” by Wilfred Owen
• Commentary on the Poem "Anthem for Doomed Youth" by Wilfred Owen

E-Text of Wilfred Owen: Poems

Wilfred Owen: Poems e-text contains the full texts of select poems by Wilfred Owen.

• Introduction by Siegfried Sassoon
• Strange Meeting
• Greater Love
• Apologia pro Poemeta Mio

Wikipedia Entries for Wilfred Owen: Poems

• Introduction
• War service

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The Negatively Conotated Imagery in Dulce Et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen

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Dulce et Decorum Est 101: Summary, Analysis, & Questions and Answers

“Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen concentrates on the shocking details of events soldiers came through in World War I. Owen recalls the war realities by showing readers the soldiers’ urgency when faced with death.

If you’re stuck with writing a paper on the poem, you’re in the right place! Below, you will find the Dulce et Decorum Est analysis, summary, answers to the most common questions. And don’t forget to check our free essay examples .

Let’s start!

• Literary Devices
• Language: Meter, Rhythm, Rhyme Scheme, Tone
• Essay Ideas
• Questions and Answers

Dulce Et Decorum Est: Summary

The author paints a group of marching soldiers in a muddy landscape. The soldiers are tired and sick. They are coughing like older adults, and their knees are shaking. Besides, they are far from the fighting spirit. Some of them walk like they seem to be sleeping. Some even lost their boots, and their feet are bleeding.

At the same time, they carry heavy packs while going away from light flares, used by the German army to spot an enemy by lighting up the territory. Their destination is a distant camp.

Soldiers are worn out physically and mentally. Their perception is clouded as if they were drunk. They can hardly recognize an impending threat.

Suddenly, one from the group warns about a gas attack so that soldiers can put on their protecting helmets. Everyone manages to do it on time, except for one soldier. The author saw his suffering and agony.

The soldier death reminded Owen of someone caught in fire or lime, used to blind the enemy in ancient times. He compares this terrible scene with drowning in the ocean, not underwater, but in the air full of poisonous gas.

Then, the reader is brought into the author’s post-war reality. Even years later, Owen did not escape the picture of yelling and dying in front of his eyes comrade-in-arms.

After sharing his grievous experience, the author turns to the readers and states a straightforward thing. It lies in the fact that if they took his boots and walked a mile, they would never have said to their children the war is glorious.

The author recalls marching behind a wagon with a dying wrecked-face soldier, who reminds of someone passing away from cancer or other diseases. Such memories dispel an “old lie” that dying for one’s country is sweet and fitting.

Dulce Et Decorum Est: Literary Analysis

We approach the literary analysis of the Dulce Et Decorum Est. You will understand the poem’s themes, the literary devices the author used, and the poem’s language.

Let’s go!

Dulce Et Decorum Est: Theme

The author illustrates the relationship between reality and heroic ideals. He does it via two central themes: patriotism and its false glory and horrors of war .

The poem’s title and final lines, “Dulce et Decorum Est,” are from Horace’s Ode 3.2 . The bar is a Latin equivalent for “It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country.” It echoes powerfully in the hearts of the young, showing only the heroic and romantic side of patriotic death and other sacrifices “for good.”

In reality, it’s far from that. The author argues such a way of war glorification, calling it an “old Lie.” Each horror depicted from the “on-site” shatters the enduring myth that the war is glorious.

Line by line, the poem shows how terrible and horrifying the war experience is. One thing is clear: if the reader could see and feel all the author’s horror, they would not talk so zealously about patriotism and the delights of war.

All the above is bolstered by the third theme: the traumatic war’s impact on humans . In this context, possible terrible emotional or physical pains will not get better with time. The lasting effects of war trauma barely level out all the arrogance and glory of war.

Dulce Et Decorum Est: Literary Devices

Now, we will stop on Dulce Et Decorum Est literary devices. To express the main idea, the author used several poetic techniques, including:

Let’s explore Dulce Et Decorum’s literary devices and look at a few examples of their application.

The author successfully uses many similes to make the terror visible. Thanks to them, it is easier for readers to perceive the pain, horrific images, and agony.

One of the examples is in the very beginning: “ like old beggars under sacks ” — soldiers are shown not as brave mighty heroes, but as the homeless and weak tramps who beg for a living.

Here is the list of other same-purpose phrases: “ coughing like hags ,” “ like a devil’s sick of sin ,” “ obscene as cancer ,” “ like a man in fire or lime ,” “ as under a green sea ,” and “ bitter as the cud .”

Dulce et Decorum Es is so literal that it has only a single metaphor . It is used in the poem to make vivid imagery of the soldiers’ physical state. The metaphors are the compelling phrases, namely, “ drunk with fatigue ” and “ deaf even to the hoots .”

We have already touched a bit upon the symbolic elements in the poem’s imagery. Symbolism pictures the WWI experience like a nightmare rather than a real-life event.

The first symbolic element author introduces a green sea in which one of the soldiers “dies” after a gas attack, as he could not put on a mask on time. It can be explained by what Owen saw then: a gas fog through the mask glass.

Using this symbol in pair with the verb “drowning” transmits the painful and cruel way the soldier died. Besides, it builds the link between drowning in the ocean and gas suffocation. It is easier for readers to imagine the terrible feeling of lacking enough oxygen underwater.

The irony shows up in the poem’s very beginning. First, the reader sees the title Dulce et Decorum Est, meaning the poem will show how great it is to fight for the homeland. The first line is opposite to something glorious and sweet.

Reading more into the poem opens up terrifying things about war gradually. The author uses irony to express the violence, making the phrase in the title an illusion.

Along with irony and other poetic techniques, the author uses oxymorons . Two contradictory words used together make an oxymoron.

In phrase “ To children ardent for some desperate glory ,” the initially negative “ desperate ” word is combined with the joyous “ glory .” Another oxymoron is “ An ecstasy of fumbling ,” where the opposing state of extreme happiness combines with an awkward way of doing something.

With oxymorons, Owen produces a dramatic effect. The poem forces the reader to stop and think about the whole complexity of war and man’s place in it.

Dulce Et Decorum Est Language: Meter, Rhythm, Rhyme Scheme, Tone

The language of the poem Dulce Et Decorum Est is composed of several poetic devices, including meter, rhythm, rhyme scheme, and tone. Let’s describe each of them:

• Meter. The poem is composed of five-syllable pairs. Each pair’s first syllable is unstressed, and the second is stressed. The Dulce Et Decorum Est meter pattern is iambic pentameter.
• Rhythm. Combined with other techniques, the poem’s somber rhythm expresses imagery. The words themselves are rumbling. They collide to paint a horrific picture of the field where soldiers march. What is more, it is evocative of the rhythm of the heart.
• Rhyme scheme. Although the poem’s meter is rather complex, the rhyme pattern is simple. The rhyme scheme in Dulce Et Decorum Est is ABABCDCD. The author manages with simple words and no more than double rhyme sounds repetition.
• Tone. The poem’s tone is bitter, angry, and critical. The trauma and self-recrimination heat the speaker’s voice. That’s why he so accurately conveys all the fears and horrors he endured. Along with the angry tone, the ironically used “my friend” addressing those supporting an “old lie” impacts them more intensely.

Now, we move on to the poem’s setting.

Dulce Et Decorum Est: Setting

Owen does not give the exact setting location, but it is clear from the context that the action takes place in 1917 winter in France.

What is this context?

The poem is written during Wilfred Owen’s actual WWI experience . Here when he wrote letters with stories of the dying soldier.

Besides, there are elements in the poem, which serve as a clue to understanding the setting.

The most evident is green chlorine gas, deployed by the German army since 1915, and “clumsy helmets” or gas masks, used as gas attacks responsive measure.

Gas shells and flares are also WWI-specific elements. Soldiers never used them before.

The setting breaks into the past and present in terms of the author. After two stanzas, we shift to his indeterminate present in the past. It shows us that his horrors did not leave him even in the postwar peacetime.

Dulce Et Decorum Est Essay Ideas

Now that you have explored the poem analysis, it’s time to write the Dulce et Decorum Est analysis essay. We gathered 15 essay topic ideas to make things simple. Please, pick any from the list:

• Dulce Et Decorum Est poem figurative language
• Dulce Et Decorum Est poem literary devices
• Irony in poem Dulce Et Decorum Est
• Symbolism in poem Dulce Et Decorum Est
• What is the theme of the poem Dulce Et Decorum Est?
• How does Wilfred Owen describe the horrors of war in the poem Dulce Et Decorum Est?
• The brutality of war in the poem Dulce Et Decorum Est
• How does Wilfred Owen convey the human costs of war in the poem Dulce Et Decorum Est?
• Illustration of First World War in the poem Dulce Et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen
• Literary devices and themes in Dulce Et Decorum Est
• Dulce Et Decorum Est: is it charming to die for one’s country?
• Why was Dulce Et Decorum Est written: literary and historical context?
• What is the Dulce Et Decorum Est message?
• The portrayal of death in Dulce Et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen
• Depiction of tragedies of war in the poem Dulce Et Decorum Est

If the topics are not enough and you still have any questions, we suggest you check out an example of a ready-made Dulce et Decorum Est and The Things they Carried: Compare & Contrast Essay .

To help you finally delve into the topic, we gathered the most frequently asked questions and comprehensive answers to them below.

Dulce Et Decorum Est: Questions and Answers

Below you will find comprehensive Dulce et Decorum Est questions and answers.

Who Wrote Dulce Et Decorum Est?

Dulce et Decorum Est was written by Wilfred Edward Salter Owen , an English soldier, and poet. He was born on 18 March 1893 near Oswestry in Shropshire. Among the First World War poets, he was almost the leading one.

At the time he lived, ideas and themes he erased in his poetry were in contrast to the perception of war by the public. As ideas of anti-militarism developed, his poems became increasingly recognized. Here are several examples: “ Anthem for Doomed Youth ,” “ Strange Meeting ,” “ Insensibility ,” and “ Spring Offensive .” All of them were published posthumously.

On 4 November, at the age of 25, Owen was killed while leading his men across the Sambre and Oise Canal.

When Was Dulce Et Decorum Est Written?

Like most of Wilfred Owen’s works, Dulce et Decorum Est was written between August 1917 and September 1918. At that time, Owen was fighting in the First World War. Most likely, it was written in 1917 when he was at the Craiglockhart War Hospital near Edinburgh.

What Does Dulce Et Decorum Est Mean?

Dulce et Decorum Est is a citation from the Roman poet Horace’s Ode 3.2. The literal meaning of it is “it’s sweet and fitting to die for one’s country.”

The author aims at deconstructing this myth. In the last stanza, he calls it an “old lie.”

Owen successfully showed the difference between the horrifying reality of war and its glorious image, usually spread by those not even fighting in it.

What Is Dulce Et Decorum Est About?

Originally written as a personal letter, Owen later decided to appeal to a broader audience of all war supporters. The poem is highly emotional, making it one of the most popular condemnations of the war.

Dulce et Decorum Est begins with an image of weary soldiers walking from the front lines through thick mud. Then, there is a gas attack, in which one of the soldiers dies.

What Happened in the Poem Dulce et Decorum Est?

The poem tells us the story of a group of soldiers, “ drunk with fatigue ,” forced to make their way “through the mud” to take shelter from the explosive shells that fall on their rear.

Then gas shells fell around them. The soldiers rushed to put on their gas masks. In a rush, one of them is caught gassed. The author sees him “screaming again and stumbling.” Then, he sees him yelling in agony as he is drowning in the green sea.

When the attack was over, they proceeded on their way, but their mate was in the wagon, with white eyes and coughing up blood.

Who Is the Speaker in the Poem Dulce et Decorum Est?

The poem, composed of 28 free iambic pentameters, lets us hear the voice of the poet himself . Owen appears here as a soldier with a deep incurable emotional trauma left after the war and its horrifying events.

Why Was Dulce Et Decorum Est Written?

Discussing war horrors in the abstract does not require much effort. Owen managed to depict those horrors in a specifically devastating way. What’s more, he shows in the poem that every aspect of war is terrible. Starting from a soldier’s daily life, continuing to the death in an attack, and postwar traumatized body and mind.

The author is very disappointed with the war. A reader can see it in the last few lines of the last stanza.

How Does Dulce et Decorum Est Make the Reader Feel?

The way the author uses language to put the audience inside the events helps them understand the terrible experience of awful aspects of war.

What Is the Message of Dulce et Decorum Est?

The central tension lies between the reality of the war and the government’s portrayal of war. They paint it as sweet and fitting to die for your homeland. The message that Owen conveys is the reality of the cruel and horrific war.

Why Is Dulce Et Decorum Est Important?

The poem lies genre of protest poetry because it shows the horror and reality of war, specifically the First World War. Dulce et Decorum Est sets this horror against how war is so often glorified.

• Wilfred Owen’s “Dulce et Decorum Est” — English Emory
• Horace, Ode 3.2 
• Biography of Wilfred Owen
• Wilfred Owen: Biography & War Poet
• Digital Archive of Owen’s Life and Work 
• Wilfred Owen’s Dulce et Decorum est: Summary & Analysis
• Dr. Santanu Das explores the manuscript for Wilfred Owen’s “Dulce et Decorum est” Video on the British Library’s World War I website
• Ian McMillan asks if “Dulce et Decorum est” has distorted our view of WWI Video on the BBC’s iWonder website
• Manuscript version of ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ The Poetry Manuscripts of Wilfred Owen on the British Library’s website
• Listen to “Dulce et Decorum Est” 
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Home / Essay Samples / Literature / Wilfred Owen / Wilfred Owen’s Use Of Imagery In Dulce Et Decorum Est

Wilfred Owen’s Use Of Imagery In Dulce Et Decorum Est

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• Topic: Dulce Et Decorum Est , Trench Warfare , Wilfred Owen

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