Comprehensive Analysis of Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen

Wilfred Owen’s poem “Dulce et Decorum Est” is one of the most powerful and haunting works to come out of World War I. Written in 1917 and published posthumously in 1920, this poem paints a vivid and disturbing picture of the horrors of trench warfare. Owen, who fought and died in the war, used his firsthand experiences to challenge the romantic notions of war that were common at the time.

The poem’s title comes from a Latin phrase by the Roman poet Horace, which translates to “It is sweet and proper.” The full phrase, which appears at the end of Owen’s poem, is “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori” – meaning “It is sweet and proper to die for one’s country.” Owen uses this phrase ironically, contrasting it sharply with the brutal realities of war he describes.

Let’s dive deeper into the poem’s structure, themes, and literary devices to understand its lasting impact.

Poem Structure

Stanza Breakdown

“Dulce et Decorum Est” consists of four stanzas of varying lengths:

1. The first stanza has 8 lines
2. The second stanza has 6 lines
3. The third stanza has 2 lines
4. The final stanza has 12 lines

This irregular structure mirrors the chaotic and unpredictable nature of war itself. The varying lengths of the stanzas also help to create a sense of urgency and tension, particularly in the shorter middle stanzas where the action intensifies.

Rhyme Scheme

The poem follows an ABAB rhyme scheme, which means that the first and third lines of each stanza rhyme, as do the second and fourth lines. For example, in the first stanza:

“Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, (A) Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge, (B) Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs, (A) And towards our distant rest began to trudge.” (B)

This regular rhyme scheme provides a stark contrast to the brutal imagery and chaotic events described in the poem. It’s as if Owen is using the familiar structure of poetry to make the unfamiliar horrors of war more digestible to the reader.

Detailed Analysis

Stanza 1: Setting the Scene

The first stanza immediately plunges us into the miserable world of the trenches:

“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.”

Owen uses powerful similes to describe the soldiers. They’re “like old beggars under sacks” and “coughing like hags.” These comparisons strip away any notion of soldiers as young, strong heroes. Instead, they’re portrayed as weary, sickly, and prematurely aged by their experiences.

The imagery is vivid and visceral. We can almost feel the exhaustion as the men “trudge” through the “sludge.” The phrase “blood-shod” (meaning their feet were covered in blood) creates a particularly disturbing image, emphasizing the physical toll of the march.

The last two lines of this stanza introduce a new threat: gas shells. The soldiers are so exhausted they’re “deaf even to the hoots / Of gas-shells dropping softly behind.” This sets up the drama that will unfold in the next stanza.

Stanza 2: The Gas Attack

The second stanza describes the chaos of a gas attack:

“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.”

The repeated cry of “Gas! GAS!” creates a sense of urgency and panic. Owen describes the soldiers’ frantic attempts to put on their gas masks as “an ecstasy of fumbling.” The word “ecstasy” is used ironically here – instead of joy, it represents a frenzied, desperate state.

The simile “flound’ring like a man in fire or lime” vividly conveys the agony of the soldier who didn’t get his mask on in time. The green gas is then compared to a “green sea,” with the affected soldier “drowning” in it. This metaphor effectively conveys the suffocating nature of the gas.

Stanza 3: A Moment of Helplessness

The third stanza, though only two lines long, is pivotal:

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

Here, Owen shifts to the first person, making the experience more personal and immediate. The brevity of this stanza contrasts with the lingering nature of the memory – it’s a quick moment that will haunt the speaker forever. The repetition of “-ing” verbs (guttering, choking, drowning) creates a sense of ongoing action, as if the soldier’s death is perpetually occurring in the speaker’s mind.

Stanza 4: The Aftermath and the Bitter Truth

The final stanza brings us back to reality while also addressing the reader directly:

“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.”

Owen uses vivid, disturbing imagery to describe the dying soldier – “white eyes writhing in his face,” blood “gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs.” These graphic details force the reader to confront the brutal reality of war deaths.

The poem ends with a direct challenge to those who glorify war. Owen calls the idea that it’s sweet and proper to die for one’s country “The old Lie” (note the capital “L,” emphasizing its significance). He suggests that if the reader could experience what he has, they would not speak of war with “high zest” or encourage young people to seek “desperate glory” in battle.

Themes

The Horror of War

The primary theme of “Dulce et Decorum Est” is the sheer horror of war. Owen strips away any notions of glory or heroism, instead presenting war as a hellish experience that dehumanizes and destroys. The soldiers in the poem are reduced to pitiful figures – “bent double, like old beggars,” “coughing like hags.” The gas attack scene is particularly horrifying, with its graphic depiction of a soldier dying in agony.

The Disconnect Between War’s Reality and Its Portrayal

Owen highlights the stark contrast between the reality of war and how it’s often portrayed or discussed by those not experiencing it firsthand. The poem’s title, taken from Horace’s ode, represents the idealized view of war as a noble sacrifice for one’s country. Owen calls this idea “The old Lie,” suggesting that such notions are dangerously misleading. He implies that those who promote war have not seen its true face – if they had, they would not speak of it with “high zest.”

The Psychological Impact of War

While the poem vividly depicts the physical horrors of war, it also touches on its psychological toll. The speaker is haunted by the memory of the dying soldier, seeing him “in all my dreams.” This suggests the lasting trauma that war inflicts on survivors, a theme that was not widely understood or discussed at the time Owen was writing.

Youth and Innocence Destroyed

There’s a undercurrent of lost innocence running through the poem. The soldiers are described as “boys,” and the final stanza refers to “children ardent for some desperate glory.” This emphasizes how war preys on the young and naive, destroying their idealism and, often, their lives.

Literary Devices

Owen employs a range of literary devices to enhance the poem’s impact:

Simile

Owen uses numerous similes to create vivid imagery:

• “Bent double, like old beggars under sacks”
• “coughing like hags”
• “flound’ring like a man in fire or lime”
• “His hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin”

These comparisons help readers visualize the soldiers’ condition and the horror of the gas attack.

Metaphor

The gas is described metaphorically as a “green sea” in which the soldier is “drowning.” This effectively conveys the suffocating nature of the gas.

Alliteration

Owen uses alliteration to emphasize certain phrases:

• “knock-kneed”
• “watch the white eyes writhing”
• “froth-corrupted”

This technique adds to the poem’s rhythm and helps stress important images.

Assonance

Assonance, the repetition of vowel sounds, is used throughout the poem:

• “Bent double” (repetition of the short ‘e’ sound)
• “blood-shod” (repetition of the short ‘o’ sound)

This creates a haunting, echoing effect that enhances the poem’s somber tone.

Irony

The title “Dulce et Decorum Est” is deeply ironic. The phrase, which suggests that dying for one’s country is sweet and proper, is sharply contrasted with the gruesome realities depicted in the poem. Owen explicitly calls this idea a “Lie” at the end of the poem.

Personification

The gas shells are personified as “hooting,” giving them an almost animal-like quality that adds to the sense of menace.

Historical Context

Understanding the historical context of “Dulce et Decorum Est” is crucial to fully appreciating its impact. The poem was written during World War I, a conflict that saw the use of new and terrifying weapons like poison gas. The war also marked a shift in how combat was conducted, with trench warfare leading to prolonged periods of misery for soldiers.

When the war began in 1914, there was a wave of patriotic fervor in many countries. Young men eagerly enlisted, believing in the romanticized notions of war as a glorious adventure. However, the reality of trench warfare, with its mud, rats, disease, and constant threat of death, quickly dispelled these illusions.

Owen himself enlisted in 1915 and was sent to the front in 1917. He was diagnosed with shell shock (what we now call PTSD) and sent to Craiglockhart War Hospital in Edinburgh to recover. It was there that he met fellow poet Siegfried Sassoon, who encouraged Owen’s war poetry.

“Dulce et Decorum Est” was likely written in 1917 or early 1918. Tragically, Owen was killed in action on November 4, 1918, just a week before the Armistice was signed, ending the war. The poem was published posthumously in 1920.

Impact and Legacy

“Dulce et Decorum Est” is now considered one of the greatest war poems ever written. Its unflinching depiction of the horrors of war and its challenge to romanticized notions of combat have made it a staple in discussions of World War I literature and anti-war sentiment.

The poem’s impact comes not just from its graphic imagery, but from its personal nature. Owen writes from firsthand experience, and his use of direct address in the final stanza – “My friend, you would not tell with such high zest” – creates a powerful connection with the reader.

In the years following World War I, as society grappled with the immense losses and trauma of the conflict, poems like “Dulce et Decorum Est” helped to shift public perception of war. They contributed to a growing anti-war sentiment and a more cynical view of patriotic rhetoric.

Today, the poem continues to be widely taught and analyzed. Its themes remain relevant, serving as a stark reminder of the realities of war and a caution against glorifying combat. The phrase “dulce et decorum est pro patria mori” is now often used ironically, a testament to how thoroughly Owen’s poem has changed its interpretation.

Conclusion

“Dulce et Decorum Est” stands as a powerful testament to the horrors of war and a scathing indictment of those who would glorify it. Through vivid imagery, carefully chosen literary devices, and a structure that mirrors the chaos of battle, Owen creates a poem that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.

The poem’s enduring power lies in its ability to transport readers to the trenches of World War I, to make us see, hear, and almost feel the experiences Owen describes. It challenges us to confront the brutal realities of war and to question the rhetoric used to justify it.

As long as conflicts continue and young people are called to fight, “Dulce et Decorum Est” will remain a relevant and important work. It serves not only as a historical document of World War I but as a timeless reminder of the human cost of war.

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

FAQs

1. Q: What does “Dulce et Decorum Est” mean? A: “Dulce et Decorum Est” is a Latin phrase meaning “It is sweet and proper.” It’s part of a longer phrase, “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori,” which translates to “It is sweet and proper to die for one’s country.”
2. Q: When was “Dulce et Decorum Est” written? A: The poem was likely written in 1917 or early 1918, during World War I. It was published posthumously in 1920, after Owen’s death in the war.
3. Q: What type of gas is referred to in the poem? A: While Owen doesn’t specify the type of gas, it was likely chlorine or mustard gas, both of which were commonly used in World War I.
4. Q: Why is the poem considered anti-war? A: The poem is considered anti-war because it graphically depicts the horrors of combat and challenges the idea that dying for one’s country is glorious or sweet. Owen calls this notion “The old Lie” in the poem.
5. Q: What is the significance of the poem’s structure? A: The poem’s irregular structure, with stanzas of varying lengths, mirrors the chaos and unpredictability of war. The ABAB rhyme scheme, in contrast, provides a familiar structure that makes the disturbing content more accessible.
6. Q: How does Owen use sensory details in the poem? A: Owen engages multiple senses throughout the poem. We see the soldiers “bent double,” hear the “hoots of gas-shells,” and almost feel the “blood / Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs.” These vivid details make the experience more immediate and visceral for the reader.
7. Q: Who is the “you” addressed in the final stanza? A: The “you” in the final stanza could be interpreted as anyone who glorifies war without understanding its realities. Owen might be addressing politicians, war promoters, or even the general public who support the war from a safe distance.
8. Q: How did Owen’s personal experiences influence the poem? A: Owen drew directly from his experiences as a soldier in World War I to write “Dulce et Decorum Est.” He had witnessed gas attacks and the miseries of trench warfare firsthand, which lends authenticity and power to his descriptions.
9. Q: What is the significance of the Latin title contrasting with the rest of the poem in English? A: The contrast between the Latin title and the English poem emphasizes the disconnect between idealized notions of war (represented by the classical Latin phrase) and the brutal modern reality Owen describes.
10. Q: How has the perception of this poem changed over time? A: Initially, the poem was part of a new wave of war poetry that challenged romantic notions of combat. Over time, it has become one of the most famous anti-war poems in the English language, frequently taught in schools and cited in discussions about the realities of war.