Dulce et decorum est

'Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, // Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge.' (lines 1 - 2) What impression does the reader get of the soldiers in these lines? Quote an example to support your answer.

"hags" - the soldiers are mature before their time. "cursed through sludge" - fed up with their situation.

Read the following phrases again: "haunting flares" and "smothering dreams" a. Which literary devices are used here? b. Discuss the effect of each separately. c. Discuss how they are used to emphasise the other.

"haunting flares" - Personification - Just as a ghost 'haunts' a haunted house, the flares haunted the soldiers - The flares were always there, wherever they went (couldn't escape them) "smothering dreams" - Oxymoron (opposite connotation) - Connotation of smothering: negative - Connotation of dream: positive c. Highlights the soldiers trauma.

'Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs // And towards our distant rest began to trudge. // Men marched asleep.' (lines 3 - 5) a. Identify the literary devices used in the above lines. b. Discuss the effect of these devices.

"haunting flares" - Personification - Soldiers have trauma & PTSD (they know they can't get away from the flares and that it's related to death) "distant rest" - Euphemism (death) - Walking (can't stop & have to keep moving forward) towards their inevitable death

'Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, // Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge.' (lines 1 - 2) Identify the simile in line 1.

"like old beggars under sacks"

What is the function of the punctuation marks in "Gas! Gas! Quick Boys!" (line 9)

- Sense of urgency to put on their gas masks - Slows down the pace and forces the reader to focus on those words

What is the structure of the poem?

4 Stanzas 1 Octave 3 sestets 1 couplet

What is the rhyme scheme?

Alternating rhyme

'Many had lost their boots // But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind.' (lines 6 - 7) a. Identify the figure of speech found in 'blood-shod'. b. Why has the poet used this comparison?

Assonance and metaphor Blood-shod means covered in blood The blood of all the people they killed are on their hands (literally & figuratively)

'Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, // Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge.' (lines 1 - 2) Why does the poet use this comparison?

Beggars are dirty, homeless, have no posessions and are unkempt. Just as the soldiers are.

Discuss the theme of innocence and experience as referred to in this poem.

Innocent tongues of soldiers. Inexperienced and gullible about what war is like. Believe what government tells them. When they go to war they become experienced and learn what war and the real world is really like. Go in as children, come out as men. Mature before their time.

Why did Owen only use part of the slogan in his title?

It emphasises the irony of the poem.

'Many had lost their boots // But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind.' (lines 6 - 7) The poet says, 'all blind'. Is this meant literally or figuratively? Explain your answer.

Metaphor - Blind to the purpose of war - Don't know why they're there anymore - Literally blind - can't see because of the flares

'Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots // Of outstripped Five-Nines that dropped behind.' (lines 7 - 8) a. Identify the figure of speech in 'drunk with fatigue'. b. Why has the poet made this comparison?

Metaphor - To show that the soldiers are so tired, they're walking like drunk people - They're mentally not there/unaware & can't think clearly

'Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots // Of outstripped Five-Nines that dropped behind.' (lines 7 - 8) c. Identify the figure of speech in 'the hoots.' d. What causes the 'hoots"?

Onomatopoeia - Gas bombs dropping

Discuss the use of tenses in this poem?

S. 1 & 2: Past tense - Creates setting and tells us about gas attack S. 3 & 4: Present tense - Is the effects of war & the speaker's PTSD

Explain his reference to "The old lie" line 27).

The line has been previously used. Generation after generation have told their children war is honorable "Lie" with capital letter - Draws your attention to it - Proper noun = the speaker names the saying 'Lie'

'Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, // Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge.' (lines 1 - 2) What is being compared?

The soldiers' posture is being compared to that of a beggar carrying a bag.

Explain the meaning of the title and why this title is ironic.

The title means "It is sweet and fitting" and is ironic because their situation (war) is actually not 'sweet and 'fitting'.

'Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, // Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge.' (lines 1 - 2) What is 'sludge'?

Wet mud/similar to mud