War Poetry

This blog based on the thinking activity assigned by Prakruti ma'am.

Question : Choose one poem from the English literary cannon which deals with the theme of war and compare it with any one of the five war poems you have studied in this unit. [Discuss aspects like the style of the poems, language employed, treatment of the theme of war, etc.] How are they different? Are there any similarities?

Answer :

For this comparison, I’ll analyze Wilfred Owen’s "Dulce et Decorum Est", a famous war poem, alongside William Blake’s "The Chimney Sweeper" from Songs of Experience, which also addresses the theme of suffering, albeit in a different context (the industrial revolution and societal oppression, which can be related to the trauma of war). Both poems reflect the harsh realities faced by individuals, but through different lenses.

"Dulce et Decorum Est" by Wilfred Owen :

• Theme of War: Owen’s poem directly critiques the glorification of war and exposes its brutal reality. It focuses on the horrific, dehumanizing experience of soldiers in World War I.

• Style & Language: Owen uses vivid, graphic language to convey the horrors of war. His style is highly descriptive, with words like “blood-shod” and “guttering, choking, drowning” to evoke the traumatic physical experience of soldiers. The poem’s structure reflects the chaos of battle, with its irregular rhythm and abrupt, unsettling lines.

• Treatment of War: Owen critiques the old Latin maxim “Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori” (“It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country”). He exposes it as a lie, showing that war is anything but noble. The poem’s use of graphic imagery underscores the brutal, dehumanizing effects of war, and the final line, “The old Lie,” underscores the poem's condemnation of the glorification of war.

"The Chimney Sweeper" (from Songs of Experience) by William Blake :

• Theme of War: While Blake’s poem does not explicitly mention war, it deals with a form of suffering and societal oppression that could be compared to the trauma of war. The poem depicts a young chimney sweep who speaks of the hardships of his life and the false hope that religion provides.

• Style & Language: Blake’s language is simple and direct, with a focus on the emotional plight of the child. The tone is bleak and despairing, using the metaphor of a “coffin” to emphasize the premature death of the chimney sweep. The structure is straightforward, with a regular rhythm and rhyme scheme.

• Treatment of Suffering: The poem critiques the societal norms that allow the abuse of children in the industrial age, emphasizing the exploitation of innocence. Like Owen, Blake challenges established ideologies—in his case, the religious justification for child labor. The final lines hint at the idea of false comfort, much like Owen's critique of patriotic fervor.

Comparative Analysis :

Similarities:

• Critique of Ideology: Both poets critique ideologies that perpetuate suffering. Owen criticizes the glorification of war, while Blake critiques the religious and societal systems that exploit children.
• Exposing Harsh Realities: Both poems expose the harshness of life, whether it’s the brutal, inhumane realities of war or the exploitation of children in industry.
• Use of Imagery: Both poets use stark imagery to highlight suffering—Owen uses visceral images of soldiers’ suffering, while Blake uses the image of the child’s early death to emphasize exploitation.

Differences:

• Context and Focus: Owen’s poem focuses specifically on the war experience, while Blake’s poem deals with social injustice in the industrial era. The context of war in Owen’s work is far more explicit, while Blake addresses broader societal suffering.
• Tone: Owen’s tone is intense and emotional, filled with anger and disillusionment, as he condemns the lies told to soldiers and society. Blake’s tone, while bleak, is more resigned, using the imagery of a child’s death to evoke sympathy but not necessarily anger at the system.
• Structure and Style: Owen’s free verse and irregular structure mirror the chaos of battle, while Blake’s regular rhyme and meter suggest a more controlled, almost parable-like reflection on social issues.

Conclusion:

Both poems challenge established systems—whether the glorification of war in Owen’s case or the exploitation of children in Blake’s—and both use strong imagery to highlight suffering. However, their styles and approaches differ in terms of tone, structure, and the directness of their critique. While Owen’s poem is more emotionally charged and specific in its critique of war, Blake’s poem addresses the broader theme of social injustice through the exploitation of the vulnerable.

Question : "War poetry is not necessarily ‘anti-war’. It is, however, about the very large questions of life: identity, innocence, guilt, loyalty, courage, compassion, humanity, duty, desire, death." Discuss this statement in the context of any two of the war poems you have studied.

Answer : 

"The Soldier" by Rupert Brooke

• Themes of Loyalty, Innocence, and Sacrifice: "The Soldier" portrays the idealistic view of war, emphasizing loyalty, sacrifice, and a sense of duty. Brooke’s speaker presents dying for one’s country as a noble act, connected deeply with themes of innocence and patriotism. The poem’s themes revolve around a romanticized notion of loyalty to England, suggesting that a soldier's sacrifice is an extension of his love for his homeland.
• Duty and Desire for Immortality: Here, the speaker imagines death as a way of achieving immortality through a nationalistic ideal. Themes of duty and the desire to remain remembered form the crux of the poem, portraying the act of dying in war as a form of nobility and eternal connection with one’s country. The tone is idealized and filled with a sense of sacrifice for a greater cause, highlighting the honor and dignity associated with military service.

"Dulce et Decorum Est" by Wilfred Owen

• Themes of Identity, Guilt, and Death: In "Dulce et Decorum Est," the poem presents the harsh reality of war, emphasizing the loss of individual identity as soldiers become mere tools of a brutal system. The speaker grapples with guilt, witnessing the suffering and death of comrades. The vivid imagery of "blood-shod" and the final, graphic depiction of a gas attack reveal the brutal, unfeeling nature of war. Through these vivid scenes, the poem addresses themes of guilt and the painful awareness of one's humanity being suppressed amidst the chaos of battle.
• Courage and Compassion: The poem also highlights themes of courage and compassion, as soldiers must support one another through these extreme conditions. Owen's work presents a realistic look at what it means to face war, moving beyond romantic ideals to reveal the true emotional and physical toll of conflict. Ultimately, the poem serves to question the notion of heroism and patriotic sacrifice, exposing the contrast between the glorified view of war and its grim reality.

Conclusion:

Both poems engage deeply with the themes of war, but they do so in fundamentally different ways. While Brooke’s poem is steeped in romanticism and an idealistic view of sacrifice, Owen’s work presents a stark, realistic depiction of war’s true nature, emphasizing themes of guilt, suffering, and the disillusionment of patriotism. This contrast highlights that war poetry often serves to explore profound questions about human nature and experience rather than merely presenting a critique or an endorsement of war itself.

Question : Compare Ivor Gurney's The Target with Wilfred Owen's Dulce et Decorum Est. What are some notable similarities and differences between these two war poets and their poetry?

Answer :

 "The Target" by Ivor Gurney 

Themes of War, Death, and Guilt: Gurney’s poem presents the soldier as a target, emphasizing the dehumanizing and impersonal nature of war. The title itself suggests that soldiers are reduced to mere objects to be shot at. The poem’s speaker reflects on the soldier’s experience in the trenches and the guilt of surviving when others perish.

Comparative Analysis: Similarities and Differences

Similarities:

1. Anti-War Sentiment: Both poems share a strong anti-war stance, highlighting the horrific realities of combat. Gurney’s poem underscores the impersonal nature of death in war, where soldiers are seen as mere targets, while Owen’s poem critiques the glorification of war, exposing the brutality and futility of the battlefield.

2. Depiction of Death and Suffering: Both poems focus on the death and suffering experienced by soldiers in war. Gurney presents the soldier as a target, vulnerable to the randomness of death, while Owen graphically portrays the gas attack and the horrifying death of a soldier. Both poets reject the romanticized view of war and emphasize the physical and psychological torment of soldiers.

3. Themes of Guilt and Survival: In "The Target," Gurney's speaker contemplates the guilt of surviving while others perish, reflecting on the randomness of survival in war. Owen, though less focused on personal guilt, also challenges the glorification of survival, emphasizing the unfairness and brutality of war and the psychological scars that remain after surviving such an experience.

Differences:

1. Tone and Emotional Approach:

   • Gurney adopts a more reflective and detached tone. While there is sadness in his contemplation of death and survival, the poem does not provide the same immediate shock as Owen’s. Gurney's emotional distance allows for introspection about the soldier’s place in war, whereas Owen’s direct, vivid imagery creates a sense of horror and urgency. Owen’s sarcasm and bitterness are sharply felt, especially in the final lines, which are a direct attack on the myth of noble death in battle.
   • Owen employs a more immediate, visceral tone, using harsh and graphic imagery to make the horror of war undeniable. His anger at the glorification of war is evident, particularly through the ironic reference to the "old Lie."

2. Focus on the Soldier’s Experience:

   • Gurney’s "The Target" focuses more on the psychological aspect of war and survival. The speaker reflects on the idea of being a target and the internal conflict of survival, making the poem more introspective.
   • Owen’s "Dulce et Decorum Est" is focused more on the physical suffering of soldiers and the contrast between the idealized image of war and the brutal truth. The poem emphasizes the horror of battle and the grotesque reality of soldiers’ deaths, offering a graphic, almost cinematic view of the soldier's last moments.

3. Imagery and Symbolism:

   • Gurney uses a broader, more abstract symbol of the soldier as a "target," symbolizing the anonymity and futility of individual soldiers in the larger war machine. The poem is less detailed in its depiction of violence than Owen’s.
   • Owen, on the other hand, is famous for his graphic and visceral imagery. In "Dulce et Decorum Est," the imagery of "froth-corrupted lungs" and "under a green sea" is detailed and unrelenting, leaving little to the imagination. Owen’s imagery underscores the grotesque and traumatic nature of war, making the horror inescapable.

Conclusion

Both Ivor Gurney’s "The Target" and Wilfred Owen’s "Dulce et Decorum Est" challenge the glorification of war and provide stark portrayals of the death and suffering that soldiers endure. Gurney’s poem, with its more introspective tone, focuses on the soldier’s existential reflections on being a target in war, while Owen’s poem provides a more immediate, graphic depiction of the horrors of battle. Though their approaches differ, both poets use powerful language and imagery to communicate the futility of war and the disillusionment of soldiers, rejecting the idealization of sacrifice for one’s country.