War Poetry

This blog is a part of the study activity provided by Prakruti Ma'am.

Q:1 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?

Ans:

Comparative Analysis: "The Charge of the Light Brigade" by Alfred Lord Tennyson vs. "Dulce et Decorum Est" by Wilfred Owen.

War poetry captures the experiences, emotions, and reflections of those who witness or endure the realities of war. While some poems glorify war, emphasizing themes of honor and patriotism, others expose its brutalities and futility. Alfred Lord Tennyson’s 'The Charge of the Light Brigade' and Wilfred Owen’s 'Dulce et Decorum Est' exemplify these contrasting perspectives. Tennyson celebrates the courage and sacrifice of soldiers during a doomed mission, reflecting Victorian ideals of heroism, while Owen critiques the romanticized notion of war, portraying its harrowing realities from a soldier’s perspective during World War I. Comparing these poems highlights the evolution of attitudes toward war in literature.

Comparative Summary:

Both poems address the theme of war but reflect different historical contexts and public attitudes:

Tennyson’s Poem (1854): 

Written shortly after the Battle of Balaclava, it mirrors Victorian society’s emphasis on patriotic heroism and unquestioning obedience. The public, inspired by stories of valor, was moved by Tennyson’s celebration of duty and sacrifice.

Owen’s Poem (1920): 

Published after World War I, it reflects the disillusionment of a generation that experienced the unprecedented horrors of trench warfare. Owen’s work challenges earlier romanticized portrayals of war, aligning with a public increasingly critical of the costs and motives of conflict.

Together, these works highlight how public narratives and perceptions of war evolved between the mid-19th and early 20th centuries.

 Style of the Poems  

Tennyson’s Style:

  Written in dactylic dimeter, 'The Charge of the Light Brigade' has a rhythmic, galloping cadence that mirrors the movement of cavalry. Its structured stanzas and refrain (“Rode the six hundred”) create a sense of unity and momentum, emphasizing the collective heroism of the soldiers.  

Owen’s Style:

'Dulce et Decorum Est' employs irregular stanza lengths and enjambment to reflect the chaos and unpredictability of war. The fragmented structure mirrors the disorientation and trauma experienced by soldiers, creating an unpolished yet intensely realistic effect.  

Language Employed  

Tennyson:

  Tennyson uses elevated, formal diction to create a heroic tone. Phrases like “valley of Death” and “noble six hundred” invoke epic imagery, portraying the soldiers as martyrs of duty. The language is deliberately abstract, focusing on collective valor rather than individual suffering.  

Owen: 

  Owen employs visceral, graphic imagery to depict the physical and emotional toll of war. Descriptions such as “bent double, like old beggars” and “froth-corrupted lungs” are stark and unsettling. His language is direct and confrontational, aiming to shock the reader into recognizing the grim realities of warfare.  

 Treatment of the Theme of War  

Tennyson:

  The poem celebrates war as a noble endeavor, emphasizing duty and sacrifice over the personal cost of conflict. Tennyson does not question the rationale behind the disastrous charge but instead immortalizes the soldiers’ unquestioning obedience. The theme of honor overshadows the futility of the mission.  

Owen: 

  In contrast, Owen critiques the romanticized notion of war. His poem highlights the dehumanizing effects of battle and condemns the propaganda that glorifies dying for one’s country. The final lines"The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est / Pro patria mori"*reject the traditional glorification of war, presenting it as a betrayal of the young soldiers.  

Historical Context:

Tennyson: Reflects the Victorian era’s emphasis on patriotism and heroism. The poem aligns with public sentiment, idealizing the role of the soldier.

Owen: Reflects the disillusionment of the post-WWI era, contrasting sharply with earlier, romanticized depictions of war. Owen critiques propaganda that misled young men into enlisting.

 Similarities: 

- Both poems acknowledge the courage of soldiers:  

  - Tennyson praises their bravery in charging into certain death.  

  - Owen, while critical of war, does not diminish the endurance and suffering of the soldiers.  

- Both poems use vivid imagery to engage the reader:  

  - Tennyson’s imagery focuses on grandeur and heroism.  

  - Owen’s imagery highlights suffering and grotesque realities.  

 Differences:

Perspective:

Tennyson glorifies war from an observer’s viewpoint, while Owen critiques it from a soldier’s firsthand experience.

Tone:

Tennyson is patriotic; Owen is bitter and anti-war.

Language:

Tennyson uses formal, heroic diction; Owen uses raw, shocking language

 Conclusion:

Tennyson’s 'The Charge of the Light Brigade' and Owen’s 'Dulce et Decorum Est' offer two contrasting perspectives on war. While Tennyson immortalizes the nobility of soldiers' sacrifice, Owen dismantles the glorified image of war, exposing its grim realities. These differences reflect the evolving attitudes towards war in different historical contexts—Victorian heroism versus post-World War I disillusionment. Both poems, however, succeed in leaving an indelible impression on readers, underscoring the complex and multifaceted nature of war.

Q:2)"War poetry is not necessarily ‘anti-war’. It is, however, about the very large questions of life: identity, innocence, guilt, loyalty, courage, compassion, humanity, duty, desire, death." Discuss this statement in the context of any two of the war poems you have studied.

The statement highlights that war poetry is not always purely anti-war but often delves into the profound and complex themes that emerge from the human experience in the context of war. Through the exploration of identity, guilt, duty, and other emotions, war poetry can offer a multifaceted perspective on conflict, where the focus is as much on human nature and societal values as it is on the war itself. Let’s consider two well-known war poems to discuss this statement further: Wilfred Owen’s "Dulce et Decorum Est" and Rupert Brooke’s "The Soldier".

1. Wilfred Owen's "Dulce et Decorum Est":

Owen’s poem is one of the most famous works of World War I poetry and directly challenges the glorification of war. Its central theme is the contrast between the romanticized idea of war and the brutal reality of it. Through vivid and harrowing imagery, Owen portrays soldiers as physically and mentally broken by the horrors of the battlefield. The famous closing lines, "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", directly criticize the phrase "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori" ("It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country"), a sentiment commonly invoked to encourage young men to enlist. 

Rather than being simply anti-war, the poem explores themes such as identity (how war strips soldiers of their humanity), guilt (the sense of helplessness and failure in the face of death), loyalty (the sense of duty towards comrades), and death (the horrifying reality of a soldier’s death). The poem presents these themes in such stark and vivid terms that it forces the reader to reconsider the often-glorified image of war.

 2. Rupert Brooke's "The Soldier"

In contrast, Rupert Brooke’s "The Soldier" presents a more idealized and patriotic view of war. Written early in World War I, the poem reflects the prevailing attitudes of British society at the time, wherein soldiers were seen as noble and self-sacrificing. Brooke’s speaker imagines the body of a fallen soldier being buried in a foreign land, where it becomes part of the earth, and thereby perpetuates England’s legacy. Lines like, "If I should die, think only this of me: / That there's some corner of a foreign field / That is forever England." speak to the themes of duty and loyalty, as the soldier believes his sacrifice serves a greater, patriotic cause.

While "The Soldier" can be viewed as a celebration of military sacrifice, it still touches on the theme of identity, albeit in a more romanticized manner. The speaker finds meaning in his death by associating it with national identity and an enduring legacy. Yet, the idealization of war in this poem contrasts sharply with the raw, realistic depictions of war in Owen's "Dulce et Decorum Est", showing the tension between different ways war is perceived.

 Conclusion:

Both poems offer distinct perspectives on war but resonate with the themes of identity, death, duty, and loyalty. Owen’s "Dulce et Decorum Est" critiques the glorification of war, showing how soldiers lose their sense of identity and are subjected to death and guilt, while Brooke’s "The Soldier" presents war as a noble sacrifice that strengthens one's connection to their homeland. Both poets engage with the larger questions of humanity that war inevitably forces individuals to confront—making war poetry not just a commentary on war itself, but on life, death, and the human condition in times of extreme stress.

Q:3)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?

Ivor Gurney's 'The Target' and Wilfred Owen's 'Dulce et Decorum Est' are both poignant depictions of the horrors of war, but they approach the subject matter from different perspectives and use distinct techniques. Here's a comparison of the two works:

Similarities:

1. 'Anti-War Sentiment': 

Both poems reject the glorification of war and emphasize its brutal, dehumanizing nature. Owen's 'Dulce et Decorum Est' exposes the devastating impact of war on soldiers, undermining the patriotic notion that it is "sweet and fitting" to die for one's country. Gurney's 'The Target' similarly critiques the idea of heroism and valor in war, showing the psychological and physical trauma experienced by soldiers.

   

2. 'Vivid Imagery and Realism': 

Both poets use graphic imagery to convey the horrors of war. Owen's poem describes a gas attack, with haunting images of a soldier choking to death. Gurney, in 'The Target', portrays the sense of being hunted by the enemy, using vivid descriptions of the battlefield that evoke the terror soldiers feel when they are in constant danger.

3. Focus on the Soldier's Experience: 

Both poets focus on the individual soldier's experience rather than grand political or national concerns. The poems convey the personal trauma, suffering, and disillusionment soldiers face during war.

 Differences:

1. Tone and Perspective: 

Owen’s 'Dulce et Decorum Est' is a direct critique of the romanticized idea of war. His tone is one of anger and disillusionment, aimed at exposing the lie of wartime heroism. In contrast, Gurney’s 'The Target' adopts a more detached, almost fatalistic tone, focusing on the personal feeling of being hunted and targeted during combat.

2. Use of Language and Structure: 

Owen employs a more structured and formal approach to his poem, using a regular rhythm and rhyme scheme that emphasizes the solemnity of the subject. His use of the Latin phrase "Dulce et Decorum Est" at the end serves to underline the bitter irony of the poem. Gurney, by contrast, often employs a more fragmented and less predictable structure, which might reflect the chaotic and disorienting nature of war itself.

3. Emotional and Psychological Focus:

 While Owen’s poem is rooted in a visceral, physical reality, particularly with its horrifying depiction of a gas attack, Gurney’s 'The Target' is more concerned with the emotional and psychological impact of war. Gurney explores the mental anguish of being in a position where one is constantly at risk, showing a more introspective side to the soldier's experience.

Conclusion:

Both Gurney and Owen present war as a traumatic, dehumanizing experience, but their focus differs: Owen critiques the glorification of war with a direct, physical portrayal of its horrors, while Gurney delves more into the psychological toll of being a soldier, with an emphasis on the feeling of being a target. Both poets challenge the traditional narratives of heroism in war, though with varying tones and techniques.