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"Dulce Et Decorum Est" and "The Soldier": a Comparison of The Poems

  • Categories: Dulce Et Decorum Est Literary Criticism Poetry

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Published: Aug 6, 2021

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  • Norgate, P. (1989). Wilfred Owen and the soldier poets. The Review of English Studies, 40(160), 516-530. (https://www.jstor.org/stable/517098)
  • Hughes, J. (2006). Owen's Dulce et Decorum Est. The Explicator, 64(3), 164-166. (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3200/EXPL.64.3.164-166?journalCode=vexp20)
  • Zawierucki, R. (2015). Heroes or cannon fodder? Images of the soldier in British Great War poetry. (https://ruj.uj.edu.pl/xmlui/handle/item/205805)
  • Corcoran, N. (2007). Wilfred Owen and the poetry of war. the cambridge companion to twentieth-century english poetry, 87-101. (https://www.academia.edu/43528900/The_Cambridge_Companion_to_Twentieth_Century_English_Poetry)
  • Wright, W. (2002). Hardy and Owen on World War I : Explications and a Comparative Analysis of" The Man He Killed" and" Dulce et Decorum Est". The Oswald Review: An International Journal of Undergraduate Research and Criticism in the Discipline of English, 4(1), 9. (https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1040&context=tor)

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dulce et decorum est and the soldier comparison essay

Compare and Contrast Essay: The Soldier vs. Dulce et Decorum est

📌Category:
📌Words: 605
📌Pages: 3
📌Published: 11 April 2022

Poets who write about war, especially in the 21st century have a responsibility to portray the horrors of war. They are supposed to warn us about the effects of war and remind us of the death and suffering that can occur. The propaganda of ww1 started a change of position between poets, some wanted to represent heroic qualities of soldiers, while others focused on the realities of war.  This can not be portrayed better than the 2 poems of The soldier by Rupert Brooke and Dulce et Decorum Est By Wilfred Owen.

The 2 poems I have chosen to have very different views of war. Owens poem, Dulce et Decorum Est highlights the negative effects of war, while Rupert's poem, the soldier highlights the positive effects of war. The purpose of Owens poem was to warn us of the horrors of war and show us that dying in war is not honourable.  While reading this poem you quickly realise that to die war is not honourable as shown in propaganda. The poem forces you to empathize with the soldiers as it describes the horrors of trench warfare. Owen makes us picture the idea of trench warfare as if we experienced it for ourselves. He takes the idea of a soldier; masculine, strong and manly, and challenging it to make them look weak and withered. Within the poem, Owen uses a variety of different language and poetic techniques to make his message clearer, this can be seen in the quote “Bent double, like old beggars under sacks ... Of gas-shells dropping softly behind.” In this quote, a variety of poetic techniques are utilized to make the text powerful. Some of these techniques include rhyming, similes, metaphors, and alliteration. These techniques make the reader feel insecure, as they realize the horror of war and start to understand Owens message. Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen's only focus is on the negatives of war. He uses a variety of techniques to emphasize his point, while trying to make the readers empathize with the soldiers and relate to their experiences.

The second poem we have to discuss is The soldier by Rupert Brooke. This poem explores the lighter side of war, its purpose is to promote war and portray death as an honourable sacrifice to England, the motherland. Rupert Brooke wrote The Soldier during the start of World War 1 and was inspired by propaganda. He had not experienced the war yet unlike Dulce et Decorum Est. This fact alone affects how each of the poets wrote their poems.  Rupert uses a sonnet tone to make his writing have a pleasant effect and make you support the war effort. Brooke used a variety of poetic and language techniques to make England sound like a peaceful and beautiful place. This can be seen in this quote “If I should die, think only this of me … Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.”  this quote is important as it reminds the readers that England made them. The quote implies that you are only alive because of England, you owe everything to the country and should thus be happy to die for it. Some techniques used in the quote are; alliteration, tricolon and repetition. These techniques help keep a positive image of England in the readers head and make them consider helping England in the war. Furthermore, this poem is an unrealistic poem that only emphasizes the positives of war. It focuses on the fact that you would not be alive without England and dying in war is the only honourable thing to do. 

In summary, this essay has explored two poems that convey the different attitudes of war. The 2 poems I have explored were Dulce et Decorum Est and The soldier. These poems both represent how poetry can serve as a warning and how it can shape the world today.

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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 and the soldier comparison essay

"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.

  • Read the full text of “Dulce et Decorum Est”
LitCharts

dulce et decorum est and the soldier comparison essay

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.

Theme The Horror and Trauma of War

The Horror and Trauma of War

  • See where this theme is active in the poem.

Theme The Enduring Myth that War is Glorious

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.

dulce et decorum est and the soldier comparison essay

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

Symbol The Dying Soldier

The Dying Soldier

  • See where this symbol appears in the poem.

“Dulce et Decorum Est” Poetic Devices & Figurative Language

  • See where this poetic device appears in the poem.

“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' and 'The Soldier' Comparison

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Exploring the Poetic Representation of War in 'Dulce et Decorum est' and 'The Soldier'

Wilfred owen's 'dulce et decorum est'.

Prof. Finch

Rupert Brooke's 'The Soldier'

Comparative analysis.

  • Poetry Foundation - 'Dulce et Decorum est' by Wilfred Owen
  • Poetry By Heart - 'Dulce et Decorum est' Analysis
  • Interesting Literature - Analysis of 'The Soldier' by Rupert Brooke
  • War Poetry - Analysis of Wilfred Owen's Poetry
  • The Poetry Society - 'The Soldier' Analysis

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Dulce Et Decorum Est' and 'The Soldier' Comparison essay

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Dulce et Decorum Est

By Wilfred Owen

‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ by Wilfred Owen is a poignant anti-war poem that exposes the harsh reality of World War I.

Wilfred Owen

Nationality: English

He has been immortalized in several books and movies.

Key Poem Information

Unlock more with Poetry +

Central Message: The war, in truth, is always gruesome and horrifying and should not be celebrated

Themes: Death , War

Speaker: A Soldier

Emotions Evoked: Anger , Pain , Sadness , Terror

Poetic Form: Sonnet

Time Period: 20th Century

'Dulce et Decorum Est' by Wilfred Owen, challenging romantic notions of war, is a robust anti-war poem that makes the reader face the petrifying harrowing truths of war with graphic imagery and blood-curdling nuances.

Elise Dalli

Poem Analyzed by Elise Dalli

B.A. Honors Degree in English and Communications

The year was 1917, just before the Third Battle of Ypres. Germany, in their bid to crush the British army, introduced yet another vicious and potentially lethal weapon of attack: mustard gas, differentiated from the other shells by their distinctive yellow markings. Although not the effective killing machine of chlorine gas (first used in 1915) and phosgene (invented by French chemists), mustard gas has stayed within the public consciousness as the most horrific weapon of the First World War. Once deployed, mustard gas lingers for several days, and anyone who comes in contact with mustard gas develops blisters and acute vomiting. It caused internal and external bleeding, and the lethally injured took as long as five weeks to die.

Shell shock, which can be defined as a type of post-traumatic stress disorder, was a term invented during the First World War as the soldiers suffered an immense impact on their psyche, witnessing the atrocities of war and the deaths of thousands.   Wilfred Owen served in the British Army during the First World War and initially believed in the glorified ideals of the war; however, as he witnessed the calamities of the war, he realized the bitter truth, going into a psychological shock.     He suffered injuries after he was caught in a blast and was unconscious for several days. Afterwards, he was admitted into Craiglockhart War Hospital in Edinburgh for treatment of shell shock. He wrote this poem bearing the physical and emotional trauma of soldiers while staying at the Craiglockhart War Hospital in October 1917.

Explore Dulce et Decorum Est

  • 2 Analysis, Stanza by Stanza
  • 3 Historical Background

Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen

There was no draft in the First World War for British soldiers; it was an entirely voluntary occupation, but the British needed soldiers to fight in the war. Therefore, through a well-tuned propaganda machine of posters and poems, the British war supporters pushed young and easily influenced youths into signing up to fight for the glory of England.

Several poets, among them Rupert Brook, who wrote the poem ‘ The Soldier ‘  (there is a corner of a foreign field/ that is forever England), used to write poetry to encourage the youth to sign up for the army, often without having any experience themselves! It was a practice that Wilfred Owen personally despised, and in ‘Dulce et Decorum Est ,’ he calls out these false poets and journalists who glorify war.

The poem takes place during a slow trudge to an unknown place, which is interrupted by a gas attack. The soldiers hurry to put on their masks; only one of their numbers is too slow and gets consumed by the gas. The final stanza interlocks a personal address to war journalist Jessie Pope with horrifying imagery of what happened to those who ingested an excessive amount of mustard gas.

The Poem Analysis Take

Jyoti Chopra

Expert Insights by Jyoti Chopra

B.A. (Honors) and M.A. in English Literature

Painting a nuanced picture of the horrors of the Great War or the nightmarish calamity and dehumanization of soldiers, the poem critiques the glorification of war and hero-worship of soldiers, testing the misleading notions of patriotism that are relevant even today. The poem unflinchingly calls the false idealization 'it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country' a lie stressing the truth that war is always gruesome and soldiers are the worst sufferers of the calamity. It looks critically at the society and larger politics that push young soldiers into dehumanizing cruel deaths under the guise of hero-worship.  

Analysis, Stanza by Stanza

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 tired, outstripped Five-Nines that dropped behind.

British soldiers would trudge from trench to trench, seeping further into France in pursuit of German soldiers. It was often a miserable, wet walk, and it is on one of these voyages that the poem opens. Immediately, it minimizes the war to a few paltry, exhausted soldiers, although it rages in the background (’till on the haunting flares we turned our backs / and towards our distant rest began to trudge’). Owen uses heavy words to describe their movement – words like ‘trudge’, and ‘limped’; the first stanza of the poem is a demonstration of pure exhaustion and mind-numbing misery.

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 second stanza changes the pace rapidly. It opens with an exclamation – ‘Gas! Gas! Quick, boys!’ – and suddenly, the soldiers are in ‘an ecstasy of fumbling’, groping for their helmets to prevent the gas from taking them over. Again, Owen uses language economically here: he uses words that express speed, hurry, and almost frantic demand for their helmets. However, one soldier does not manage to fit his helmet on in time. Owen sees him ‘flound’ring like a man in fire or lime’ through the thick-glassed pane of his gas mask.

Stanza Three

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

For a brief two lines, Owen pulls back from the events happening throughout the poems to revisit his own psyche. He writes, ‘In all my dreams,/ before my helpless sight’, showing how these images live on with the soldiers, how these men are tortured by the events of war even after they have been removed from war. There is no evading or escaping war.

Stanza Four

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 .

In the last paragraph, Owen condenses the poem to an almost claustrophobic pace: ‘if in some smothering dreams, you too could pace’, and he goes into a very graphic, horrific description of the suffering that victims of mustard gas endured: ‘froth-corrupted lungs,” incurable sores,’ ‘the white eyes writhing in his face’. Although the pace of the poem has slowed to a crawl, there is much happening in the description of the torment of the mustard gas victim, allowing for a contrast between the stillness of the background and the animation of the mustard gas victim. This contrast highlights the description, making it far more grotesque .

Owen finishes the poem with a personal address to Jessie Pope: ‘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.’ Jessie Pope was a journalist who published, among others, books such as Jessie Pope’s War Poems and Simple Rhymes for Stirring Times. The Latin phrase is from Horace and means, ‘it is sweet and right to die for your country’.

The earliest dated record of this poem is 8. October 1917. It was written in the ballad form of poetry – a very flowing, romantic poetical style , and by using it outside of convention, Owen accentuates the disturbing cadence of the narrative. It is a visceral poem, relying very strongly on the senses, and while it starts out embedded in the horror and in the narrative, by the final stanza, it has pulled back to give a fuller view of the events, thus fully showing the horror of the mustard gas attack.

Historical Background

While at Craiglockhart, Owen became the editor of the hospital magazine The Hydra. Through it, he met the poet Siegfried Sassoon (read Sassoon’s poetry here ), who later became his editor and one of the most important impacts on his life and work. Owen wrote a number of his poems in Craiglockhart with Sassoon’s advice.

After his death in 1918, aged 25, Sassoon would compile Owen’s poems and publish them in a compilation in 1920.

Poetry + Review Corner

20th century, world war one (wwi).

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"Peter Drake" teacher Hexham

It was a volunteer army until 1916, when conscription was introduced.

Lee-James Bovey

Interesting. I had no idea conscription was so recent. Great subject knowledge. Thank you.

Electrocutioner

Pretty gruesome but it was telling the truth.

Oh definitely – cold reality was the hallmark of his later poetry.

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Dalli, Elise. "Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen". Poem Analysis , https://poemanalysis.com/wilfred-owen/dulce-et-decorum-est/ . Accessed 21 June 2024.

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Dulce Et Decorum Est and The Soldier: A comparison

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It is quite possible that never have two poems offered such contrasting opinions on one subject as Dulce et Decorum Est and The Soldier.  And the subject, war, is their only connection.  Whether or not it is right to die for your country, both poets are vehement in their convictions.  It is through the various facets of poetry writing that the authors show their opinions.  This is what I shall explore in this essay: which poem more effectively lays down its author’s stance on war.

In both poems, use of language is paramount to their effectiveness.  However, Dulce Et Decorum Est uses a particularly stylised form of tactile language.  Where The Soldier is more reflective, Dulce Et Decorum Est is as graphic as it is bitter.  Its vivid images stun the reader with one intense depiction after another: “He plunges at me, guttering, choking”.

This vivid imagery is reinforced by the poet’s almost excessive use of onomatopoeia.  This onomatopoeia is in keeping with the dark, bitter tone of the entire poem.  Words such as “writhing”, “sludge” and “trudge” all convey this sense of resentfulness from the poet.

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The negative comparisons used in the poem correspond with the tone.  Lines such as “knock-kneed, coughing like hags”, evoke this bitter tone.  Another difference in Dulce Et Decorum Est is that it is a lot more emotive because of the realism and physicality: “If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood come gargling from froth corrupted lungs”.

It compels the reader to see through the eyes of the author, and although this cannot compare to the true horrors of war, it certainly does make the reader contemplate just how terrifying and devastating war is.

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Rupert Brooke takes a totally different poetic slant on the war.  Perhaps most important is the fact that the only reference to the war is in the first line: “If I should die, think only this of me”.  The dirty, unsightly war is left alone thereafter.  Much greater emphasis is placed on what could be called the ‘Theory of War’, i.e. patriotism.  Whereas the language in Dulce Et Decorum Est adds to the negative tone, it emphasises the positive in The Soldier.  Firstly, the entire description of England is a peaceful one, one of beauty.  Words such as “flowers”, “richer dust”, and finally “English Heaven”, all suggest England to be like some Earthly Elysium.  Virtually all of the language in The Soldier is metaphorical and reflective.  The most important metaphor is that of England as a mother.  “England bore, shaped, made aware”, is almost a direct attempt to make the reader feel contrite for even contemplating Owen’s poem, let alone agreeing with it.  Brooke’s views on war are at the least romantic, if not bordering on the naïve: “That there is some corner of a foreign field, that is forever England”.  More oft than not, a single soldier’s death in war makes no difference, and ‘some corner of a foreign field’ is unlikely to be ‘forever England’.  That is to say that if a soldier dies on a foreign battlefield and they lose the battle, the patch of grass he dies on is still owned by the country he was in, and therefore he died in vain.  Furthermore, the knowledge that I am standing in a field where thousands of men died, does not make me feel patriotic, rather the fact that people fought there makes me feel proud to be English.  A final language point is Brooke’s use of ‘classical’ literary diction.  Many would consider this language old-fashioned, even for the time:  “And laughter, learnt of friends.”

The form of The Soldier contributes considerably to the tone of it.  Whereas Dulce Et Decorum Est is stilted and broken, with uneven stanzas (reflecting the process of war itself), The Soldier uses the ‘classic’ sonnet from.  This is usually associated with love poems, and probably represents Brooke’s love for his country, which he considers a mother.  Brooke also makes good use of a flowing, lyrical style, with normal rhyming couplets, and a set syllabic pattern.

I think that the poets make the themes in both poems quite clear.  Wilfred Owen obviously thinks that your country is not worth dying for, and that death in war is an undignified and dark experience.  Brooke, on the other hand, believes that you owe your country everything, and that includes the life that ironically, he says your country gave to you.  Indeed, he believes that dying for your country is some kind of recompense: “Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given.”

Brooke’s The Soldier is poetically and lyrically faultless, his language in the classic style, and in the typified sonnet form.  It would seem like the poetic picture of perfection.  Yet perhaps these are reasons for its ineffectuality.  The rhythmic lyricism becomes almost monotonous, the classic style is outdated even for the time of writing, and some would consider the sonnet form, whilst an apt representation of the poet's love for his country, totally inappropriate for a subject as serious as war.  In stark contrast, Dulce Et Decorum Est throws off all poetic constraints, and is a poem which is totally emotive, conjuring up vivid, morbid, bitter images in the mind of the reader. Although I cannot totally commit to the ideals of Dulce Et Decorum Est, I do agree that there is no glory in death on the battlefield, and that it is an undignified act, devoid of honour.  The final, most poignant irony is that despite Brooke’s desperation for an ‘honourable’ death in combat, he died of blood poisoning from an insect bite, never getting to see the war through Owen’s eyes.

Joel Cottrell

December 2000  

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sydneyhopcroft

Quality of writing.

The Quality of Written Communication is flawless. The candidate has clearly taken a lot of time to ensure their written expression is of optimum clarity. No errors in the candidate's use of grammar, spelling or punctuation are present, and they utilise a number of poetry-specific lexis in order to analyse the poem. All this gives the examiner the suggestion that the candidate is a competent, confident writer.

Level of analysis

The Analysis is very good, though often leans towards the language used, and understandably so, as each poem fervently utilises the written word to profess their opinions about war. Everything written with regards to the language is nicely-formed and expressed clearly. However, with regards to the rest of the analysis, I would've liked to have seen a bit more analysis focused on the structure (e.g. rhyme scheme, rhythm, stanza breaks), the titles, and the more subliminal themes (e.g. religion). The candidate could've written extensively about (in terms of rhyme scheme) the unpredictability of 'Dulce et Decorum est' and the intensity of the unbroken fourteen-lines of 'The Soldier' Furthermore, how does the narrative voice change in 'Dulce et Decorum est'? What does this tell us about the poets? Factoring in contextual appreciation here, the candidate could mention how Rupert Brooke never even set foot on a battleground, and so his narrative voice dissolves into spineless hypocrisy as he writes as if he were on the battlefield. Owen however, saw the real visuals of war, so might we trust his own zealous judgement of war? As well as this, the titles further highlight Brooke's hypocrisy, by suggesting the poem is didactic with the use of the definite article "The", all soldiers must act and behave as in the poem. The poem is more a glorification of being a soldier, rather than being a soldier at war. You could then argue that 'Dulce et Decorum est''s use of Latin suggests a more learned voice - someone who is arguably more trustworthy as a result of their education. All this is important analysis that can be included, though as shown above, not all is required in order to obtain a high grade.

Response to question

It is a joy to read answers so wildly ambitious as this. This candidate really forms their own essay here, and doesn't appear to roll out any kind of clichéd form or structure. That isn't to say it doesn't make sense, but it makes it more interesting to read because the ideas are presented in a fresh, emotive way. There is a realisation of the poems and their purposes, and although the analysis is far from exhaustive (concentrating mainly on language), it forms a cohesive arguments to carry the candidate's well-reasoned and justified conclusion. The candidate's introductory paragraph nicely sets the tone and the basis for the analysis to follow, and clearly states the question they intend to answer. They do a very good job at answering it, and round of the essay beautifully by reconsidering the question after having considered the analysis. It feels very succinct and final, and this will earn them plenty of marks in the ability to construct a coherent essay.

Dulce Et Decorum Est and The Soldier: A comparison

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  • Level AS and A Level
  • Subject English

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‘Dulce Et Decorum Est’ and ‘The Soldier’ Comparison

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Introduction

I believe that the First World War is an important time and topic for poetry. It includes some of the most famous poems in history. I will focus on the poem ‘Dulce et Decorum est’ by Wilfred Owen and explain this poets unique perception of war. However, I will also annotate a poem by Rupert Brooke called ‘The Soldier’ and review the similarities and differences between the two pieces of poetry. I will mainly explain what the poems are trying to give, in an image, to the reader.

The two poems differ in form. I think Wilfred Owen decides to use his form as a symbol of being against tradition therefore Owen’s form is non-traditional. This point signifies that he does not think of war as a good thing to be a participant of. I believe that Owen’s attitude to war, that he presents in the form, is rebellious and chaotic. On the other hand, the poem by Rupert Brooke portrays the neat and simple form, withholding the ability of discussing the detail of combat. I understand this is because Brooke did not experience war, whereas Owen wrote his poem after he experienced it himself. This implies that the effect of war affects the form of a poem.

Owen conveys his personal views on conflict through his use of irregular and untidy structure and amount of movement within the poem. The fact that Owen has varied his paragraph lengths suggests that that there is so much information and mental images that they do not fit properly in the poem. In the third stanza there are only two lines. That gives me, the reader, a feeling of focus on the moment Owen is describing. It zooms in the importance of the stanza. The whole structure of the poems shows Owen’s feelings of confusion to war.

The Term Paper on Graphic Image Poem Owen War

Comparing Two Poems "Dulce et Decorum Est" gives the reader the exact feeling the author wanted. The poem is an anti-war poem by Wilfred Owen and makes great use of the devices. This poem is very effective because of its excellent manipulation of the mechanical and emotional parts of poetry. Owen's use of exact diction and vivid figurative language emphasizes his point showing war is terrible and ...

The poem by Owen contrasts with Brooke’s poem as Brooke conforms to a short sonnet persuading the reader that war is full of honour. Because Brooke’s poem is about war, I think it is quite unusual to structure the text as a sonnet (love poem.) I don’t think Brooke was trying to vary the topic of the paragraphs. Brooke, similar to Owen, shows his personal views of war throughout the text. However, the movements of his subjects are not produced. I think that the structure of Brooke’s poem is lifeless and dull, compared to Owen’s astonishing and unusual structure.

I feel that both of the poems have a title that barely links with the lines in the poem. Firstly, I think that Wilfred Owen’s title, which translates to ‘It is Sweet and Right,’ does not agree with rest of the poem as the poem explains how it is not sweet and right to die for your country. I think that Owen purposely did this to confuse the reader, as he wants to demonstrate that war confuses him. I understand that this point is presenting that Owen has used a symbolic title. Similarly, Rupert Brooke uses a title that doesn’t necessarily relate to the lines of the poem. However, Brooke’s use of an unrelated title is different to Owen’s use. Brooke talks about the how war gives honour and courage, whereas the title is ‘The Soldier,’ which you would think would make the poem about a soldier. On the other hand, Brooke could be situating the title to war by describing what a soldier would go through and what it would me to them.

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COMPARISON Essay RESPONSE - Dulce et Decorum Est & The Soldier - 9-1 EDUQAS GCSE ENG LIT NEW SPEC

COMPARISON Essay RESPONSE - Dulce et Decorum Est & The Soldier - 9-1 EDUQAS GCSE ENG LIT NEW SPEC

Subject: English

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This resource is a model essay answering the following question: Compare the presentation of war in ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ to ‘The Soldier’ .

It is a 25 Mark Comparison Essay and is targeted at students sitting the 9-1 EDUQAS GCSE English Literature Exam. Teachers are encouraged to purchase this resource so that they can show their students an exemplar answer to analyse and obtain ideas from.

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EDUQAS POETRY Comparison ALL ESSAYS 9-1 GCSE NEW SPEC

This bundle resource includes essays answering the following questions: * Compare the presentation of war in ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ to ‘Mametz Wood.’ * Compare the presentation of war in ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ to ‘The Soldier.’ * Compare the presentation of war in ‘The Manhunt’ to ‘A Wife in London.’ * Compare the presentation of power in ‘Hawk Roosting’ to ‘Ozymandias.’ * Compare the presentation of power in ‘London’ to ‘Ozymandias.’ * Compare the presentation of love and relationships in ‘Sonnet 43’ to ‘Valentine.’ * Compare the presentation of love and relationships in ‘She Walks in Beauty’ to ‘Cozy Apologia.’ * Compare the presentation of nature in ‘Hawk Roosting’ to ‘Death of a Naturalist.’ * Compare the presentation of living conditions/suffering in ‘London’ to ‘Living Space.’ Each essay is worth 25 marks and this resource is targeted at students sitting the 9-1 EDUQAS GCSE English Literature Exam. Teachers are encouraged to purchase this resource so that they can show their students an exemplar answer to analyse and obtain ideas from. All essay responses in this resource cover all aspects needed for a grade 8/9 answer. More specifically, AO1 (Textual References), AO2 (Language, Form & Structure) and AO3 (Context).

WAR Comparison ESSAYS (3) EDUQAS 9-1 GCSE NEW SPEC

This bundle resource includes essays answering the following questions: * Compare the presentation of war in ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ to ‘Mametz Wood.’ * Compare the presentation of war in ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ to ‘The Soldier.’ * Compare the presentation of war in ‘The Manhunt’ to ‘A Wife in London.’

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dulce et decorum est and the soldier comparison essay

Dulce Et Decorum Est and The Soldier: A comparison Essay Example

Dulce Et Decorum Est and The Soldier: A comparison Essay Example

  • Pages: 4 (955 words)
  • Published: July 28, 2017
  • Type: Essay

It is quite possible that never have two poems offered such contrasting opinions on one subject as Dulce et Decorum Est and The Soldier. And the subject, war, is their only connection. Whether or not it is right to die for your country, both poets are vehement in their convictions. It is through the various facets of poetry writing that the authors show their opinions. This is what I shall explore in this essay: which poem more effectively lays down its author's stance on war. In both poems, use of language is paramount to their effectiveness.

However, Dulce Et Decorum Est uses a particularly stylised form of tactile language. Where The Soldier is more reflective, Dulce Et Decorum Est is as graphic as it is bitter. Its vivid images stun the reader with one intense depiction after another: "He plunges

at me, guttering, choking". This vivid imagery is reinforced by the poet's almost excessive use of onomatopoeia. This onomatopoeia is in keeping with the dark, bitter tone of the entire poem. Words such as "writhing", "sludge" and "trudge" all convey this sense of resentfulness from the poet.

The negative comparisons used in the poem correspond with the tone. Lines such as "knock-kneed, coughing like hags", evoke this bitter tone. Another difference in Dulce Et Decorum Est is that it is a lot more emotive because of the realism and physicality: "If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood come gargling from froth corrupted lungs". It compels the reader to see through the eyes of the author, and although this cannot compare to the true horrors of war, it certainly does make the reader contemplate just how

terrifying and devastating war is.

Rupert Brooke takes a totally different poetic slant on the war. Perhaps most important is the fact that the only reference to the war is in the first line: "If I should die, think only this of me". The dirty, unsightly war is left alone thereafter. Much greater emphasis is placed on what could be called the 'Theory of War', i. e. patriotism. Whereas the language in Dulce Et Decorum Est adds to the negative tone, it emphasises the positive in The Soldier. Firstly, the entire description of England is a peaceful one, one of beauty.

Words such as "flowers", "richer dust", and finally "English Heaven", all suggest England to be like some Earthly Elysium. Virtually all of the language in The Soldier is metaphorical and reflective. The most important metaphor is that of England as a mother. "England bore, shaped, made aware", is almost a direct attempt to make the reader feel contrite for even contemplating Owen's poem, let alone agreeing with it. Brooke's views on war are at the least romantic, if not bordering on the nai?? ve: "That there is some corner of a foreign field, that is forever England".

More oft than not, a single soldier's death in war makes no difference, and 'some corner of a foreign field' is unlikely to be 'forever England'. That is to say that if a soldier dies on a foreign battlefield and they lose the battle, the patch of grass he dies on is still owned by the country he was in, and therefore he died in vain. Furthermore, the knowledge that I am standing in a field where thousands of men

died, does not make me feel patriotic, rather the fact that people fought there makes me feel proud to be English.

A final language point is Brooke's use of 'classical' literary diction. Many would consider this language old-fashioned, even for the time: "And laughter, learnt of friends. " The form of The Soldier contributes considerably to the tone of it. Whereas Dulce Et Decorum Est is stilted and broken, with uneven stanzas (reflecting the process of war itself), The Soldier uses the 'classic' sonnet from. This is usually associated with love poems, and probably represents Brooke's love for his country, which he considers a mother.

Brooke also makes good use of a flowing, lyrical style, with normal rhyming couplets, and a set syllabic pattern. I think that the poets make the themes in both poems quite clear. Wilfred Owen obviously thinks that your country is not worth dying for, and that death in war is an undignified and dark experience. Brooke, on the other hand, believes that you owe your country everything, and that includes the life that ironically, he says your country gave to you. Indeed, he believes that dying for your country is some kind of recompense: "Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given.

Brooke's The Soldier is poetically and lyrically faultless, his language in the classic style, and in the typified sonnet form. It would seem like the poetic picture of perfection. Yet perhaps these are reasons for its ineffectuality. The rhythmic lyricism becomes almost monotonous, the classic style is outdated even for the time of writing, and some would consider the sonnet form, whilst an apt representation of the poet's love for his

country, totally inappropriate for a subject as serious as war.

In stark contrast, Dulce Et Decorum Est throws off all poetic constraints, and is a poem which is totally emotive, conjuring up vivid, morbid, bitter images in the mind of the reader. Although I cannot totally commit to the ideals of Dulce Et Decorum Est, I do agree that there is no glory in death on the battlefield, and that it is an undignified act, devoid of honour. The final, most poignant irony is that despite Brooke's desperation for an 'honourable' death in combat, he died of blood poisoning from an insect bite, never getting to see the war through Owen's eyes.

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  1. "Dulce Et Decorum Est" and "The Soldier": a Comparison of The Poems

    Conclusion paragraph: Through the contrasting poems The Soldier and Dulce et Decorum Est, Rupert Brooke and Wilfred Owen share their opposing feelings and thoughts about war and dying for one's country. Both The Soldier and Dulce et Decorum Est highlight the firsthand accounts of Brooke and Owen's experiences, yet they differ drastically in many other ways.

  2. Compare and Contrast Essay: The Soldier vs. Dulce et Decorum est

    This can not be portrayed better than the 2 poems of The soldier by Rupert Brooke and Dulce et Decorum Est By Wilfred Owen. The 2 poems I have chosen to have very different views of war. Owens poem, Dulce et Decorum Est highlights the negative effects of war, while Rupert's poem, the soldier highlights the positive effects of war. The purpose ...

  3. Comparison of Brooke's The Soldier and Owen's Dulce et Decorum est

    From Owens experiences 'Dulce et Decorum est' acts as a warning and a hit of realism to those who are at home. 'The Solider' is a much more relaxed peaceful sonnet. Brookes use of natural imagery creates a more calm aspect of war. 'Dulce et Decorum est' features intense imagery as the key of Owens poem is to get across a point of ...

  4. Comparison of Dulce et Decorum Est and The Soldier

    GCSE English. Comparing The Soldier by Rupert Brooke and Dulce et Decorum est by Wilfred Owen. 'Dulce et Decorum Est' by Wilfred Owen and 'The Soldier' by Rupert Brooke are both poems about the First World War; and whilst both speak of the same thing they differ greatly in tone and meaning. Both poems show the Authors' differing ...

  5. Comparing 'The Soldier And Dulce Et Decorum Est'

    The Soldier, by Rupert Brooke, and Dulce et Decorum Est, written by Wilfred Owen three years later, are both war poems, written by officers that fought on the trenches. However, the poems have very different attitudes to war: The Soldier supports the war and glorifies it, while Dulce et Decorum Est is anti-war.

  6. Compare and contrast "The Soldier" by Rupert Brooke with "Dulce Et

    Get an answer for 'Compare and contrast "The Soldier" by Rupert Brooke with "Dulce Et Decorum Est" by Wilfred Owen.' and find homework help for other Literature questions at eNotes

  7. Compare and contrasts of 'The Soldier' by Rupert Brooke and 'Dulce et

    In 'The Solider', Rupert Brooke illustrates how a soldier is reflecting on the possible death going away to war may bring. Although from his opinion his death if so was to happen shouldn't be mourned and his death will be a tribute to his England. When compared to Wilfred Owen's 'Dulce et Decorum est' the views are far from similar.

  8. Comparison of "Dulce et decorum est" by Wilfred Owen and "The Soldier

    "Dulce et decorum est" by Wilfred Owen and "The Soldier" by Rupert Brooke are the two poems which I have chosen to analyse. Rupert Brooke was the "golden boy" of poetry at this time. He died of malaria in 1915 during active service in World War One. Often used in the war, this sonnet was popular for recruitment purposes.

  9. Compare The Soldier And Dulce Et Decorum Est

    Wilfred Owen's porter vividly depicts the horror and futility of war and the detrimental impact of war upon the soldiers. Owen's poem, 'Dulce Et Decorum Est', written in 1917 depicts the horror of war as the physical and mental damages on the solders. Most importantly, the context of the poem subverts its title.

  10. Comparision of "The Soldier" and "Dulce et Decorum Est" Essay

    Owen's poem has the clear intention of showing the true nature of war to the reader, which is mainly achieved by contrasting reality against the ways in which war is so. Free Essay: "Compare and contrast "The Soldier" by Rupert Brooke with "Dulce et Decorum Est" by Wilfred Owen with regard to theme, tone, imagery, diction,...

  11. Dulce et Decorum Est Poem Summary and Analysis

    Powered by LitCharts content and AI. Learn More. "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.

  12. Dulce Et Decorum Est' and 'The Soldier' Comparison

    Conclusion. In conclusion, 'Dulce et Decorum est' and 'The Soldier' offer contrasting perspectives on war, each reflecting the unique experiences and beliefs of the poets who penned them. Wilfred Owen's searing indictment of the futility and brutality of war stands in stark contrast to Rupert Brooke's romanticized portrayal of sacrifice and ...

  13. Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen (Poem + Analysis)

    It was a practice that Wilfred Owen personally despised, and in 'Dulce et Decorum Est ,' he calls out these false poets and journalists who glorify war. The poem takes place during a slow trudge to an unknown place, which is interrupted by a gas attack. The soldiers hurry to put on their masks; only one of their numbers is too slow and gets ...

  14. In "Dulce et Decorum Est," what are the soldiers compared to and why

    Owen makes some graphic comparisons regarding the soldiers that help readers understand the emotional and physical realities facing the men who fought in World War I. First he compares them to ...

  15. Dulce Et Decorum Est and The Soldier: A comparison

    However, Dulce Et Decorum Est uses a particularly stylised form of tactile language. Where The Soldier is more reflective, Dulce Et Decorum Est is as graphic as it is bitter. Its vivid images stun the reader with one intense depiction after another: "He plunges at me, guttering, choking". This vivid imagery is reinforced by the poet's ...

  16. 'Dulce Et Decorum Est' and 'The Soldier' Comparison

    The Term Paper on Graphic Image Poem Owen War. Comparing Two Poems "Dulce et Decorum Est" gives the reader the exact feeling the author wanted. The poem is an anti-war poem by Wilfred Owen and makes great use of the devices. This poem is very effective because of its excellent manipulation of the mechanical and emotional parts of poetry.

  17. PDF National 5 Critical Essay Exemplar 'Dulce Et Decorum Est'

    cription of the experience makes the poem more interesting. A poem which describes a person. s experience is 'Dulce et Decorum Est' by Wilfred Owen. The poem is about a gas attack on a grou. of soldiers as they return from the trenches of World War I. The speaker describes the event itself, the trauma it causes him, and then end.

  18. Essay on Comparing The Soldier and Dulce et Decorum Est

    Comparing The Soldier and Dulce et Decorum Est. The Soldier by Rupert Brooke and Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen were both written during world war one. War and death are the themes of both poems but they are written from different perspectives. Brooke seems to base his poem on myth because overall he says that it is good to die for your ...

  19. Comparison of The Soldier and Dulce Et Decorum Est- Revision

    Comparison of The Soldier and Dulce Et Decorum Est- Revision. This complete lesson was used as an introduction for pupils to begin writing a poetry comparison. It should be taught following the analysis and annotation of each poem individually. The PowerPoint includes all printable resources. This lesson was taught to a Year 9 set 2 class as ...

  20. COMPARISON Essay RESPONSE

    Compare the presentation of war in 'Dulce et Decorum Est' to 'The Soldier' . It is a 25 Mark Comparison Essay and is targeted at students sitting the 9-1 EDUQAS GCSE English Literature Exam. Teachers are encouraged to purchase this resource so that they can show their students an exemplar answer to analyse and obtain ideas from.

  21. The Soldier and Dulce Et Decorum Est Comparison

    Differences. S - patriotic poem. D - anti war poem. D - addresses propagandists. S - written at the beginning of the war. D - written near the end of the war. D - it is not sweet and right to die for your country 'bent double like old beggars under sacks', 'white eyes writhing in his face', 'you would not tell with such high zest'.

  22. Dulce Et Decorum Est and The Soldier: A comparison Essay Example

    Whereas Dulce Et Decorum Est is stilted and broken, with uneven stanzas (reflecting the process of war itself), The Soldier uses the 'classic' sonnet from. This is usually associated with love poems, and probably represents Brooke's love for his country, which he considers a mother. Brooke also makes good use of a flowing, lyrical style, with ...

  23. Dulce Et Decorum Est' and 'the Soldier' Comparison Essay Example

    It includes some of the most famous poems in history. I will focus on the poem 'Dulce et Decorum est' by Wilfred Owen and explain this poets unique perception of war. However, I will also annotate a poem by Rupert Brooke called 'The Soldier' and review the similarities and differences between the two pieces of poetry.