Wilfred Owen, Close Study of Literature

Resource Description

Explain how Wilfred Owen’s poetry invites us into a different world and broadens our understanding of human experience.

INTRODUCTION – Anthem for Doomed Youth, Futility & Dulce et Decorum Est Wilfred Owen was an English poet whose work embodied his feelings of animosity at the detrimental waste of war. Owen enlisted in the army in October 1915, which was influenced by heroic war propaganda. At first, Owen felt emotions of optimism and excitement as he was posted to the front trenches in France at the beginning of 1917. Owen witnessed and experienced continuing gunfire, gas attacks and severe weather leading to death and brutal injury both mentally and physically. The emotions of optimism and excitement were quickly replaced with shock and horror. Owen suffered a concussion injury during his time in the trenches and was diagnosed with shell shock. He was then moved to the War Hospital in Edinburgh, where he met Siegfried Sassoon, another soldier who wrote poetry, and began his writing. Through his poetry, Wilfred Owen introduces us into a different world that the modern generation has not experienced and broadens our understanding of human experience in all degrees. He gives the readers a window into the past and with his harsh use of imagery and other powerful techniques allow the poetry to come to life. Particularly, Wilfred Owen’s poems: Anthem for Doomed Youth, Dulce et Decorum est and Futility all provide a voice to a generation of unheard and tortured youth, much like all of his poetry. These poems, in particular, portray Owen’s personal feelings and emotions towards war, his own personal experiences heavily influence his opinions and judgement.