exposure Flashcards
(2 cards)
'’our brains ache, in the merciless iced east winds that knives us’’ opening of exposure
-‘‘brains’’ establishes poem’s focus of pyschological impact of war, multiple meanings : physical brain and literal ache soldiers face due to exposure to old, mental pain soldiers face seeing ‘‘half-known faces’ die
'’iced east winds’’ - sibilance, conveys biting cold, intensity of wind that hurts them as if being stabbed with knife
personification of wind suggests the weather is like a vicious and inescapable enemy. the men are faced with double peril, enemy soldiers and the risk of hypothermia from exposure
owen draws lines out to mirror the lengths of time these men are being exposed to these terrible conditions, which will kill them
'’but nothing happens’’
-cyclical structure - connects end ang beginning of poem to show soldiers ahchieving nothing at great cost of life
-ironic , soldiers feeling ‘‘nothing happening’’ in reality theyre dying
-refers to historical fact war involves more waiting then fighting , repetitive nature, reflecting repetitive situuation
