Exposure Flashcards
(20 cards)
Who wrote Exposure and what was his role in World War I?
Wilfred Owen, a soldier and poet who depicted the horrors of war.
How does Owen portray the theme of suffering in the poem?
Through vivid imagery of cold, exhaustion, and hopelessness.
What is the significance of the repeated phrase “But nothing happens”?
Emphasizes monotony, waiting, and the soldiers’ futile sacrifice.
How does nature function as an enemy in the poem? Give examples.
Harsh weather is personified as attacking.
“merciless iced east winds that knive us.”
What emotions does the poem evoke, and how does Owen achieve this through language?
Despair and helplessness, conveyed through bleak imagery and repetition.
Identify and explain the use of personification in Exposure.
Nature is given human traits—wind “knives” and “the mad gusts tugging on the wire.”
What is the structure of the poem, and how does it contribute to its meaning?
Eight stanzas with half-rhyme, reflecting the soldiers’ unease and instability.
Compare Exposure to Bayonet Charge—how do they present soldiers’ experiences differently?
Exposure focuses on waiting and suffering; Bayonet Charge captures sudden action and fear.
How does Owen use imagery to depict the reality of war?
Graphically describes freezing conditions and lifeless soldiers—”All their eyes are ice.”
What is the impact of Owen’s tone and word choice throughout the poem?
Creates a bleak, resigned atmosphere, reinforcing the futility of war.
How does Owen use contrast in Exposure to highlight the soldiers’ experiences?
He contrasts warm home life with the cold battlefield, emphasizing isolation and suffering.
What is the effect of Owen’s use of rhetorical questions in the poem?
They reflect the soldiers’ confusion and loss of faith, questioning the purpose of war.
How does Owen challenge the traditional ideas of heroism in war?
Instead of portraying bravery, he focuses on suffering and helplessness, making war seem futile.
What role does time play in Exposure, and how does it affect the soldiers?
Time feels endless, reinforcing their exhaustion, waiting, and lack of progress.
How does the poem reflect Owen’s personal experiences in World War I?
He experienced trench warfare firsthand, shaping his depiction of hardship and mental strain.
Explain the significance of the poem’s ending—why does Owen conclude it in such a bleak manner?
The final stanza emphasizes death and resignation, reinforcing the idea that war drains all hope.
How does the imagery of cold and isolation shape the meaning of the poem?
It mirrors emotional numbness, making nature feel as cruel as the war itself.
What emotions does Exposure evoke in the reader, and how does Owen achieve this?
Feelings of pity and despair, achieved through bleak descriptions and repetition.
How does Owen use structure and pacing to reinforce the poem’s themes?
Short lines and half-rhymes create a fragmented, uneasy rhythm, mirroring the soldiers’ instability.
What connections can be made between Exposure and War Photographer you’ve studied?
Exposure and War Photographer both depict war’s lasting effects—one on soldiers, the other on those who document it.
