Poetry: Dulce Et Decorum Est Flashcards
(18 cards)
Whys: 1
Owen uses the poem to condemn the futile squandering of young lives as a result of conflict.
Whys: 2
Owen refutes the glorification of war by propaganda poets such as Jessie Pope by depicting the
harsh reality of war.
Whys: 3
The poem exposes the life-long traumatic physical and psychological impact war has on
soldiers.
Which themes are present in this poem?
Pain and suffering
Death and loss
Effects of war
Negative emotions
Which poems can be linked with this poem?
Memetz wood
The manhunt
The Soldier
Poem summary
“Dulce et Decorum Est” is a brutal, realistic poem about the horrors of World War I, written by Wilfred Owen, a soldier himself. It describes a gas attack and the aftermath, attacking the idea that it’s noble to die for one’s country. The Latin title means “It is sweet and right,” but the poem completely rejects that message.
Context 1
Wilfred Owen served and died in WWI. He wrote poetry to expose the truth of war, not the patriotic lies told back home.
Context 2
He was particularly angry at people like Jessie Pope, who wrote poems and articles encouraging young men to enlist by glorifying war.
What is the form like in the poem?
A lyric poem written in the form of a dramatic monologue—Owen speaks directly to the reader.
How does the form relate to the content of the poem?
It feels personal and emotional, as if Owen is recounting real trauma.
The form helps him confront readers directly, especially those promoting the war from a distance.
Sructure of the poem
The poem is in two main parts:
Describing the soldiers’ misery and exhaustion.
The gas attack and its horrific aftermath.
Ends with a direct message to the reader, challenging the old patriotic phrase.
Shifts in tone: From tiredness → panic → anger → bitter irony.
Rhyming of poem
Uses a loose ABAB rhyme scheme.
Creates a kind of uneasy rhythm—not musical or smooth, but rough, reflecting the horror and instability of war.
Occasional half rhymes add to the harsh, jarring effect.
Bent double, like old beggars under sacks
Suffering, Reality of war
Simile, Dehumanisation
Soldiers are compared to beggars, not heroes—destroys the glorified image of soldiers.
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags
Disease, Exhaustion
Alliteration, Simile
Brutal description of their broken bodies—they’re sick, old, and worn down, not noble.
Gas! Gas! Quick, boys!
Chaos, Panic
Exclamation, Direct speech
Sudden change of pace—creates urgency and drama, pulling us into the moment.
In all my dreams, before my helpless sight / He plunges at me
Trauma, Guilt
Enjambment, First person
Owen relives the moment in nightmares—he’s haunted by war, showing mental damage
Guttering, choking, drowning
Death, Pain
Tricolon, Present participles
Harsh, visceral verbs describe the agonising death—slow, painful, unforgettable
The old Lie: Dulce et Decorum est / Pro patria mori
Betrayal, Propaganda
Irony, Latin reference
He ends by exposing the phrase as a dangerous lie—war is not sweet or noble, but horrific.
