The first poem "The Send-off" is written by Wilfred Owen. The poem is about men going off to war. It expresses an intense and ominous atmosphere. It is described as being done furtively "down the close darkening lanes". The use of darkening by Owen suggests that it was done in the evening to obtain secrecy and privacy from any interference of a person. "And lined the train with faces grimly gay", this third line and Owen has made use of the device oxymoron. The juxtaposition of the word 'grimly' against gay suggests that the men are happy to got to war. But one can assume that deep down inside the men are feeling miserable and are low in the level of confidence to proceed with going to the battle front. The usage of 'gay' has been applied to convey the device oxymoron, although the men

The third poem "Joining the Colours" has been written by an Irish female Katherine Tynan. The title given to this poem "Joining the Colours" is appealing as it can be referred to as the Union Jack flag. In 1914 Ireland was still part of the British Empire. This poem consists of optimistic and pessimistic descriptions. It mainly involves how much success and glory the young man will have in war. They march in the streets singing and parading, completely focused and high in confidence with no fear on what is to come ahead. This poem also focuses on the soldiers not possibly returning from war. Just as "The Send-off" and "The Going of the Battery" whom both give descriptions on the feelings of the men. They are parading very happily "smooth cheeked and golden" which indicates that the men are positive, bright and full of happiness. When compared with "The-Send-off" there is a much livelier atmosphere and no so many intense emotions or tensions are rarely boldly existent. "The Going of the Battery" begins with an illustration of the sensibilities of the soldiers, "O it was sad enough, weak enough, mad enough". There are two ideas being expressed within "food for shells and guns" There is imagery of two situations, the word 'gun' referring to food for guns almost bait. Then there is another impression we can get from "food for shells," which is for the men to eat and survive on through war. As they parade the expressionism is "they go to a wedding day". There is no mention of food in Hardy's or Owen's poems. Tynan can be referred as ambiguous by "the mothers sons," which connotes two ideas. One of them being that they are young "mothers" sons and the second that they may not return home as they might possibly be killed in war. As they march the "street stares to see them." forms the denotation of the device personification, Tynan is producing an image as though the street are 'staring' as a human being. These soldiers are producing carelessness optimism of the unexpected "too careless-gay for courage," of the task which lies ahead of them. In each of the four quatrains the fourth line is short and seeks one attention. As they proceed further there they go "into the dark," diffusing as the preparation of progress one stage further. Stanza three corresponds very well with the with the structure of stanza one's opening. In the opening lines of both of these stanza's "pipe their way to glory" and "all in-step so gay" suggest realism. But after a happy start both stanza's progress and begin to show the "foolish and young" whom will now not stand much of a chance as "love cannot save" them. Fate awaits them, not too far ahead in their paths. It is different from "Send-off," Owen focuses on the device of oxymoron. Thomas Hardy shows us the seriousness and the consequences faced in war such as when it rained "drenchingly but we unblenchingly turged on." This line shows the determination and how strong minded the soldiers are. Hardy does not really create any happiness. His poem "The Going of the Battery" consists of in-depth descriptions, as an example "glimmers dreamily, bearily, eerily." Hardy has focused on seeking the readers attention by using rhyming and highly descriptive language to really see and absorb the imagery faced by the soldiers. The adrenaline of the men in "Joining the Colours" is expressed by the euphoria of these men. As they departured the "poor girls they kissed" was due to sensual pleasure and feeling terrified of not seeing their lovers for the last time incase they die. This case of kissing and sensual feelings for one another exists similarly in both "The Send-off" and by the "women meant who gave them flowers," in this instance it is the essence and smell of the flowers which are affectionate towards the soldiers. Hardy, ha is on similar lines but rather straight forward, "our pale faces outstretched for one kiss." He has described how much the men really need a physical passionate feeling for a memorable k

Some common words found in the essay are:
Wilfred Owen, Anthology Warred, Battery Evidence, Hardy's Owen's, Thomas Hardy, Joining Colours, Britain Owen, Send-off Battery, Owen's Send-off, Send-off Owen, rhyming scheme, thomas hardy, internal rhyming scheme, est decorum, dulce est, joining colours, internal rhyming, half roads, rhyme scheme, est decorum et, dulce est decorum, decorum et, regular rhyme scheme, poem war, women meant flowers,
Approximate Word count = 3380
Approximate Pages = 14 (250 words per page double spaced)