The speaker starts off by saying, "Our brains ache." The negative nature of this statement gives one a clue as to the negative themes in the rest of the poem. One of the present themes in the poem is silence. However, the presence of silence is ironic because it is wartime, and that is a time of noise and chaos. This silence is unnerving for the war soldiers also as stated, "Worried by silence, sentries whisper, curious, nervous, but nothing happens. Another theme in the poem is death. The theme of death is not surprising at first, since it is wartime and people die during war, but these people are dying because of the cold. The war in the poem is practically nonexistent. The speaker constantly talks about dying, like the time he asks, "Is it that we are dying?" Or when he says, "For love of God seems dying." Clearly, these people have no hope whatsoever. A very important theme, God, is

Imagery of nature is used throughout the poem, since much of the poem is based on nature. The author has used anthropomorphism and ascribed several human characteristics to nature. For example, the author has used, "dawn's army,' or "pale flakes feeling for faces." This really gives the feeling of nature being in control of everything including the soldiers' lives, which it pretty much is.

"Since we believe not otherwise can kind fires burn; Nor ever suns smile true on child, or field, or fruit. For God's invincible spring our love is made afraid; Therefore, not loath, we lie out here; therefore were born, For love of God seems dying."

Yet another device used is a simile. For example, "Watching, we hear the mad gusts tugging on the wire, Like twitching agonies of men among its brambles." This simile not only shows natures control over the situation but shows the agonies of men, what they are going through in the unforgiving cold. This simile almost makes one hear the screaming or moaning of the men in agony.

It may seem the poem has pessimistic thoughts all the way through it, but no. Stanza six has a little bit of a cheery moment in it. There are 'crickets that jingle' and 'innocent mice rejoicing.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Exposure Owen, Para-rhyme Para-rhyme, God God, God Owen, , Owen's Exposure, Wilfred Owen, love god, god dying, love god dying, sentries whisper curious, whisper curious nervous, silence sentries whisper, curious nervous, whisper curious, doors closed, silence sentries, cheery moment, word 'salient', sound silence, sentries whisper,
Approximate Word count = 822
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)