Dulce et Decorum est1

A detailed Summary of Dulce et Decorum est1

This poem describes war and its effects on the poet himself. "Dulce et decorum est

pro patria mori" actually means "How sweet and pure it is to die for one's country".

Owen in this poem describes how this is not at all true and that it is in no way

patriotic to die for your home land. In fact he describes this as

"The old Lie". This is a very graphic, realistic and emotional account of the War.

In the first verse there is a description of the soldiers' shell-shocked status and of how

all their senses are numbed. Owen recalls the jagged, impassive state of the soldiers.

The description of the fighters on the Western Front,

"Bent double, like old beggars under sacks",

contradicts the whole idea that the soldier is upright, dignified and heroic.

"Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through the sludge",

also describes the condition of the men. The phrase "Knock-kneed", is a good use of

alliteration to illustrate the appearance of the soldiers. Words and phrases that depict

that they are stunned are, "blood-shod" ,"lame", "blind", "Drunk with fatigue".

is personification. It describes the men so panic stricken as they struggle to put on the

"But someone still was yelling out and stumbling

and it doesn't belong where it is and that it should not be taking over his body.

Although he, and most of the others, manage to fit the gas-masks and therefore fall

When a candle is about to go out it makes a guttering noise as if it is dying exactly

"His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin",

The next part of the poem sums up the all-round feeling of war for the poet, which he

"Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!" This line is continued with "An ecstasy of fumbling",

Approximate Word count = 748
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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