© F C B 0 6 Intermediate 1/2 English Literature: Poetry Unit.

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Intermediate 1/2 English Literature: Poetry Unit

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FCB ‘06

The First World War lasted from 1914-1918. At first people were enthusiastic about it, thinking that it would not last very long. But as the war raged on, many people became quite disillusioned by it. The writer of this poem, although brave and patriotic, disapproved of the way the government was sending out young men to almost certain death – a bloody and horrible death as you will see in the poem. Don’t be put off by the Latin title. It means something like ‘It is sweet and fitting to die for your country.’ Later in the poem, the writer says this is a ‘Lie.’

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For many people, Wilfred Owen – born 1893 - is the greatest poet of WW1. Owen joined the army in 1915 and served as an Officer in the War. He was awarded the military cross for bravery in 1918 and was killed on November 4th, one week before the armistice. Most of his poems were written in a short space of time in 1917 and 1918 and were published after Owen’s death. Almost all of Owen’s surviving poetry describes life as a soldier in the trenches. His poems show the harsh realities of war.Listen to the poem

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Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,Till on the haunting flares we turned our backsAnd towards our distant rest began to trudge.Men marched asleep. Many had lost their bootsBut limped on, blood shod. All went lame; all blind;Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots Of tired, outstripped Five-Nines that dropped behind.

Some of the techniques used here:• Simile• Alliteration and onomatopoeia• Word choice• Sentence structure

Vocabulary:• Flares• Fatigue• Five-Nines

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“Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!” – An ecstasy of fumbling,Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time;But someone still was yelling out and stumbling,And flound’ring like a man in fire or lime...Dim, through the misty panes and thick, green light,As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.

Vocabulary:• Ecstasy• Floundering

Some of the techniques used here:• Punctuation and sentence structure• Capital letters• Repetition• Word choice and comparisons

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In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.

Vocabulary:• Guttering

Some of the techniques used here:• Word choice• Sentence structure

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If in some smothering dreams you too could paceBehind the wagon that we flung him in,And watch the white eyes writhing in his face;His hanging face like a devil’s sick of sin;If you could hear at every jolt, the bloodCome gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cudOf vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues, -My friend, you would not tell with such high zestTo children ardent for some desperate glory,That old Lie: Dulce et decorum estPro patria mori.Vocabulary:• Writhing• Corrupted• Obscene• Cud• Zest• Ardent

Some of the techniques used here:• Word choice, tone and sound• Simile• Sentence structure• Capital letter• Directly addressing the reader

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Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,Till on the haunting flares we turned our backsAnd towards our distant rest began to trudge.Men marched asleep. Many had lost their bootsBut limped on, blood shod. All went lame; all blind;Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots Of tired, outstripped Five-Nines that dropped behind.

Some of the techniques used here:• Simile• Alliteration and onomatopoeia• Word choice• Sentence structure

Vocabulary:• Flares• Fatigue• Five-Nines

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Verse 1

1. What is being described in this verse (use your own words)?

2. Quote the similes from lines 1-2. Say how each is effective.

3. Quote examples of alliteration from lines 2 and 5. Are the sounds hard or soft, and how effective are they?

4. Comment on the phrase ‘distant rest.’5. Quote 3 examples of metaphors used in the

closing lines of this verse.

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Verse 1

1. What is being described in this verse (use your own words)? The men coming back from front line

2. Quote the similes from lines 1-2. Say how each is effective. “…like old beggars” – shows they are in a bad state and are old beyond their years. “coughing like hags” – again shows they have been aged.

3. Quote examples of alliteration from lines 2 and 5. Are the sounds hard or soft, and how effective are they? “knock kneed” – hard sounds, shows how they walk in fear and coldness. “coughing… cursed” – sound effect. “men marched” – imitates sound of boots.

4. Comment on the phrase ‘distant rest.’ Base seems really far away. They are exhausted and weary.

5. Quote 3 examples of metaphors used in the closing lines of this verse, “drunk with fatigue”, “deaf”, “blood-shod”, “lame”, “blind”

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Verse 1: Tops and TailsThis verse describes how the men feel…

To recreate the unpleasant noises in the trenches.

Sound effects are used in this verse…

To reinforce the soldiers’ poor physical condition.

Words and images like ‘blood shod’ and ‘blind’ are used…

To make the soldiers sound old beyond their years.

Similes are used in this verse…

After a long spell at the front line.

Extension: ANNOTATE stanza 1

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“Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!” – An ecstasy of fumbling,Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time;But someone still was yelling out and stumbling,And flound’ring like a man in fire or lime...Dim, through the misty panes and thick, green light,As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.

Vocabulary:• Ecstasy• Floundering

Some of the techniques used here:• Punctuation and sentence structure• Capital letters• Repetition• Word choice and comparisons

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Verse 21. What takes the men by surprise (use your own words)? 2. Comment on the effect of the repetition, capital letters

and exclamation marks. 3. What are the ‘clumsy helmets’, do you think? 4. There are a lot of ‘ing’ words (present participles) in

this verse. What is their effect? 5. Comment on the phrase ‘just in time.’6. What effect does the word ‘But’ have?7. What is the gas compared to in this verse?8. Quote an expression which reminds us that this was a

real-life, personal experience of Owen’s.

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1. What takes the men by surprise (use your own words)? A gas shell falling into the trench.

2. Comment on the effect of the repetition, capital letters and exclamation marks. It shows that they are shouting in panic. It creates a sense of seriousness, of urgency and fear.

3. What are the ‘clumsy helmets’, do you think? The gas masks.

4. There are a lot of ‘ing’ words (present participles) in this verse. What is their effect? The effect is it feels like it’s happening before your eyes – right now.

5. Comment on the phrase ‘just in time.’ They had to be very quick. It was a matter of life and death. It creates urgency and suspense.

6. What effect does the word ‘But’ have? Fear – someone has not been successful.

7. What is the gas compared to in this verse? “green sea”

8. Quote an expression which reminds us that this was a real-life, personal experience of Owen’s. “I saw him…”

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Verse 2: Cloze Summary• The second section _____ describes a _____ attack,

giving an eyewitness account of a soldier’s death. The section starts with a _____ of warning – ‘Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!’ This starts to build _____ as the _____ marks, repetition and _____ speech add a sense of panic and foreboding. Upon this warning, the soldiers ‘fumble’ to ‘fit the clumsy helmets just in time.’ Such is their _____ that they can’t even work their fingers _____. ‘Just in time’ makes us think that it was a close thing. However, the first word - ‘but’ - in the next line dashes these hopes. The expression ‘as under a green sea I saw him drowning’ is the first time in the poem Owen has referred to _____ as ‘I’. By using ‘I’ rather than ‘we’ it’s almost as if Owen takes the full _____ upon himself, even though there was nothing he or the others could do. gas responsibility tension cry properlydirect vividly himself exhaustion exclamation

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In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.

Vocabulary:• Guttering

Some of the techniques used here:• Word choice• Sentence structure

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Verse 3

1. Has Owen recovered from his experience of watching the man die? Justify you answer, using quotations and commenting on any techniques used. (You should at least refer to word choice and the use of a list.)

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Verse 3Owen probably felt a mixture of emotions during this experience. Look at the list of feelings below, justifying how each one could be true. The first one has been done for you.

Feeling Why he might feel this way

Guilt The man was under his command

Anger

Sympathy

Relief

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If in some smothering dreams you too could paceBehind the wagon that we flung him in,And watch the white eyes writhing in his face;His hanging face like a devil’s sick of sin;If you could hear at every jolt, the bloodCome gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cudOf vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues, -My friend, you would not tell with such high zestTo children ardent for some desperate glory,That old Lie: Dulce et decorum estPro patria mori.Vocabulary:• Writhing• Corrupted• Obscene• Cud• Zest• Ardent

Some of the techniques used here:• Word choice, tone and sound• Simile• Sentence structure• Capital letter• Directly addressing the reader

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Verse 41. Quote some words or phrases where Owen

refers to the reader directly.2. Comment on the word ‘flung’ as used in the

second line of this stanza.3. Quote any expressions from this stanza which

could be described as horrific. Note down any techniques used in these quotes. (Look for strong sounds or word pictures, such as similes.)

4. What is Owen’s main point in this poem, and what is his attitude to war? You should refer to the closing lines in your answer.

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THEMES:The issues dealt with in the text;

the message being communicated by the poet

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CRITICIAL ESSAY PREPARATION

• You are required to write a Critical Essay, of at least 600 words, on Wilfred Owen’s poem, ‘Dulce et Decorum est.’ This task will test:

• Your understanding of the text and its themes;• Your analysis of the poet’s techniques;• Your evaluation of the text;• Your ability to express yourself accurately and

relevantly.• Task: Choose a poem about an important

incident or an event. Say what happens in the poem and show how the poet has used poetic techniques to portray the reality of what happened.

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PARAGRAPH 1 - INTRODUCTION

• This paragraph should be short and general in its approach. You should include:

• Title, poet, genre

• Words from the task

• Positive phrases

• Techniques to which you’ll refer.

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PARAGRAPH 1 - EXAMPLE

The haunting but brilliant poem ‘Dulce et Decorum est’ by war poet Wilfred Owen gives a very realistic portrayal of an important incident which Owen witnessed while serving as an Officer in the First World War. The excellent description is due to Owen’s use of techniques, such as word choice, comparisons and sentence structure.

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PARAGRAPH 2 - SUMMARY

• This paragraph should include a short summary of the text. Briefly:

• Mention that the poem is written in free verse

• Summarise the content

• List the themes or issues raised by the text

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The poem is written in free verse. It gives a vivid account of the death of a young soldier, as witnessed by Owen, and raises themes such as the harsh realities of war.

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PARAGRAPHS 3-6 – MAIN SECTIONSThese paragraphs are your main sections. You may use the topic sentences below, and the ‘PEE’ chain, to help you write these paragraphs. Don’t forget to use words from the task often.

• In the first verse, Owen vividly sets the scene for the main incident described in the poem. He shows us how the men are feeling after a long time on the front line…

• The second verse of the poem gives a clear description of how the men are taken by surprise.

• Verse 3 shows us Owen’s reaction to the incident.• In the last verse, Owen uses more horrible details

of the incident to put across his anger about war.

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PARAGRAPHS 3-6 - EXAMPLE

In the first verse, Owen vividly sets the scene for the main incident described in the poem. He shows us how the men are feeling after a long time on the front line. His use of imagery is particularly noticeable:

‘Bent double like old beggars under sacks.’This clever simile is very powerful. ‘Beggars’ have connotations of old, decrepit men, not young men in their prime. The soldiers sound almost disabled by the hardships they face and they are clearly in a state of exhaustion.

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PARAGRAPH 7 - CONCLUSION• This paragraph is your conclusion. It should

include the same elements as paragraph 1, expressed differently. It should also be final, pulling together the main threads of your essay. And be sure to end on a very personal note, stating clearly a positive response to the text and what you have gained from studying this poem closely.

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In conclusion, the striking poem ‘Dulce et Decorum est’ is a powerful description of a war-time event. Owen’s use of various techniques helps to create a clear image of what actually happened, and this conveys a powerful anti-war message. This poem has made me more aware of the horrific experiences of many young soldiers in the Great War.

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Before you hand in your work for grading, ask yourself the following questions:• Have I gone into enough detail?• Can the marker understand the text from what I have written

about it?• Have I used a clear topic (introductory) sentence in each

paragraph?• Is each paragraph relevant to the task I was set?• Have I supported my points with evidence from the text?• Have I set out quotes properly?• Have I included personal responses to the text throughout?• Does my essay have a clear introduction and conclusion?• Have I used sentences and paragraphs appropriately?• Have I checked my spelling carefully?• Have I used punctuation properly at all times?• Is this my best work?

© F C B 0 6 Intermediate 1/2 English Literature: Poetry Unit.

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