wilfred owen birdsong sebastian faulkes
It could be said that all of war poet Wilfred Owen s work has a discernible purpose; this being the destructive capacity of war, and its ultimate futility. However, by examining a range of Owen s poetry it also becomes clear that over time, this purpose has matured and developed, Owen still maintaining an emphasis on the injustice of war but incorporating individual and universal significance into his verse. What remained constant throughout Owen ’s career as a war poet was his ability to communicate his purpose successfully to the reader, through his style and technique. ... W and Dulce et decorum est demonstrate Owen s initial purpose in protesting against the war by means of definitive style and technique. ... Owen s later works again demonstrated evolution of thought and purpose. In poems like Futility and Spring Offensive Owen s purpose is centred on conveying to the reader the abnormality of war, his style and technique consolidating this purpose. Sebastian Faulkes wrote Birdsong in 1991, 83 years after the conclusion of the First World War. Detached from the generation that participated in the war, Faulkes isnt confined by the expectations of a book that would be written directly after the war. ... The book contains seven sections split over three periods, Faulkes is able to show attitudes pre, during and post to the war. ... Faulkes uses the love to juxtapose the brutality of trench warfare. By presenting the harsh reality of Trench life, Faulkes enables the reader to experience all of the bitterness the war gave. ... Both Faulks and Owen have attempted to explore the reasons behind their character’s actions, or their words, along with the mechanisms and strong emotions within humans that make ordinary people capable of committing murder. ... Within Owen s early poetry his purpose can be found easily, as much of the intended meaning lies on a surface level. ... Dulce et decorum est a piece which is made meaningful by Owen ‘s style and technique. The significance of the poems title is paramount to understanding Owen ’s intent. ... Owen mocks this concept during the poem, ultimately rendering the notion of patriotism injurious and detrimental to man. ... Continuing, Owen seems to look back on the event as it were a recurring nightmare, the “ haunting flares” of the Five-nines foreshadowed by the haunting image of his dying friend. ... Owen s purpose is clearly conveyed through this accusation, in that he felt war was not glorious and the act of encouraging innocent soldiers to participate in it was brutal. The penetrating cynicism of the last few lines is indicative of this, Owen bluntly stating that the popular epitaph was in fact, a lie: “My friend, you would not tell with such high zest” “To children ardent fro some desperate glory” “The old lie: Dulce et decorum est” “Pro patria mori” Following the soldier’s death Owen makes use of stark imagery, enough to jolt the reader into shock. Owen describes the effect of the bumping wagon in which the half-dead soldier is thrown “the blood…gargling from his froth corrupted lungs”, this use of coarse imagery helps communicate Owen s purpose, in adequately conveying to the reader the horror. The poem is designed to strike a blow to the conscience, as Owen seems to angrily demand of the reader an explanation for all this suffering. -Through his technique and style Owen ’s purpose can be seen as a deliberate attempt to destroy the idea that sacrificing a life for ones country, is neither a noble, nor rewarding act.