Effect of War on Literature (1st part)
The First World War had great impact on the literature. Most of the poets wrote about their own experiences at war. Most of them were youths when they enlisted and decided to write about the horrors of war after their experiences at the frontline. They also wrote about the huge number of casualties that the war had caused and used satires to criticize the dictators and leaders for being the main cause of the war and deaths. They wrote about the grief that war caused, destroying the future of bright and strong youth. Some mentioned that people often have the wrong impression of war and think that war was glorious and honorable. This can be seen in the poem Dulce Et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen as well as Glory of women by Siegfried Sassoon. Some other examples of famous poets are Robert Frost and Rupert Brooke
Pick a Literary Work That Showcases the Effects of That War (2nd Part)
I chose the poem “Parable of the Old Man and the Young” by Wilfred Owen. (Poem copied from oldpoetry.com)
The Parable of the Old Man and the Young
So Abram rose, and clave the wood, and went,
And took the fire with him, and a knife.
And as they sojourned both of them together,
Isaac the first-born spake and said, My Father,
Behold the preparations, fire and iron,
But where the lamb for this burnt-offering?
Then Abram bound the youth with belts and straps,
And builded parapets and trenches there,
And stretchèd forth the knife to slay his son.
When lo! an Angel called him out of heaven,
Saying, Lay not thy hand upon the lad,
Neither do anything to him, thy son.
Behold! Caught in a thicket by its horns,
A Ram. Offer the Ram of Pride instead.
But the old man would not so, but slew his son,
And half the seed of Europe, one by one.
From this poem, we understand that the Leaders of the country would rather sacrifice the lives of their own soldiers than to give up their power and pride, never considering surrender. Wilfred used the biblical story of Abram, being very obedient to God and had strong faith in God even when he was asked to kill his son as a sacrifice. However, God saw his faith and sent an angel to stop him and offer a lamb instead. The story had a twist at the end when Abram in the poem went against the angel’s words to offer the Ram of Pride instead and went on to slaughter his son. In the poem, the son refers to the innocent and clueless soldiers who have no rights to even speak up. Abram represents the dictators and leaders of the countries in the war. The Ram of Pride refers to “Abram’s” pride. Abram was unwilling to sacrifice their pride by surrendering, causing so many deaths and casualties, slaughtering his son “And half the seed of Europe, one by one”
A little about the work’s author and why he was affected by the war. Do all the literary works by that particular author show that he has been scarred by the war? (3rd Part)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilfred_Owen
Wilfred Owen was born the eldest of four children in Plas Wilmot; a house near Oswestry in Shropshire on 18 March 1893, of mixed English and Welsh ancestry. His siblings were Harold, Colin, and Mary Millard Owen. He was a British poet and soldier, one of the leading poets of the First World War. His shocking, realistic war poetry on the horrors of trenches and gas warfare was heavily influenced by his friend Siegfried Sassoon and sat in stark contrast to both the public perception of war at the time, and to the confidently patriotic verse written earlier by war poets such as Rupert Brooke. Some of his best-known works—most of which were published posthumously—include "Dulce et Decorum Est", "Insensibility", "Anthem for Doomed Youth", "Futility" and "Strange Meeting".
Wilfred Owen was definitely scarred by the war. His poems such as “Anthem for Doomed Youth” was about terrible fate of the young men like him being sent to war. He got all of his inspirations through real life experiences, stating the horrors of frequent gas attacks and watching as his comrade failed to put on his mask and dying before his eyes. The poem “Exposure” brings out what the soldiers were constantly thinking and the misery that they suffered while staying in the trench. Wilfred Owen also suffered shell shocks, a psychiatric illness caused by stress of battle and it decreases one’s fighting efficiency. Wilfred Owen met Siegfried Sassoon while recuperating. Wilfred Owen eventually died on the war on 4 November 1918, one week before the war ended.
What is interesting/unusual about that particular piece of work? (4th Part)
I find the poem “The Parable of the Old Man and the Young” very unique and interesting as it is a wonderful satire openly criticizing the leaders of the country for not doing as they are told by the “angel”, disobeying God. They have sacrificed their own soldiers, who are their sons to save their pride. But they did not stop there, they also went on to slaughter “half the seed of Europe”. It is a very interesting poem as it does not really focus on rhyme, but more on the play on words and personification. Wilfred managed to bring out how innocent and young the “son” was when he askedhis “Abram” where was the lamb to be sacrificed.
A little about the other works of the same time period that exhibit similar qualities. (5th Part)
(Some Parts Adapted from York Notes)
I would like to talk about “Dulce Et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen. They speak of how men are forced onto the battlefield and are relentlessly attacked by the enemy and the horrors that they see. Wilfred Owen also exposed the lie that war was full of glory and honour and a chance to win medals. This can be seen from the last few lines of the poem “To children ardent for some desperate glory, the old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est Pro patria mori.” Another example would be “Glory of Women” by Siegfried Sassoon. It describes how women love soldiers at home on leave or wounded and are impressed by medals. They see war as glorious and have no idea of the number of people dying as time passes and the cruel ways of combat. The tittle of this poem is ironic as it does not celebrate women but rather attacks them. In conclusion, most of the poems written during the First World War show the soldiers hatred for war and the leaders of the countries who’s love for pride is amplifying the problem.
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