A Synopsis of Wilfred Owen’s ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’
“My subject is War and the pity of War. The poetry is in the pity.” Wilfred Owen
The title ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ derives from the Latin phrase: Dulce et decorum est pro patria
mori, meaning ‘it is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country’. The Latin title is taken from Ode
3.2 (Valor) of the Roman poet Horace. In ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ however, Wilfred Owen is
strongly disagreeing with this sentiment. He is vilifying the notion.
Having himself experienced the devastation of trench warfare and a gas attack, Owen's stance
is that there is nothing 'sweet', and nothing 'fitting', about sacrificing one’s life for one’s
country. Focusing in particular on one moment in the First World War, when Owen and his
platoon are attacked with poison gas, ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ is a portrayal of suffering. It
depicts pain, desperation and degradation. The disturbing images in this poem defy all notions
of glory and heroism as Owen dramatically depicts the horrors of war. He demeans the
idealistic views about war by presenting a harrowing depiction of its reality.
The poem opens with a stark description of the soldiers. “Bent double, like old beggars under
sacks,/Knock-kneed, coughing like hags“. This image is in complete contrast to anything that is
heroic. The poet presents an honest and unembellished image of the warriors in order to dispel
the romantic ideals surrounding warfare. Owen does not spare any detail in his descriptions of
the pitiful soldiers - “many had lost their boots, but limped on, blood-shod”, “drunk with
fatigue” — the words 'limped', ' lost', 'drunk' and 'fatigue' all have connotations of destruction
and destitution. These emotive words are simple and unambiguous in that you cannot read into
them any hint of positivity and they therefore block out all notions of glory and honour. The
word ‘drunk’ has implications of being ‘under the influence’ of something and is possibly
conveying the fact that they are acting under orders and that their actions are beyond their
control as if they were intoxicated.
The second stanza dramatically depicts a victim of a gas attack. It describes the gas as making a
“green sea” in which Owen saw his fellow soldier drowning as he was “yelling out and
stumbling, and floundering like a man in fire or lime…”. These present participle 'ing' words
'yelling, stumbling and floundering' convey continuous movement which in turn echoes the
desperation and panic of the horrific moment. These are verbs that are contradictory of all
things heroic. The picture painted is one of hysteria, alarm and fear. It is a far cry from dignity
, and honour.
The third stanza presents an image of the soldier being taken away in a wagon. His “white eyes
writhing in his face”, “his hanging face”, the blood jolts “gargling from the froth-corrupted
lungs” — the vocabulary is violent and disturbing, leaving no scope for any heroic
interpretation. The violence and brutality of these images are all the more poignant when we
are reminded that these soldiers are but ‘boys’. In this stanza the plural form ‘dreams’ is
repeated and this emphasises the recurring nature of the dreams that plague the young poet.
He cannot escape the horror and suffering. It is imprinted on his mind and emerges in his
‘dreams’. By having these images revisit him in his dreams he is further plagued with his
inability to help; the reference to his “helpless sight” conveys the depth of his dispair at not
being able to help.
A closer analysis of specific words used in the poem:
'Bent double', 'Knock-kneed' - both phrases depict physical impairment and exhaustion.
Soldiers are intrinsically associated with strength and good posture. The reality of war strips
them of these attributes. These expressions depict an image of men who are 'broken' by war,
they have lost their stature, they are damaged and maimed. They are now devoid of dignity,
devoid of valor, strength and gallantry.
They are described as ‘beggars’ a term that is demeaning and pitiful. To be described as
‘beggars’ strips the soldiers of any dignity and honour that they may formerly have possessed.
The word carries with it connotations of destitution and hopelessness. It also suggests that they
are in such a pitiful state that they appear to be ‘begging’ for any help that comes their way.
Their state is one of degradation and subservience.
'coughing like hags' – the word ‘coughing’ again paints a picture of ill and failing health
whereas the word 'hags' is associated with coarseness, roughness but more notably with old
age. Later in the poem the soldiers are referred to as 'boys' and this is in stark contrast to their
being referred to as 'coughing like hags'. It is a poignant reference that shows the damage that
war inflicts on these young men. Their youthfulness has been obliterated by war.
'trudge' - to drag oneself, to move laboriously; there is nothing dignified or sophisticated in the
way they move; 'to trudge' is a verb that depicts someone struggling to walk, struggling to keep
up, it describes a heavy and weary walk.
“My subject is War and the pity of War. The poetry is in the pity.” Wilfred Owen
The title ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ derives from the Latin phrase: Dulce et decorum est pro patria
mori, meaning ‘it is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country’. The Latin title is taken from Ode
3.2 (Valor) of the Roman poet Horace. In ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ however, Wilfred Owen is
strongly disagreeing with this sentiment. He is vilifying the notion.
Having himself experienced the devastation of trench warfare and a gas attack, Owen's stance
is that there is nothing 'sweet', and nothing 'fitting', about sacrificing one’s life for one’s
country. Focusing in particular on one moment in the First World War, when Owen and his
platoon are attacked with poison gas, ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ is a portrayal of suffering. It
depicts pain, desperation and degradation. The disturbing images in this poem defy all notions
of glory and heroism as Owen dramatically depicts the horrors of war. He demeans the
idealistic views about war by presenting a harrowing depiction of its reality.
The poem opens with a stark description of the soldiers. “Bent double, like old beggars under
sacks,/Knock-kneed, coughing like hags“. This image is in complete contrast to anything that is
heroic. The poet presents an honest and unembellished image of the warriors in order to dispel
the romantic ideals surrounding warfare. Owen does not spare any detail in his descriptions of
the pitiful soldiers - “many had lost their boots, but limped on, blood-shod”, “drunk with
fatigue” — the words 'limped', ' lost', 'drunk' and 'fatigue' all have connotations of destruction
and destitution. These emotive words are simple and unambiguous in that you cannot read into
them any hint of positivity and they therefore block out all notions of glory and honour. The
word ‘drunk’ has implications of being ‘under the influence’ of something and is possibly
conveying the fact that they are acting under orders and that their actions are beyond their
control as if they were intoxicated.
The second stanza dramatically depicts a victim of a gas attack. It describes the gas as making a
“green sea” in which Owen saw his fellow soldier drowning as he was “yelling out and
stumbling, and floundering like a man in fire or lime…”. These present participle 'ing' words
'yelling, stumbling and floundering' convey continuous movement which in turn echoes the
desperation and panic of the horrific moment. These are verbs that are contradictory of all
things heroic. The picture painted is one of hysteria, alarm and fear. It is a far cry from dignity
, and honour.
The third stanza presents an image of the soldier being taken away in a wagon. His “white eyes
writhing in his face”, “his hanging face”, the blood jolts “gargling from the froth-corrupted
lungs” — the vocabulary is violent and disturbing, leaving no scope for any heroic
interpretation. The violence and brutality of these images are all the more poignant when we
are reminded that these soldiers are but ‘boys’. In this stanza the plural form ‘dreams’ is
repeated and this emphasises the recurring nature of the dreams that plague the young poet.
He cannot escape the horror and suffering. It is imprinted on his mind and emerges in his
‘dreams’. By having these images revisit him in his dreams he is further plagued with his
inability to help; the reference to his “helpless sight” conveys the depth of his dispair at not
being able to help.
A closer analysis of specific words used in the poem:
'Bent double', 'Knock-kneed' - both phrases depict physical impairment and exhaustion.
Soldiers are intrinsically associated with strength and good posture. The reality of war strips
them of these attributes. These expressions depict an image of men who are 'broken' by war,
they have lost their stature, they are damaged and maimed. They are now devoid of dignity,
devoid of valor, strength and gallantry.
They are described as ‘beggars’ a term that is demeaning and pitiful. To be described as
‘beggars’ strips the soldiers of any dignity and honour that they may formerly have possessed.
The word carries with it connotations of destitution and hopelessness. It also suggests that they
are in such a pitiful state that they appear to be ‘begging’ for any help that comes their way.
Their state is one of degradation and subservience.
'coughing like hags' – the word ‘coughing’ again paints a picture of ill and failing health
whereas the word 'hags' is associated with coarseness, roughness but more notably with old
age. Later in the poem the soldiers are referred to as 'boys' and this is in stark contrast to their
being referred to as 'coughing like hags'. It is a poignant reference that shows the damage that
war inflicts on these young men. Their youthfulness has been obliterated by war.
'trudge' - to drag oneself, to move laboriously; there is nothing dignified or sophisticated in the
way they move; 'to trudge' is a verb that depicts someone struggling to walk, struggling to keep
up, it describes a heavy and weary walk.
