Dulce Et Decorum Est
Owen’s use of simile to express the idea of pain and exhaustion on a battlefield during World War I contradicts the patriotic belief that death tastes sweet when life is honorably laid down for the sake of the country. In stanza 1, lines 1-2, Owen supports the idea of exhaustion “Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge.” (Owen, 2014) through which the reader can infer that taking part in the war is so exhausting “knock-kneed, coughing like hags” as a soldier has to walk countless miles. Owen calls them beggars because they are so tired and therefore bent to relax a bit. Moreover, the use of diction “His hanging face, like a devil’s sick of sin” (Owen, 2014, line 20) illustrates the great use of simile by Owen as probably the face of the soldier is covered with blood on the battlefield which symbolizes the color of the devil that compels the humanity to fight with each other and wants nothing but unrest and chaos on Earth.
Disabled
Owen through the use of metaphor in Disabled suggests that becoming a soldier and fighting for the country does not bring glory and dignity rather death waits for the soldier on the battlefield. The use of diction such as “waiting for the dark” summarizes Owen’s message that a soldier in warfare is so full of agony that he wants neither fame nor dignity but waits for death impulsively while being depressed. The use of metaphor as a figurative language emphasizes the idea that war leaves nothing “In the old times, before he threw away his knees, Now he will never feel again” (Owen, 1962, line 10-11) implies that the soldier’s knees are no longer for use. He suggests that knees after war are ‘metaphorically’ dead persuading the readers that war brings nothing but takes away life and if a person survives he loses his courage, stamina, and everything he could rely on before the war. Moreover, the words “threw away his knees” specify that the soldier might have lost the sense in his knees and further addition of the words “never feel again” suggests that now he is suffering from deep pain supporting the previous quote that man is completely disabled now.
Asleep
The use of figurative language, I have collected from Owen’s Asleep is personification demonstrated as “High-pillowed on calm pillows of God’s making” (Asleep by Wilfred Owen, n.d., line 12) not only personifies the “pillows” but also creates ‘imagery’ and emphasizes the use of diction as a ‘metaphor’ as the “calm pillows” are actually metaphorically used as ‘white and soft clouds.’ Owen personifies the “calm pillows” to reinforce the sense of contentment, tranquility, and calmness in paradise. The metaphor and personification of “calm pillows of God’s making” create a stark contrast emphasizing the calmness and comfort pointing towards the possibility of where “he” (the soldier) went might be to paradise.
In conclusion, Owen has used figurative language so effectively in all of the three above-mentioned poems that a reader gets drawn to the painful and horrific experiences of the war clearly stating the theme that war is always painful, horrific, and devastating. Besides, these poems shatter all the primitive beliefs of war that it brings glory and honor to the country, soldiers, and every individual that participates in it. In my opinion, Owen in these poems through harmonious tone and form used in them effectively mocks and shatters all the patriotic perception of warfare on the battlefield.
References
Owen, W. (1962). Disabled. The English Journal, 51(7), 494. https://doi.org/10.2307/811321
“Asleep” by Wilfred Owen. (n.d.). Www.poemtree.com. https://www.poemtree.com/poems/Asleep.htm
Owen, W. (2014). Dulce et Decorum Est. British Journal of Psychiatry, 204(6), 461–461. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.114.148304
