How Does Owen Present Conflict In Dulce Et Decorum Est

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In his poem, ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’, Wilfred Owen presents conflict as a totally pointless affair that never needs to take place. He shows this in the quotation ‘the old lie: Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori’ which means ‘it is sweet and right to die for your country’. The words ‘the old lie’ show straight away what the poet thinks as they show his opinion. It also brings across the way that Owen wants to portray conflict. Another element which shows the poet’s opinion is the quotation in Latin. The language, which is now dead, could be shown as no longer true, outdated, useless or irrelevant which is exactly what Wilfred Owen is trying to get across. The dead language could also show that going to war causes many people to lose their lives. However, Owen implies that the Latin quotation has always been believed to be true and a good motto. When the poet Horace originally wrote the phrase in a poem, he did not mean it and was saying it in a sarcastic manner. Another quotation Owen uses is…show more content…
He uses the technique of iambic pentameter through the majority of the poem, only throwing a couple of extra syllables in now and then. An example of this is ‘Gas! Gas! Quick, boys! ---An ecstasy of fumbling / Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time.’ The first line is a break from the usual ten syllables which gives the feeling of an onset of panic because of the irregularity. This links in with the words in the line which are about desperation and a sudden panic. However, the next line slips back to the comfortable, easy rhythm which the reader is used to. This might suggest safety and protection. This technique affects the reader but it is not obvious- it is almost a form of subconscious influence which is what makes it successful. Wilfred Owen also links back to the broken, irregular feeling of conflict by using different lengths of

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