Disabled and Exposure are poems written by Wilfred Owen during the First World War Essay Example For Students

Disabled and Exposure are poems written by Wilfred Owen during the First World War Essay Disabled and Exposure are poems written by Wilfred Owen during the First World War. Although they are both written about the same subject they show different aspects of war. Disabled centres on the thoughts and feeling of a man who has survived the war and how his life changed after becoming disabled. Exposure shows the consequences of war and describes life in the trenches and the weather that the soldiers were exposed to. Although both pieces are different they both show the mental and physical suffering of the soldiers on the front line and the terror of war. Exposure is based on a group of men and how they managed to survive the conditions of winter on the front lines. The structure of the poem is in eight verses that describe the slow process of death. The larger verses at the end build up very gloomy and depressing pictures of the conditions and circumstances they faced. There is no colour in the poem and phrases that are used give a very dull, dark, grey morbid image of life at the front. The last line of each verse throughout the poem is shorter than the others and is either a question or a statement. For example, Is it that we are dying and We turn back to our dying. The first verse is about the night times and is about the soldiers on guard duty, and how they felt in the cold weather. We know that it is icy cold from the line, Our brains ache in the merciless iced east winds. This is also an example of personification as it implies the winds are human and cruel. It also says that the soldiers are worried by the silence around them and although exhausted cannot sleep because they are so anxious. Their feelings are shown clearly in this line, Wearied we keep awake because the night is silentaâ‚ ¬Ã‚ ¦. They also felt curious and nervous showing that they were brave, and stayed there because they had no choice. In the second verse the soldiers are starting to think, What are we doing here? This gives us the impression that they feel the whole thing is pointless and wonder what it is they are fighting for as they are watching and waiting for the enemy. But nothing happens shows that they want some action even if it means being killed in combat as they do not want to die a slow death caused by the bitter weather conditions. It highlights their boredom and constant waiting for something to happen. In verse three, the line Dawn massing in the east her melancholy army describes the dawn as an army gathering in the east where the sun rises. This is also a good example of personification as dawn is made out to be in human form gathering its men together. Attacks once more in ranks on shivering ranks of grey. This line creates a picture of the sun getting stronger and shining on the soldiers who are cold and terrified. This verse focuses a lot on some of the weather conditions, and morning time. It uses very descriptive words to create a good image. The fourth verse is again describing the grim weather Air that shudders. The snow starts to fall; it pours heavily then stops, and starts again, making it very difficult for them to stay in the same place and keep warm. Sudden successive flights of bullets streak the silence. This is effective alliteration which allows the reader to imagine the sound of the shooting bullets. The soldiers start to move as they hear the sounds of the bullets, but find it hard because of the snow. Black with snow suggests a miserable, evil and sorrowful atmosphere. It creates the impression that the snow is alive and attacking the soldiers. Once more nothing happens. The line at the beginning of verse five describes the cold snow falling quickly, touching their faces as if to remind them of the relentlessness of the weather, Pale flakes with lingering stealth come feeling for our faces. Forgotten hopes could imply that they have given up an any thoughts they had of returning home safely to their families. The next verse is when the soldiers start to think about home. Glimpsing the sunken fires glozed with crusted dark-red jewels, here they could be thinking about a warm fire and the coal- the colour of it as it burns out. During this thrilling scene Antonio's life is under threat EssayThese are the images of blood and pain that he remembers happening to him. In the next part of the poem, Owen focuses on the soldiers memories before the war. He goes on to describe when he used to play football One time he liked a blood smear down his leg tells us how he had football injuries when he was young, and the frustration that he feels because he can no longer experience that feeling. He also reminisces about the day he joined the army after a football game following a few drinks at the pub with friends. Meg was his girlfriend at the time, so he joined to please and impress all the girls, now the girls he joined for are no longer interested in him because he is now disabled. He asked to join. He didnt have to beg, he volunteered to go into the army to try and impress women and friends, although he also felt a sense of duty. Smiling they wrote his lie: aged nineteen years. He lied to them saying he was nineteen when he was really younger. When it was time for him to go he didnt think of the fear he was about to face no fears of fear came yet. In this verse it also gives an impression that he was excited about being in the army aâ‚ ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" because he knew that the soldiers got paid and he liked the idea of having his own personal weapons and taking care of them. Smart salutes and care of arms. It gives him a sense of belonging Espirit De Corps is the French phrase for a group. And soon he was drafted out with drums and cheers, suggests that he liked all of the praise and the cheers. He thought it was great and was quite overwhelmed by it all. The next verse describes when he got home from the war after his injury. He uses the comparison of football and war, Some cheered him home, but not as crowds cheer goal. The language used creates a very gloomy home coming not the cheering of heroes who had fought for their country. He also begins to realise how much his life is about to change. The final verse is about him thinking about the future. Spend a few sick years in institutes, indicates that he knows that for the rest of his life he will be in homes and cast aside from the rest of the world. The use of word sick implies that the years will not be worth living. And do what things the rules consider wise, suggests that he no longer has any freedom and has to do what other people tell him to do. The line, Tonight he noticed how the womans eyes passed from him to strong men that where whole, implies that girls are repulsed by him and that because of his injurys that he is no longer whole. He is lonely and just wants the days to go quickly so his pain and misery can finally come to an end. I think that the poem Disabled is a perfect example of the effects of war because it tells you of the consequences and the pain that some people went through. The ones that came back from war all in one piece were very fortunate; many came back with injuries or didnt come back at all. Owen manages to make his audience feel sorry for the victims of war. Studying these two poems by Wilfred Owen has given me a clearer insight into the horrors soldiers faced in the war and the effect this had on them and their families. Owen uses powerful language in both poems to help us picture the images seen by soldiers on the front line and also to Help us to understand the physical and mental effects this had on those who survived.