Dulce et decorum by Wilfred Owen

Theme
War
Patriotism

The speaker recalls a specific battlefield experience as he watches if fellow soldiers die a slow and painful
death this experience traumatized the speaker and made it clear to him that there is nothing sweet and
fitting to dyeing for one’s country.

Bent double, like old beggar under sacks (Simile)-The speaker is painting the picture of the soldiers in the
trenches they are bend double they are binding, crouching, creeping slowly moving through the trenches.
Effectiveness of this simile- nap sacks of supplies that the soldiers wear is extremely heavy the soldiers
are so tired and fatigue that they are moving like old men
Effectiveness of this simile- War has made the soldiers poor meaning there are unable to enjoy the
richness and pleasure of life because they are stuck fighting and dying like animals.
Knock -kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge (Simile)-
Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs, - Haunting flares are bright markers that illuminate the
battle field especially the enemy territory.