Poetry Analysis of Wilfred Owen and Keith Douglas

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English Literature

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Deployment of language..................................................................................................................3
Stanza forms....................................................................................................................................6
Rhyming..........................................................................................................................................7
Battlefield realities...........................................................................................................................8
Pathos concerning dead corpse........................................................................................................9
Wilfred Owen’s belief.....................................................................................................................9
Historical aspects of the poems.....................................................................................................10
Keith’s effects on its writers..........................................................................................................11
Contrasting views of both the poets on war...................................................................................12
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................13
Reference List................................................................................................................................14

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Introduction
The essay highlights the poetry of two British writers named, Wilfred Owen and Keith Douglas.
Wilfred Owen served in World War I and Keith Douglas served in the World War II and has
depicted their works from two different generations1. This essay represents the poetic analysis of
Owen and Douglas according to their eras by way of their traumatic experiences during wartime.
It discussed the beliefs of both the writers, the values they preach, their writing styles, use of
ideas, historical aspects of their poems, and the impact they have created on their readers.
Deployment of language
Futility
The language and tone that has been used and prevails throughout the poem is one of immediate
confusion and grief that leads to frustration. The sun which is known for stimulating life is
unable to revive the dead soldier, is considered to be unexplainable2. The complaining and
petulant attitude is demonstrated by the poet through the number of question marks that have
been used in the poem’s last four lines. The purpose of the Owen is indicated by his choice of
diction. Hard negative connotations have been contrasted with the contrast of sensitive and soft
words. The words that were used for portraying soft, sensitive and tender attitude were, “Gently
1 John Richardson, ‘Sentimental Witnesses: Modern War Representation and the
Eighteenth Century’, Mosaic: an interdisciplinary critical journal, 51.2 (2018), 139-155 (p.
142).
2 Kevin, W. Penny, ‘A tragic harp: Ritual, irony and myth in the war poetry of Wilfred
Owen’, Language and Literature, 20.2 (2011), 151-167 (p.158).

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its touch, Whispering, Rouse, still warm, Full-nerved, Kind old sun.”3 The words that were used
for portraying cynical, hard and negative attitude are “Snow, Break earth’s sleep at all?, Fatuous
sunbeams, Clay grew tall, Clays of a cold star”. The tender language which Owen uses for
describing his reactions of the Sun, contrasts with the usual violent language which he generally
uses in his poems. The poignancy of the subject matter is added upon by the poem's plain
language. The theme of utility is related to the death of a soldier. The diction used by Owen is
something which suggests that the soldier who died could be a boy, although the poem is not
explicit4. The command of moving the soldier is perhaps connected to the sun’s gentle touch.
This could be the idea of the soldier growing tall.
Vergissmeinnicht
The language and tone that has been used and prevails throughout the poem is related to the
enemy. The poet uses grotesque decaying images throughout the poem however, uses a little soft
tone while describing how Steffi will be saddened due to her boyfriend’s death5. The poem uses
3 Ewane, G. Ngide, ‘A ‘War Poet’ or a ‘Poet At War’: Wilfred Owen and the Pity of
War’, International Journal of Applied Linguistics and English Literature, 5.1 (2016), 170-177
(p.172).
4 Kevin, W. Penny, ‘A tragic harp: Ritual, irony and myth in the war poetry of Wilfred
Owen’, Language and Literature, 20.2 (2011), 151-167 (p.160).
5 Desmond Graham, Keith Douglas, 1920-1944: a biography (London, UK: Faber &
Faber, 2012), p.1970.