Worldview of War Poets | Essay
Added on 2022-09-22
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Languages and Culture
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Running head: WORLDVIEW OF WAR POETS
WORLDVIEW OF WAR POETS
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WORLDVIEW OF WAR POETS
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note
1WORLDVIEW OF WAR POETS
Introduction
The age of modernism in the English Literature was observed during the 20th century,
which was characterized by several significant social, political and historical events. The age
of modernism was further characterized by a general change in the attitudes and behavior of
the society towards its individuals due to a widespread emotion of hopelessness and lack of
faith. The major shock that contributed to such a feeling of hopelessness and lack of faith in
the society was the emergence of the First World War at the very beginning of the 20th
century. In this regard, it can be said that the age of modernism began with the society and
humankind facing the horrors of a world war, which significantly changed their lives and
ultimately their belief on the global governments and humanity at large. The traumatic
aftermath of the world war led the poets, novelists and dramatists of the era to express their
ideas and sentiments regarding the cruel and selfish political agendas that led to the political
leaders to sacrifice the lives of numerous soldiers, disrupting the peace in the world. The
essay will further focus on the phenomena of war poetry by evaluating and analyzing the
worldview of two of the major war poets of the modern era, namely Wilfred Owen and
Siegfried Sassoon. In order to depict their beliefs and opinions on the society and polity of
the era clearly, certain poems written by them will be analyzed in the following sections.
Discussion
Wilfred Owen is recognized as one of the most recognized war poets of Britain. His
poems were characterized by life-life and realistic depictions of the horrors of war owing to
his intense personal experiences on the battlefield. Owen was enlisted in the British army in
the year 1915 and was soon sent to France where he was given the charge of commanding an
entire platoon. The profound effect of the brutality of war struck him due to his grotesque
experiences of having to wade through miles of trenches in the midst of heavy gunfire. Some
Introduction
The age of modernism in the English Literature was observed during the 20th century,
which was characterized by several significant social, political and historical events. The age
of modernism was further characterized by a general change in the attitudes and behavior of
the society towards its individuals due to a widespread emotion of hopelessness and lack of
faith. The major shock that contributed to such a feeling of hopelessness and lack of faith in
the society was the emergence of the First World War at the very beginning of the 20th
century. In this regard, it can be said that the age of modernism began with the society and
humankind facing the horrors of a world war, which significantly changed their lives and
ultimately their belief on the global governments and humanity at large. The traumatic
aftermath of the world war led the poets, novelists and dramatists of the era to express their
ideas and sentiments regarding the cruel and selfish political agendas that led to the political
leaders to sacrifice the lives of numerous soldiers, disrupting the peace in the world. The
essay will further focus on the phenomena of war poetry by evaluating and analyzing the
worldview of two of the major war poets of the modern era, namely Wilfred Owen and
Siegfried Sassoon. In order to depict their beliefs and opinions on the society and polity of
the era clearly, certain poems written by them will be analyzed in the following sections.
Discussion
Wilfred Owen is recognized as one of the most recognized war poets of Britain. His
poems were characterized by life-life and realistic depictions of the horrors of war owing to
his intense personal experiences on the battlefield. Owen was enlisted in the British army in
the year 1915 and was soon sent to France where he was given the charge of commanding an
entire platoon. The profound effect of the brutality of war struck him due to his grotesque
experiences of having to wade through miles of trenches in the midst of heavy gunfire. Some
2WORLDVIEW OF WAR POETS
of Owen’s most celebrated poems include ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’ and ‘Spring
Offensive’, which act as distinct pictures displaying the fate of humankind surrounded by the
atrocities and brutality of war and violence (Stallworthy 14). These poems also help in
presenting the view point and beliefs of the poet regarding the phenomenon of the world war.
In this regard, an analysis of the poems may be able to provide a better understanding on the
opinions and beliefs of the poet.
The poem ‘Spring Offensive’ by Wilfred Owen is based on a true incident that
comprised a series of attacks by the German army during the First World War. This event
marked a major deployment of the troops of the United States and led to a huge loss of life on
the battlefield (Johnston 16). The theme of the poem clearly relates to this incident of the
Spring Offensive in which the poet has quite clearly depicted the horrors of war and the battle
of mankind as an agent of nature itself. In this regard, it may be mentioned that Owen
considered the acts of violence and war to be an injustice against not only the humankind but
also nature, as is highlighted in the title of the poem where the soldiers have committed an
offense against spring, which is often viewed as symbolic of life and vitality in English
literature.
In his poem, ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’ Owen explains how the soldiers recruited
to fight the battles of the power hungry political leaders are ultimately doomed in spite of
their sense of heroic nationalism. Owen here depicts his views on the event of the First World
War as well as the political leaders of the age, considering the soldiers and youth on the
battlefield to be as animals sent in for mass slaughter (Breen 24). The vivid imageries of the
tolling bells provides the reader with a clear image of the future that the battlefield holds for
the soldiers, awaiting a misfortune and ultimately death (Owen 72). Through this poem, the
poet also depicts the fate of the families of the soldiers who keep vain expectations of their
of Owen’s most celebrated poems include ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’ and ‘Spring
Offensive’, which act as distinct pictures displaying the fate of humankind surrounded by the
atrocities and brutality of war and violence (Stallworthy 14). These poems also help in
presenting the view point and beliefs of the poet regarding the phenomenon of the world war.
In this regard, an analysis of the poems may be able to provide a better understanding on the
opinions and beliefs of the poet.
The poem ‘Spring Offensive’ by Wilfred Owen is based on a true incident that
comprised a series of attacks by the German army during the First World War. This event
marked a major deployment of the troops of the United States and led to a huge loss of life on
the battlefield (Johnston 16). The theme of the poem clearly relates to this incident of the
Spring Offensive in which the poet has quite clearly depicted the horrors of war and the battle
of mankind as an agent of nature itself. In this regard, it may be mentioned that Owen
considered the acts of violence and war to be an injustice against not only the humankind but
also nature, as is highlighted in the title of the poem where the soldiers have committed an
offense against spring, which is often viewed as symbolic of life and vitality in English
literature.
In his poem, ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’ Owen explains how the soldiers recruited
to fight the battles of the power hungry political leaders are ultimately doomed in spite of
their sense of heroic nationalism. Owen here depicts his views on the event of the First World
War as well as the political leaders of the age, considering the soldiers and youth on the
battlefield to be as animals sent in for mass slaughter (Breen 24). The vivid imageries of the
tolling bells provides the reader with a clear image of the future that the battlefield holds for
the soldiers, awaiting a misfortune and ultimately death (Owen 72). Through this poem, the
poet also depicts the fate of the families of the soldiers who keep vain expectations of their
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