Analyzing the Worldview of War Poets: Owen and Sassoon

This essay delves into the worldview of war poets, specifically focusing on Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon, prominent figures in English Literature's modernist period shaped by World War I. The introduction highlights the societal shift caused by the war, emphasizing the disillusionment and loss of faith that permeated the era. The discussion analyzes poems such as Owen's 'Anthem for Doomed Youth' and 'Spring Offensive,' and Sassoon's 'Suicide in the Trenches' and 'The Death Bed,' revealing their perspectives on the horrors of trench warfare, the sacrifice of soldiers, and the hypocrisy of political leaders. The essay examines how these poets used their work to critique the glorification of war and expose the harsh realities faced by soldiers and their families, reflecting their shared disillusionment with the political and social climate of the time. The conclusion summarizes their similar ideologies and their commitment to presenting a critical commentary on war, heroism, and the impact of the First World War on society.

Running head: WORLDVIEW OF WAR POETS
WORLDVIEW OF WAR POETS
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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

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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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loved ones to return from the battlefield but ultimately are forced to accept the looming
shroud of death that will cover their lives afterwards.
Wilfred Owen having had a first-hand experience of battles and violence uses his
poetry as a tool to portray his views and ideas to the masses so that they may be able to
refrain themselves from falling into the death trap towards which the political leaders had led
them (Stout 46). Owen believes that an expression of his worldview can emerge as a tool to
uncover the horrific realities of war to the mass of his readers, and prevent them from blindly
following the instructions of the leaders as being acts of heroic nationalism.
Another important war poet of the Modern era of English literature can be identified
to be Siegfried Sassoon. Siegfried Sassoon is recognized as one of the most acclaimed war
poets of Britain. One of the most distinguishing features of his poetry was the compassion
and anger to bring to light the horrors of the First World War to his readers. Sassoon was one
of first war poets to avoid any sense of sentimentality associated in the concepts of heroism
and duty that were often acclaimed by the political leaders in order to influence and convince
individuals to consciously sacrifice their lives for their country (Roberts 12). The main
themes of Sassoon’s poetry related to the brutality and horrors of trench warfare as well as
the blind faith and support of the politicians, churchmen and generals for the sacrifice of
numerous lives to meet the so-called interests and agendas of the nation. In this regard, it may
also be mentioned that the nature of Sassoon’s beliefs and views made him a well-known
political commentator and novelist who aimed to bring out the truth in front of the masses.
The worldview and ideologies of Siegfried Sassoon became widely recognized in the
country after him getting wounded at the battlefield. After this incident, Sassoon composed
an open letter to the department of war in the country stating that he does not want to fight
the war anymore and protested against the deliberate prolonging of the war by the political

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leaders and generals for their own selfish power-hungry interests (Bergonzi 56). The realistic
laments and satires of Siegfried Sassoon acted as a clear depiction of his emotions and views
on the contemporary social and political state of the country as well as of the world.
Furthermore, his poetry not only depicted his own beliefs but vividly mirrored the actual
horrors that the soldiers and humankind in general were forced to face as a result of the
atrocious brutalities of the First World War (Johnston 44). In this regard, it may be mentioned
that the war poetry by Siegfried Sassoon acted as a social and political commentary on the
popular ideologies of heroism associated with violence that was imposed by the various
leaders of the nation on the citizens, who had no other option but to blindly trust and follow
their instructions.
The vividness and accuracy in the description of the social and political scenario
during the First World War is seen in Sassoon’s poem, ‘the Death Bed’. This poem is
characterized by a vivid description of an injured and wounded soldier admitted in a hospital,
patiently waiting for his death. The most interesting feature of the poem is its diversion from
the horrific images of the battlefield and war that was widely described by other war poets of
the age. However, the distant hospital in which the poem is set provides a contrasted setting
that clearly depicts the aftermath of the endless cacophony of battle.
Another poem by Siegfried Sassoon that depicts the horrors and brutality of war as
faced by the society and the global community can be identified to be ‘Suicide in the
Trenches’. This particular poem has focused itself on the trench warfare, which Sassoon
himself had experienced during his service in the battlefield. This poem dealt with the
psychological impact of trench warfare and the horrors of the battlefield in general on not
only the soldiers but also their families (Sassoon 150). In this poem, Sassoon had depicted
how the soldiers were exposed to the atrocities of war whereas the generals and other leaders
remained in protection. This poem appears to be quite aligned with that of ‘Anthem for

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Doomed Youth’ by Wilfred Owen, in which the poet depicted the hypocrisy of the leaders
and generals sending the soldiers to the battlefield like animals in a slaughterhouse. The
exposition of the hypocrisy of the political leaders and generals as demonstrated through the
poetry of Sassoon seems to have had an influence on Wilfred Owen, who also resorted to
similar means in order to provide a social and political commentary on the age of war. More
importantly, such an exposition by such war poets can be considered to be highly necessary
as it provides for a means to the common people to understand and judge the situation
through a clearer perspective, instead of getting blindly influenced by the power hungry
leaders.
Conclusion
From the above discussion regarding the age of modernism in English literature, it can
be said that war poetry emerged as one of the most significant forms of expression where
several poets expressed their views on the horrors of the First World War that shaped the
society. Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon are two of the most prominent war poets of the
modern age who dedicated their literary work in order to provide a social commentary on the
hypocrisy surrounding war heroism that was propagated by the leaders of the society. In this
regard, it may be said that the ideologies and worldview of the two war poets Siegfried
Sassoon and Wilfred Owen are similar, as both of these poets showed their anger and disgust
towards the horrific and brutal event of war and violence.

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References
Bergonzi, Bernard. War Poets and Other Subjects. Routledge, 2017.
Breen, Jennifer, ed. Wilfred Owen (Routledge Revivals): Selected Poetry and Prose.
Routledge, 2014.
Johnston, John H. English Poetry of the First World War. Princeton University Press, 2015.
Owen, Wilfred. Anthem for Doomed Youth. Penguin UK, 2015.
Roberts, John S. Siegfried Sassoon-The First Complete Biography of One of Our Greatest
War Poets. Kings Road Publishing, 2014.
Sassoon, Siegfried. "Suicide in the Trenches." The British Journal of Psychiatry 205.2
(2014): 150-150.
Stallworthy, Jon, ed. The New Oxford book of war poetry. OUP Oxford, 2014.
Stout, Janis P. Coming Out of War: Poetry, Grieving, and the Culture of the World Wars.
University of Alabama Press, 2016.