Consider
the following passage from W. Owen's, Dulce et Decorum est.
"Gas! GAS! Quick,
boys!--An ecstasy of fumbling
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time,
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling
And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime.--
Dim through the misty panes and thick green light,
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning."
Is this a reliable account
of life on the Western Front?
Things
to consider
- Owen fought
on the Western front, so it's Primary Source material.
- Gas attacks
were used on the Western Front.
- soldiers were
issued with Gas masks.
- Poetry is often
filled with metaphors and similies, making it more difficult
to appraise.
- Owen's personal
experiences may not be representative of all experiences
of life on the Western Front.
- The purpose
of the poem: What is Owen trying to say?
An excellent appraisal
of the full poem is available from the Wilfred
Owen association's website.
