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.
