Two of the most famous ‘war poets’ of the First World War are Wilfred Owen and Rupert Brooke. At first glance both poets seem to have many similarities: Both, Owen and Brooke, were civilians, who joined the army at a young age, both wrote poetry inspired by their war experiences, and both died during the war. But looking at the content of their poems the differences are significant, almost as if both poets witnessed different wars: While Brooke’s poems glorify war and the heroic deeds of the soldiers, Owen’s poetry tries to show the reality of war and trench warfare.
As both poets are examples for the changing perception of war in early and later ‘war poetry’, so are their poems "The Soldier" and "Dulce et Decorum est" examples of how those different mentalities are represented in poetry. This paper focuses especially on the form of both poems, as both use the form of the sonnet to achieve, but with very different results.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction: The First World War and its Poetry
2 Comparing „The Soldier“ and „Dulce et Decorum est“
2.1 Theory –World War I Poetry, Rupert Brooke and Wilfred Owen
2.1.1 World War I Poetry
2.1.2 Rupert Brooke
2.1.2 Wilfred Owen
2.2 Analysis of the Poems
3 Conclusion: The Changing Perception of the War
Research Objectives and Thematic Focus
This academic paper examines the evolution of war literature by comparing two iconic poems from the First World War: Rupert Brooke’s "The Soldier" and Wilfred Owen’s "Dulce et Decorum est". The central research objective is to analyze how the differing forms and contents of these poems reflect the shifting mentalities of the era, transitioning from early patriotic idealism to later disillusionment and a realistic portrayal of trench warfare.
- Evolution of British war poetry between 1914 and 1918.
- Comparison of early patriotic sentiment versus later anti-war realism.
- Formal analysis of sonnet structures and their emotional impact.
- The influence of individual war experiences on poetic output.
- Critical reception of war poets and the construction of war memory.
Excerpt from the Book
2.2 Analysis of the Poems
The themes of “The Soldier” and “Dulce et Decorum est” are very similar, as both deal with death, patriotism, sacrifice and the glorification of war, but the poems come to very different conclusions. As already stated this analysis will focus on the form of both poems, in other words the internal form (the meter and the foot) and the external form, as the form reflects the different mentalities of the poets.
In “The Soldier” Brook depicts an idealized version of England, to show his love for his country and to justify the possible death of himself and other soldiers during the war. Corresponding to this idealized, romantic depiction of England, Brooke uses the form of a sonnet to express his patriotism.
Brooke uses the form of an ‘Petrarchan’ sonnet, which consist of 14 lines, usually divided into two quatrains and a sestet (or one octave and a sestet in the case of “The Soldier”) using an iambic pentameter. Petrarchan sonnets are usually rhymed abba abba and cde cde or cdc cdc, but in “The Soldier” Brooke uses the rhyme scheme abab cdcd efg efg (cf. Brooke 148). This variation of the octave comes closer to the rhyme scheme of an ‘Shakespearean’ or ‘English’ sonnet.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: The First World War and its Poetry: This chapter provides the historical context of the First World War and introduces the shift in poetic perception from initial enthusiasm to later trauma.
2 Comparing „The Soldier“ and „Dulce et Decorum est“: This chapter establishes the theoretical background on WWI poetry and the poets, followed by a detailed formal analysis of the two selected poems.
3 Conclusion: The Changing Perception of the War: This chapter synthesizes the findings, highlighting how the two poems represent the fundamental shift from pro-war propaganda to the reality-based anti-war perspective.
Keywords
First World War, War Poetry, Rupert Brooke, Wilfred Owen, The Soldier, Dulce et Decorum est, Patriotism, Anti-war, Trench Warfare, Sonnet, Poetic Form, Disillusionment, Literary Analysis, Modern Warfare, War Memory.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper focuses on the shift in representation of the First World War in poetry, specifically contrasting the patriotic work of Rupert Brooke with the disillusioned, realistic poetry of Wilfred Owen.
What are the central thematic fields addressed?
The study covers patriotism, the glorification of war, the brutal reality of trench warfare, and the role of poetic form in conveying these messages.
What is the main research question?
The research asks how the differing mentalities of early and late war poetry are reflected in the formal and thematic structure of specific poems by Brooke and Owen.
Which methodology is applied?
The paper utilizes a comparative literary analysis, focusing on both the external form (sonnet structures, rhyme schemes) and the internal form (meter, rhythm) to interpret the authors' intentions.
What topics are discussed in the main section?
The main section covers the historical and cultural context of WWI poetry, brief biographies of the poets, and an in-depth formal analysis of their most famous poems.
Which keywords best describe the work?
The work is best characterized by terms such as War Poetry, Trench Warfare, Sonnet, Patriotism, and the specific names Rupert Brooke and Wilfred Owen.
How does Brooke use the sonnet form to convey his message?
Brooke utilizes the traditional, melodic structure of a sonnet to evoke a sense of romanticism, continuity, and love, aligning his patriotism with historical English literary traditions.
Why is the final line of "Dulce et Decorum est" considered significant?
The final line deviates from standard meter and English tradition, acting as a disruptive, abrupt conclusion that forces the reader to confront the reality of death and the emptiness of patriotic propaganda.
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- Ben Muin (Autor:in), 2018, "The Soldier" and "Dulce et Decorum est". Different Representations of the First World War in Poetry, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/584715
