Post by Firrhill Admin on Sept 21, 2009 20:23:52 GMT
S3 – 'Dulce Et Decorum Est' Essay Plan
Essay Question – How successfully does Wilfred Own show his theme of the 'horrors of war'?
Introduction
'Dulce Et Decorum Est' by Wilfred Own is a particularly shocking poem that looks at the horrors of war. The poem is about...
Say what happens in each verse
Then have a final sentence saying that the theme is developed through a variety of techniques.
Paragraph 1
The poet firstly conveys the horrors of war by showing the reader the conditions of the battlefield.
Explain what the soldiers are doing in verse 1.
Use the quotation: 'bent double like old beggars under sacks'
Explain what picture you get from this.
Say what it tells you about the soldiers.
Use quotation: 'drunk with fatigue'
Explain why drunk is an unusual word to use here.
What does this tell you about the conditions of the battlefield
Paragraph 2
The main event of the poem is the gas attack. This very effectively shows the horrors of war.
Explain what happens in the gas attack. Give a tiny bit of context about mustard gas if you can.
Say that the whole mood and speed of the poem changes.
Use the quotation: 'Gas! Gas! Quick boys!'
Explain how the sentence structure changes the feeling of the poem at this point.
Say that the reader gets to understand the extreme suffering of the man who inhales the gas.
Use the quotation: 'Floundring like a man in fire'
Explain why you think the poet describes the man as being on 'fire'
Say that the poet also describes him as 'drowning'
Explain why 'drowning' is an unusual word in this conext.
Explain why you think the poet uses it.
Say that we are also made to feel like the gas is a disorientating creepy experience.
Use the quotation: 'As under a green sea'
Explain what the green sea is.
Say why you you think the poet wants to make it seem like he is under the sea.
Paragraph 3
The experience was so horrific for Owen that he had nightmares about it.
Explain the sights that Owen sees in his nightmares.
Use the quotation: 'In all my dreams before my helpless sight, he plunges at me, guttering, choking drowning'.
What sound does the word 'Guttering' give you. Why is this an effective word, even though it is made up?
Say that Owen uses other words to describe the pain of the soldier.
Use the quotation: 'If you could could walk behind the wagon that we flung him in, and watch the white eyes writhing in his face.'
Explain what the 'white eyes writhing' tells you about the soldier.
Explain how the body is treated.
What do these things tell you about the cost of war?
Say why you think Owen uses the word 'you'?
Say how you are affected by reading this word.
Paragraph 4
The whole purpose of writing this poem was to change the hearts and minds of his readers and convince them that it is not a good thing to die for your country.
Say that Owen uses a Latin saying in his poem.
Quote it: 'Dulce Et Decorum est Pro-Patria Mori'
Explain why people have these types of saying.
Say what Owen means when he calls this saying 'the old lie'.
What does he hope you will realise by reading his poem?
Conclusion
In conclusion, there can be no doubt that Wilfred Owen effectively conveys the message that war is horrific.
Sum up the different parts of the poem that made you think this.
End your conclusion by thinking about whether or not the cost of war has changed from Owen's time.
Essay Question – How successfully does Wilfred Own show his theme of the 'horrors of war'?
Introduction
'Dulce Et Decorum Est' by Wilfred Own is a particularly shocking poem that looks at the horrors of war. The poem is about...
Say what happens in each verse
Then have a final sentence saying that the theme is developed through a variety of techniques.
Paragraph 1
The poet firstly conveys the horrors of war by showing the reader the conditions of the battlefield.
Explain what the soldiers are doing in verse 1.
Use the quotation: 'bent double like old beggars under sacks'
Explain what picture you get from this.
Say what it tells you about the soldiers.
Use quotation: 'drunk with fatigue'
Explain why drunk is an unusual word to use here.
What does this tell you about the conditions of the battlefield
Paragraph 2
The main event of the poem is the gas attack. This very effectively shows the horrors of war.
Explain what happens in the gas attack. Give a tiny bit of context about mustard gas if you can.
Say that the whole mood and speed of the poem changes.
Use the quotation: 'Gas! Gas! Quick boys!'
Explain how the sentence structure changes the feeling of the poem at this point.
Say that the reader gets to understand the extreme suffering of the man who inhales the gas.
Use the quotation: 'Floundring like a man in fire'
Explain why you think the poet describes the man as being on 'fire'
Say that the poet also describes him as 'drowning'
Explain why 'drowning' is an unusual word in this conext.
Explain why you think the poet uses it.
Say that we are also made to feel like the gas is a disorientating creepy experience.
Use the quotation: 'As under a green sea'
Explain what the green sea is.
Say why you you think the poet wants to make it seem like he is under the sea.
Paragraph 3
The experience was so horrific for Owen that he had nightmares about it.
Explain the sights that Owen sees in his nightmares.
Use the quotation: 'In all my dreams before my helpless sight, he plunges at me, guttering, choking drowning'.
What sound does the word 'Guttering' give you. Why is this an effective word, even though it is made up?
Say that Owen uses other words to describe the pain of the soldier.
Use the quotation: 'If you could could walk behind the wagon that we flung him in, and watch the white eyes writhing in his face.'
Explain what the 'white eyes writhing' tells you about the soldier.
Explain how the body is treated.
What do these things tell you about the cost of war?
Say why you think Owen uses the word 'you'?
Say how you are affected by reading this word.
Paragraph 4
The whole purpose of writing this poem was to change the hearts and minds of his readers and convince them that it is not a good thing to die for your country.
Say that Owen uses a Latin saying in his poem.
Quote it: 'Dulce Et Decorum est Pro-Patria Mori'
Explain why people have these types of saying.
Say what Owen means when he calls this saying 'the old lie'.
What does he hope you will realise by reading his poem?
Conclusion
In conclusion, there can be no doubt that Wilfred Owen effectively conveys the message that war is horrific.
Sum up the different parts of the poem that made you think this.
End your conclusion by thinking about whether or not the cost of war has changed from Owen's time.