HBL Dulce et Decorum Est Analysis

Dulce et Decorum Est Analysis

1) The literal and implied meaning of this sentence is that the soldiers looked seemingly weak and frail to the extent that the way they move are like that of old beggars carrying sacks on their back. The first stanza intends to break the cliched image the readers have that the soldiers who represents their country to fight war are all strong, brave and mighty, and thus the writer used phrases like " All went lame ; all blind ; Drunk with fatigue " and "Bent double, like old beggars under sacks." to tell the readers that not only the soldiers are not strong and masculine, they are frail to the extent that we might say that they are physically disabled. Also, the first stanza intends to tell the readers that the soldiers are not leading a good life, which can be seen from the sentence "Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots but limped on, blood-shed. This shows that they lead a very bad life, and has to "march even when they are asleep or tired". Moreover, they did not get proper treatment even when they are hurt, and had to "limp on, blood-shed".

2)The sound device like " Gas! Gas! Quick, boys" is used to give the readers a sense of emergency when they read the sentence. Also, the scene of a boy drowning gives the readers a sense of helplessness, which the writer felt, being unable to save the boy. The writer even describes the whole process with the sentence" He plunges at me, guttering, choking and drowning." increases the tension the readers feel when the read the poem.

3)I think that the writer is trying to tell us that the phrase Dulce et Decorum Est was a lie, and so it is not worth dying fighting a war. This meant that dying fighting for your country for glory and pride is nothing but a fallacy most people thought was true. In reality, life should be treasured and taken seriously, and not thown away at the spur of the moment just to protect your country as war. The writer was trying to convey the message that war was not worth throwing lives of soldiers away. Personally, I agree with the writer as petty things like honour, glory is just not worth sacrificing people's lives for it, and yet, many people have this wrong concept of placing pride and honour over one's life.