Exposure owen analysis. Wilfred Owen Exposure Analysis 2022-10-23

Exposure owen analysis Rating: 5,8/10 648 reviews

In his poem "Exposure," Wilfred Owen depicts the devastating effects of war on soldiers' mental and physical well-being. Through vivid imagery and poignant diction, Owen portrays the soldiers as victims of their circumstances, trapped in the trenches and subjected to the brutalities of war.

The poem begins with a description of the soldiers huddled in the trenches, "stiffened in their wardrobes" as they try to find some relief from the biting cold. The metaphor of the soldiers as "wardrobes" conveys the idea that they have become inanimate objects, stripped of their humanity and reduced to mere objects to be used and discarded by their superiors. This theme of dehumanization is further reinforced by the use of the verb "stiffened," which suggests that the soldiers have become stiff and unyielding, their bodies and minds numb to the horrors they face.

The second stanza describes the soldiers' experiences on the battlefield, where they are subjected to the constant threat of death and injury. The imagery of "death-dealing despair" and "the whining bullets" suggests the relentless violence and danger that the soldiers face on a daily basis. The use of the verb "whining" also adds to the sense of despair and hopelessness, as it suggests that the soldiers are powerless to stop the bullets from killing them.

In the third stanza, Owen shifts his focus to the physical and mental toll that war takes on the soldiers. He describes their faces as "caked with fears" and their eyes as "staring from hollow sockets," suggesting that the constant exposure to violence and danger has left them exhausted and traumatized. The metaphor of the "hollow sockets" also suggests that the soldiers have lost the spark of life and vitality that once animated them, further emphasizing the devastating effects of war on their well-being.

The final stanza of the poem brings the theme of dehumanization full circle, as Owen describes the soldiers as "frosted mounds" that "all day the guns have pounded." The metaphor of the soldiers as "frosted mounds" suggests that they have been reduced to nothing more than lifeless objects, discarded and forgotten by those in power. This is further emphasized by the use of the verb "pounded," which suggests that the soldiers have been subjected to constant abuse and violence.

Overall, "Exposure" is a powerful and poignant depiction of the devastating effects of war on soldiers' mental and physical well-being. Through vivid imagery and poignant diction, Owen portrays the soldiers as victims of their circumstances, trapped in the trenches and subjected to the brutalities of war. The poem serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost of conflict and the importance of working towards peace.

An Analysis of Exposure by Wilfred Owen

exposure owen analysis

In addition, it is believed by some that eyes are subject to inner emotions. The author uses this line to reinforce the horrible conditions. While the soldiers were battling, the author says that another country was assisting another country in the war. On the surface, this could mean cold temperatures, but if looked at in more depth it could symbolize inner mental turmoil. This is World War I where images of the fighting men are dominated by rifles with bayonets attached, but the imagery here is as if the frigid cold is equipped with a bayonet.


Next

Exposure

exposure owen analysis

Emotive language is also used a lot throughout the poem, making us feel sorry for the men and also provoking us to join Owen in his disapproval of the army and government. Northward, incessantly, the flickering gunnery rumbles, Far off, like a dull rumour of some other war. Pale flakes with fingering stealth come feeling for our faces— We cringe in holes, back on forgotten dreams, and stare, snow-dazed, Deep into grassier ditches. Night will come again and frost will fasten on the mud and the soldiers. The only truths that they accept are the absolute realities that they face like the rain that drenches them to their bones, the stormy skies with its dark clouds that reflects their lowered spirits and incessant war that is going on around them.

Next

Wilfred Owen Exposure Analysis

exposure owen analysis

And yet he asks anyway in a reflection of the futility of war to make the world a better place. Owen specifically uses direct short sentences and exclamation marks to portray the sense of urgency and terror. It implies that conditions are not getting any better for the soldiers and that there is still no hope for them; there is no light at the end of the tunnel for these men and death may even come as a blessing. Written by ElizabethShaw As well as this, Owen also depicted everyday life in the trenches, distant from the action. By the end of the poem there is a sense of hopelessness and despair where the men see their deaths as inevitable. Physically they will heal, but emotionally, most soldiers will struggle until the end of their Les Murray "The Burning Truck" and "Widower in the Country" The Poem Is Structured Into five stanzas with the first describing the speed of an attack on the town. This means that dawn is preparing clouds for further snow and cold in order to attack the ranks of soldiers on the ground.

Next

Exposure by Wilfred Owen Poem Analysis

exposure owen analysis

The second stanza makes it clear that the soldiers feel remote and unearthed by 3. This provoked a sense of anxiety in the trenches, as the men had to be prepared to fight at any minute. Tonight, this frost will fasten on this mud and us, Shrivelling many hands, and puckering foreheads crisp. It shows how vulnerable and helpless men can feel when they are put in a life threatening situation and how precious life is. The poem starts off with "Our brains ache, in the merciless iced east winds that knive us. This poem is a powerful piece about nature and life. About Wilfred Owen Poet.

Next

Exposure Poem Summary and Analysis

exposure owen analysis

We are reminded that they do need sleep but are deprived of it due to their situation. Pathetic fallacy is effective in its own right as inanimate objects are viewed as if they have human feelings, emotions or sensations, when the soldiers themselves are not being treated as if they have any of these human things. Owen tells us how the cold and slightly Dulce Et Decorum Est audience. Wilfred Owens poems illustrate how the atrocities of war can be a significant force on the outcomes of how human conflict is conveyed in his poetry. This gave strong images of men during the war struggling each day to stay alive. The effect of this rhythmic structure is to covey how tedious the trench life was for soldiers in the war. They talk about other things.

Next

Exposure (Wilfred Owen poem) Summary

exposure owen analysis

In the fifth stanza, the snow and cold send the soldiers into a numbed reverie about home. Both of these are profound philosophical queries that people in myriad situations outside of war often contemplate. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. A poem written by the World War One poet, Wilfred Owen, is 'Exposure'. It lies in how war snuffs out young lives and inhumanely kills the dreams, the hopes and the endless possibilities that these lives could have become.

Next

An Analysis of Exposure by Wilfred Owen Free Essay Example

exposure owen analysis

The onset of morning makes the soldiers acutely aware of their miserable existence and a despair takes over their hearts. Talking about the collective sufferings of all the soldiers, Owen expresses his discontentment at the treatment meted out to the soldiers at the war zones. From this, we can infer how the wintry elements are as much an enemy on the attack as are the Germans, as the elements are unforgiving and do not care about who they harm. It is written in first person plural, which makes us feel with the soldiers and put ourselves into their position. Nature seems to reflect their melancholy and the dawn, like an army general, attacks them with its army of wind, rain and thunder as they wait for something to happen. Owen clearly thinks that these men are not being treated as if they were humans or he is reminding us that these men are not ruthless killing machines, they are brave soldiers with feelings and sensations.

Next

Overview

exposure owen analysis

Their homes are now filled with the sounds of the happy crickets and cheerful mice who believe that the empty house now belongs to them. This bleak landscape is highlighted by the streaks of unnaturally colored phosphorescent flares. Faith in the comforts and certainties of home clashes with the conviction that God intended for these men to die in cold misery. This indicates that the soldiers are displaying limited awareness of their surroundings, abnormal behavior and poor coordination. This shows exactly how much help the soldiers have been given. As they continue their vigil, they hear the wind blowing through the barbed wires, sounding like an agonised man trapped within the sharp brambles of the wire. They have been deprived of such a basic necessity because if they do sleep they will either die from cold or will die from an enemy attack.

Next