Diction in War Poem "Dulce et Decorum Est"

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how poems are one of the most powerful ways to convey an idea, message or opinion and how the poem "Dulce et Decorum Est", a war poem by Wilfred Owen, makes effective use of these devices. It looks at how Owen's use of precise diction emphasizes his point, showing that war is a horrible and devastating event and how his use of extremely graphic images adds more to his argument. It also analyzes Owen's use of punctuation to create texture in the poem in order to express strong meaning and a persuasive argument of the dark side of war.

From the Paper:

"The author's use of excellent diction helps to clearly define what the author is saying. (Fulwiler and Hayakawa 163) Powerful verbs like "guttering", "choking", and "drowning" not only show how the man is suffering, but that he is in a great deal of pain that no human being should endure. Other words like "writhing" and "froth-corrupted" hint to exactly how the man is being tormented by his enemy, as well as himself. The phrase "blood shod" forces the image of men who have been on their feet for days, never stopping to rest long enough to recuperate. "

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• Poem Review # 84822 : "Dulce Et Decorum Est"

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