Owen and Tennyson on War

Paper Summary:

The paper examines the poems, "Anthem for Doomed Youth" by Wilfred Owen and "The Charge of the Light Brigade" by Alfred Tennyson. The paper specifically compares and contrasts the attitudes of the poets towards death in war.

From the Paper:

"In his poem The Charge of the Light Brigade, Alfred Tennyson praises the brave soldiers ("When can their glory fade, O the wild charge they made") and celebrates the glory of war despite the fact that this attack was an error. But he does not show directly to the reader the reality of the slaughter by using euphemisms like "into the valley of death", "into the jaws of death" and "into the mouth of hell".
"The reader has not the time to realize what is happening because he is carried along by the rhythm of charge of the poem : "Half a league, half a league, Half a league onward..."
We can see the courage of the soldiers who, even if they know that the orders are wrong, are loyal to their country and chiefs and carry it ("Not tho' the soldier knew Some one had blunder'd"). This obedience of the British soldiers front to death is quite amazing : without considering the danger of the situation ("Their's not to make reply, Their's not to reason why, Their's but to do and die") they go "Into the jaws of death". Unhappily, though they are heroes, we can see that they are killed very quickly ("while horse and hero fell...")."

More papers on Owen and Tennyson on War:

• Analytical Essay # 51293 : "Sassoon, Owen, and Graves in "Regeneration"
• Book Review # 95047 : "John Owen and the Worship of God--A Review"
• Analytical Essay # 146649 : "Politics on War"

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