“Dulce Et Decorum Est” Essay Feedback

In your answer you must refer closely to the text and to at least two of: imagery, word choice, tone, sound or any other appropriate feature. Is there a poem that has genuinely shocked or inspired you? Explain what aspects of the poem’s language produced this response.

The Good Bits… Everyone (nearly) made an excellent attempt to learn their quotations. Well done! Everyone (nearly) made an excellent attempt to learn their quotations. Well done! You all know that you are supposed to refer to the question. You all know that you are supposed to refer to the question. Many of you write very well: no one will fail on expression at Int. 2 Many of you write very well: no one will fail on expression at Int. 2 Look how much you managed to write. Compare this with your first timed essay; it’s much better. Look how much you managed to write. Compare this with your first timed essay; it’s much better.

And the bad bits… Analysis-most of have to develop this. Far too vague and general at the moment. Analysis-most of have to develop this. Far too vague and general at the moment. Many of you don’t give the impression of a genuine emotional response. Many of you don’t give the impression of a genuine emotional response. Topic sentences. Make sure you have them and if you can, try to vary the way you refer to the question. Topic sentences. Make sure you have them and if you can, try to vary the way you refer to the question. Try to vary ref. to qu. throu’out: not just in T.S Try to vary ref. to qu. throu’out: not just in T.S

The downright ugly bits… Inverted commas around title of poem Inverted commas around title of poem Capital letters for title of poem. Capital letters for title of poem. Learn title of poem!!!!!! Learn title of poem!!!!!! STOP writing “This quote” and “I have recently read” STOP writing “This quote” and “I have recently read”AAAAAAAAAAAARHG!!!!!!!!!!

Tips For all essay questions, look at the second line. This is crucial to your answer. For all essay questions, look at the second line. This is crucial to your answer. The first line only gives you a clue to the text you might choose. The first line only gives you a clue to the text you might choose. The second line is the question. The second line is the question. Use the second, not the first, line to finalise your choice of question. Use the second, not the first, line to finalise your choice of question.

In your answer you must refer closely to the text and to at least two of: imagery, word choice, tone, sound or any other appropriate feature. Is there a poem that has genuinely shocked or inspired you? Explain what aspects of the poem’s language produced this response.

Consider… What did shock you about the text? What did shock you about the text? Really think about it. Really think about it. What have you learnt about war? Dreadful physical effects. The waste of young life and potential Dreadful physical effects. The waste of young life and potential The horror of a man’s painful and brutal death. The horror of a man’s painful and brutal death. The fact no-one could help him, even if they wanted to. The fact no-one could help him, even if they wanted to. The dreadful effect this has on those who witness this after the event. The dreadful effect this has on those who witness this after the event. The apparently callous way the soldiers treat the dying man The apparently callous way the soldiers treat the dying man The strength of Owen’s anger at those who would encourage the idea that to fight and die for one’s country is noble and honourable. The strength of Owen’s anger at those who would encourage the idea that to fight and die for one’s country is noble and honourable. You really need to try and touch on most of these to cover the main ideas of the poem.

Analysis Firstly, at the start of the poem Owne writes about soldiers returning from the Front Line: Firstly, at the start of the poem Owne writes about soldiers returning from the Front Line: Bent double……….. sludge” This shocks me because he is describing the soldiers that are supposed to be young and fit and he is comparing them to old, unwell people.

Better Firstly, whilst reading this poem the physical effects of war on the soldiers shocked me as soldiers are normally associated with being fit and healthy. In th e first line, Owen describes the soldiers to seem like they are the complete opposite to this: Firstly, whilst reading this poem the physical effects of war on the soldiers shocked me as soldiers are normally associated with being fit and healthy. In th e first line, Owen describes the soldiers to seem like they are the complete opposite to this: “Bent double…sludge” Owens use of similes here gives a clear understanding as to the effect the war has had on th esoldiers. He compares the soldiers to old beggars, suggesting that they have a hunched posture and are weary and decrepit. Owen also states that they are “coughing like hags”. This gives the impression that they are drained and ill, and being comoared to old witch like creatures. Both of these sililes have a sens eof irony to them as soldiers are normally healthy and fit. (this is very far from the image portrayed by the recruiting poems of glorious young heroes)

“But someone still was yelling …..or lime” Owen powerfully sets the scene and emphasises the pain the man is in. The phrase “and floundering like a man in fire or lime” is a simile that Owen uses to powerfully show the pain the man is in. By comparing the man in gas to a man in fire or lime, Owen is able to make the reader understand the pain the man is in.”

Better In Stanza two, Wilfred Owen is describing the traumatic scene he saw, and continues to see, in his dreams when he saw a fellow soldier die during the gas attack; “But…Lime” This is a horrible image for the reader as it is a description of a man beginning to die a horrible death. The use of the word “floundr’ing” shows just how sporadic and out of control his movements are, reflective of the distress he was in. later in the stanza, owen admits that this image haunts him in his sleep, which shows the disturbing mental effects war has on people.

“In all my dreams, before my helpless sight, he plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning. This again reinforces the man’s struggle for survival. Owen tells the reader he has nightmares about this. Owen also uses present participle to make it feel as though it is happening now. This sickens me as I still can even think about the picture of it in my head.

This shows owen feels helpless as he is incapable of helping the dying man, and he also can’t escape his nightmares. “Plunges” shows how desperately the soldier is lunging for help, yet the narrator feels he can’t save him. Owen effectively uses word choice as “plunges” also creates a horrific atmosphere which makes the reader think that Owen is experiencing dreadful nightmares which he can’t get rid of. “guttering, choking, drowning” is also extremely effective in shocking the reader because the poet uses the present participle, making the poem sound immediate. This made me feel that Owen is inviting the reader to watch what is happening, which the reader is not naturally inclined to do. This shocks the reader as it puts the reader into Owen’s nightmares. Comparing a man dying in a gas attack to “drowning” is also very effective as it highlights the soldiers desperate call for help; if you imagine someone drowning, they are fighting against the water in order to save their own life This shows owen feels helpless as he is incapable of helping the dying man, and he also can’t escape his nightmares. “Plunges” shows how desperately the soldier is lunging for help, yet the narrator feels he can’t save him. Owen effectively uses word choice as “plunges” also creates a horrific atmosphere which makes the reader think that Owen is experiencing dreadful nightmares which he can’t get rid of. “guttering, choking, drowning” is also extremely effective in shocking the reader because the poet uses the present participle, making the poem sound immediate. This made me feel that Owen is inviting the reader to watch what is happening, which the reader is not naturally inclined to do. This shocks the reader as it puts the reader into Owen’s nightmares. Comparing a man dying in a gas attack to “drowning” is also very effective as it highlights the soldiers desperate call for help; if you imagine someone drowning, they are fighting against the water in order to save their own life

Now, Choose a section of your own essay. Choose a section of your own essay. Read it over carefully. Read it over carefully. Look at the comments. Look at the comments. Rewrite just one section, trying to improve your analysis. Rewrite just one section, trying to improve your analysis. Ask you partner to look at your work and comment on whether or not it has improved. Ask you partner to look at your work and comment on whether or not it has improved.

Choosing a question… Lets look at poetry questions over the last few years. Lets look at poetry questions over the last few years. Remember it is the second line that is most important. Remember it is the second line that is most important.