~War Poetry~ Wilfred Owen ‘The Next War’

Structure Sonnet form: Sonnets were traditionally love poems. Owen used this form of poetry to bring a lighter mood to the seriousness of death and war. Through this, we can gain some hope and optimism despite the tragedy of the situation. ‘The Next War’ is a combination of an Italian and an English sonnet. It contains the traditional Italian octave in the first stanza (2 Quatrains) in an ABBA, CDDC rhyme scheme. However, the second stanza (sestet) is structured like an English sonnet, with a quatrain in an EFEF rhyme scheme followed by a rhyming couplet (GG)

Structure cont. The Volta (turning point) was used in sonnets to change the perspective of them poem. This occurs in the second stanza. High modality language is used to declare that death is not the enemy, the opposite of what was presented in stanza 1 where the first 2 quatrains introduce the idea that Death is “spitting bullets” at them, “shaving them, making them weep.” However, this final sestet declared the soldiers firm belief there is no need to fear death and that men should fight death directly not other men, as the other men are not responsible for the war.

Meaning This poem focuses on how the soldiers fighting in the trenches changed their ideas of what war is actually about. At first the men enlisted to fight proudly for their country. However, after experiencing the death in the trenches the men now believe that they are fighting to stay alive against Death itself rather than the soldiers from the opposing countries. The soldier’s familiarity with seeing soldiers die has also made them become friends with the personified Death.

War’s a joke for me and you. Wile we know such dreams are true Intertextuality The poem begins with a quote from Siegfried Sassoon’s poem ‘A letter home.’ This poem was written to Robert Graves fellow war poet. Metaphor: War is said to be a joke. It is a way that war can be manageable for the soldiers if they think of it as a joke. Juxtaposition: Sassoon uses first and 2nd person language to include us all in his view of war. War’s a joke for me and you. Wile we know such dreams are true ~Siegfried Sassoon The poem ‘A letter home’ by Sassoon, from which Owen referenced this quote , is about the dreams that have been taken from the men. However, the men live on in nature and in this way their dreams can triumph over the war.

‘The Next War’ Stanza 1 Techniques A Out there we’ve walked quote friendly up to Death B Sat down an eaten with him, cool and bland, B Pardoned his spilling mess-tins in our hand. A We’ve sniffed the green thick odour of his breath. Inclusive language: Shows camaraderie during the war Capitalisation and Personification: Gives death a tangible presence, shows its power during war, but also humanises it and makes it manageable. Juxtaposition: “Death” with “friendly” and “eaten” shows courage and hope in the face of death. The grimness of death is juxtaposed with the commonplace. Imagery and Personification: The “green this odour” is an allusion to the gas attacks described in ‘Dulce et Decorum est.’ That Death is responsible for the green gas attacks shows how the men are fighting Death.

Stanza 1 cont. C Our eyes wept, but our courage didn't writhe. D He's spat at us with bullets and he's coughed D Shrapnel. We chorussed when he sang aloft, C We whistled while he shaved us with his scythe. Contrast: “wept” and “courage” highlights how brave the men were in the face of death. Personification: Shows how initially Owen describes the soldiers of fighting death not other men. Highlights how the war is just about survival to the men not to win, which they see as being futile. Contrast 1st and 3rd person: The inclusive “we” contrasted with “he” for Death shows how the men are singing with Death and each are playing their role in the war. Imagery: Painting Death as the Grim reaper

Stanza 2 E Oh, Death was never enemy of ours! F We laughed at him, we leagued with him, old chum. E No soldier's paid to kick against His powers. F We laughed, -knowing that better men would come High modality: Emphasising that Death was not the enemy. Positive connotations and Repetition: “laughed” suggests the men have overcome their fear of death. Repetition further emphasises this. Personification: No soldier can fight against Death, we usually just accept it. Term of endearment: “old chum” makes Death seem like a friend resulting from the soldiers familiarity with death.

Stanza 2 cont. G And greater wars: when each proud fighter brags G He wars on Death, for lives; not men, for flags. Enjambment: The follow on to the last line emphasises the switch to 3rd person when referencing the soldiers. At this point, Owen is highlighting the lessons he has learnt from this war. That is, the soldiers will no longer fight blindly for their country. However, they will fight only for their own life in a direct battle against Death. Symbolism: The flag symbolises the countries involved in the war. Owen states that the soldiers in the trenches fight directly against Death for the sake of staying alive, rather than for their countries and military leaders.