During WW1 many new poets emerged, greatly expanding the war poetry genre. The jarring effects of the Great War can be seen in the intensity and abundance of the poems written during this time. The war affected the majority of the world and people in all walks of life. Those who fought in the war had a particularly harsh experience, as a result the poetry written was very like a close encounter with the front line. These poems were also characterized by varying degrees of patriotism that often waned as the war wore on, sensory imagery that was often graphic due to the soldiers witnessing of new technologies in war such as mustard gas, and a tone of hopelessness. Consequently, poetry fluidly allows these messages, images, and emotions to be transmitted to audiences outside of their context. This allows us to best understand the intentions of the writers. Although numerous exceptional novels have been written about the first world war, I believe the poetry written about the war is the most …show more content…
He also speaks of the realities of flashbacks and how helpless he feels within the war. In addition to these realities, Owen also reveals the indignities of war comparing the soldiers to hags and beggars (42). This directly opposes the figure of soldier as an honorable hero that is used to recruit. Owen directly calls out the phrase ‘dulce et decorum est pro patria mori’, this phrase is part of the national imaginary and gives soldiers a reason to go fight in the war (42). His direct opposition to the phrase questions the actions of the government recruiting and those pressuring men and boys to join the fight. Additionally, the gruesome reality of the poem evokes an emotional reaction in the reader which it would seem was Owen’s intention as he wrote home, “The people of England needn't hope. They must agitate," ( Stallworthy