Dulce et Decorum Est

E37127

"Dulce et Decorum Est" is a powerful anti-war poem by Wilfred Owen that vividly depicts the horrors of World War I and condemns the romanticization of war.


Statements (51)
Predicate Object
instanceOf anti-war poem
poem
author Wilfred Owen
countryOfOrigin United Kingdom
criticizes patriotic war rhetoric
romanticization of war
the phrase "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori"
depicts gas attack
physical exhaustion of soldiers
psychological trauma
famousLine Gas! Gas! Quick, boys!
In all my dreams, before my helpless sight
The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est
firstPublication posthumous
form irregular sonnet-like structure
fullLatinTagline Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori
fullLatinTaglineMeaning It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country
genre lyric poetry
war poetry
language English
literaryMovement modernist poetry
trench poetry
literaryPeriod World War I poetry
meter predominantly iambic pentameter with variations
narrativePerspective first person
notableFor rejection of patriotic clichés about war
vivid depiction of gas warfare
openingLine Bent double, like old beggars under sacks
originalPublicationPeriod World War I
rhymeScheme irregular
setting Western Front
World War I battlefield
structure four stanzas
studiedIn secondary education curricula worldwide
theme anti-war sentiment
condemnation of propaganda
critique of patriotism
disillusionment
horrors of war
suffering of soldiers
titleLanguage Latin
titleMeaning It is sweet and fitting
tone bitter
condemnatory
graphic
usesDevice alliteration
imagery
irony
metaphor
simile
writtenDuring World War I

Referenced by (3)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Dulce et Decorum Est ("the phrase "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori"")
criticizes
Dulce et Decorum Est ("Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori")
fullLatinTagline
Wilfred Owen
notableWork

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