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Similarities Between I Was Only 19 And Dulce Et Decorum Est

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Poetry and music have been strong ways for expressing human emotions, thoughts, and experiences. They have the unique ability to evoke strong emotions and connect with people on a deeper level. This essay will analyse the theme of war in Wilfred Owen's poem "Dulce et Decorum Est" and Redgum's song "I Was Only Nineteen". Both texts use significant poetic and stylistic devices to comment on the horrors of war and its impact on soldiers.
Wilfred Owen's poem "Dulce et Decorum Est" was written during World War I and described the horrors and reality of war. The poem uses vivid and graphic imagery to depict the gruesome conditions that soldiers face on the battlefield. The first stanza describes soldiers returning to their trenches after being on …show more content…

The metaphor "an ecstasy of fumbling" depicts the chaos and confusion of the soldiers at this moment. The repetition of "Gas! GAS!" creates a sense of urgency and terror as the soldiers try to save themselves from the poisonous gas.
The third stanza describes the death of a soldier from the gas attack. The metaphor "watch the white eyes writhing in his face" creates a haunting image of the soldier's pain and suffering. The poem ends with a powerful message that contradicts the common belief that dying for one's country is honourable. "Dulce et decorum Est pro patria mori" translates to "It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country" in Latin, a famous saying at the time. However, Owen's final message is that this belief is a lie, and that war only brings misery and suffering.
Likewise, Redgum's song "I Was Only Nineteen" also explores the theme of war and its impact on soldiers. The song is about the experiences of an Australian soldier during the Vietnam War. The song uses a narrative structure to tell the story of the soldier's journey from being drafted to his return home. The song uses the refrain "God help me, I was only nineteen" to emphasise the youthful age of the soldiers sent to

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