Question
What poetic device is used in this phrase" All went lame, all blind" and how does it emphasize the soldiers suffering and how does it contribute to the poems message " Dulce et Decorum Est by wilfred
Answers
GPT-4o mini
In the phrase "All went lame, all blind" from Wilfred Owen's poem "Dulce et Decorum Est," the poetic device used is **anaphora**, which is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses. Here, the repetition of "all" emphasizes the collective suffering of the soldiers, highlighting that no one is exempt from the horrors of war.
This phrase contributes significantly to the poem's message by illustrating the physical and psychological toll that war takes on soldiers. The imagery evokes a sense of helplessness and hopelessness, depicting the soldiers as not only physically incapacitated (lame and blind) but also stripped of their humanity and dignity. The stark reality of their suffering contrasts sharply with the glorification of war often found in patriotic rhetoric.
By using such vivid and direct language, Owen conveys the grim truth about the experiences of the soldiers, challenging the idea that dying for one's country is noble or honorable, as suggested in the Latin phrase "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori" (It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country). Thus, the use of anaphora in this context serves to deepen the impact of the poem's anti-war message.
This phrase contributes significantly to the poem's message by illustrating the physical and psychological toll that war takes on soldiers. The imagery evokes a sense of helplessness and hopelessness, depicting the soldiers as not only physically incapacitated (lame and blind) but also stripped of their humanity and dignity. The stark reality of their suffering contrasts sharply with the glorification of war often found in patriotic rhetoric.
By using such vivid and direct language, Owen conveys the grim truth about the experiences of the soldiers, challenging the idea that dying for one's country is noble or honorable, as suggested in the Latin phrase "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori" (It is sweet and fitting to die for one's country). Thus, the use of anaphora in this context serves to deepen the impact of the poem's anti-war message.