Compare and contrast the two poems, focusing on how the poets use Essay

Compare and contrast the two poems, focusing on how the poets use language and imagery to represent war. Both poems are war poems of two different periods in history. 'The Charge of the Light Brigade', by Alfred Tennyson, was written before the twentieth century whereas 'Dulce et decorum est' was first drafted in 1917 by a poet named Wilfred Owen. Tennyson's poem was set in The Crimean War (1854-56) where the British commander made the mistake of charging at the main Russian position. He was meant to have retaken some guns held by the Russians. This had inevitably caused many deaths to the six hundred men that obeyed the order. Alfred Lord Tennyson was not at the battle scene, he created his poem through the description given in 'The Times' newspaper. Unlike Tennyson, Wilfred Owen's poem is based on his experience in the First World War. This poem describes how he and some soldiers were ambushed by a gas attack. Then he was forced to watch one of his men die after failing to put his gas mask on in time. His poem's title, 'Dulce et decorum est', is Latin for 'It is sweet and proper'. He sees war as being wrong and a 'lie', whilst Tennyson believes that enduring on war is 'Noble' and an 'Honour'. The 'Charge of The Light Brigade' consists of short lines giving the rhythm a fast pace. Although throughout the poem the rhyming is not regular, the rhyme is distinctive because the lines are short. Therefore rhymes like "onward" and "hundred are clearly heard. This helps give the poem a positive tone. We feel that the soldiers are heroic as the "Half a league" moves onwards into battle. When the poem is read allowed the tripling sounds like marching. This effect gives a sense of bravery from The Light Briga... ...be that the victim of the gas attack is so badly scared his face is like a sick devil. Tennyson, from what has been implied in the poem, views war something that is for the brave and people should respect those who have fought for Britain. Despite his patriotic view, he has repeated the danger of an early death in his poem, proving he is fully aware of war's horrors. Owen has shown war as being gruesome. His poem describes the war through the senses, which allows readers enter the shoes of Wilfred Owen, and understand war's tragedy. He believes that 'sweet and proper to die for your country' is a lie, unlike Tennyson. Alfred Tennyson's poem was based on a newspaper article that has made the poem biased and patriotic. I prefer Wilfred Owen's poem because I am able to see war through his experience and how The First World War has emotionally affected him.