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Going To The War 'And Dulce Et Decorum Est'

Decent Essays

The two poems “To lucasta going to the War” by Richard Lovelace, and “Dulce et Docorum Est” by Wilfred Owen both convey a very similar view of war but a different experience of battle. They both contrast each other in that, Lovelace’s poem presents the prewar view of war because Lovelace never really saw war. He died before he actually made it to the ront line. War had been presented as glorious and honorable for centuries and Lovelace poem reflects this with him being a 17th century aristocrats with ties to the english royalty. In that environment a man’s word was indeed his bond. If he had promised to support his king, and then failed to do so he would have been publicly disgraced and probably had to forfeit all his holdings and wealth and gone into exile. And no …show more content…

It presents the actual “during war” and “after fighting” view of war. This poem describes a battle and a death in the battle because Owen actually died in action or as a result of it which is passionate and sorrowful. “Bent double, like old beggars under sack, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through shadge.” This presents a different view of war. Look at the strong words that are used to depict the action; haunting, blood-shod, drunk with fatique, this is what war is really like, the poem implies. So, don’t give me that lie that it is glorious to die for one’s country (Which is the translation of the title-Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori). “My friend, you would not tell with such zest, To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old lie; Dulce et Decorum est Pro partria mori.” While war has been presented as glorious and honorable in literature for centuries and Lovelace’s poem reflects this, Owen’s poem takes a different turn towards the modern in literature and contrast Lovelace’s with the tone of an actual battle, post war experience and its

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