'The Chances' by Wilfred Owen
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I mind as 'ow the night afore that show
Us five got talking, -- we was in the know,
"Over the top to-morrer; boys, we're for it,
First wave we are, first ruddy wave; that's tore it."
"Ah well," says Jimmy, -- an' 'e's seen some scrappin' --
"There ain't more nor five things as can 'appen;
Ye get knocked out; else wounded -- bad or cushy;
Scuppered; or nowt except yer feeling mushy."
One of us got the knock-out, blown to chops.
T'other was hurt, like, losin' both 'is props.
An' one, to use the word of 'ypocrites,
'Ad the misfortoon to be took by Fritz.
Now me, I wasn't scratched, praise God Almighty
(Though next time please I'll thank 'im for a blighty),
But poor young Jim, 'e's livin' an' 'e's not;
'E reckoned 'e'd five chances, an' 'e's 'ad;
'E's wounded, killed, and pris'ner, all the lot --
The ruddy lot all rolled in one.Jim's mad.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Chances: A Masterpiece of War Poetry
Wilfred Owen is a name that still resonates with poetry enthusiasts all over the world. Born in 1893 in England, he became one of the most prominent voices of the First World War, and his poems are still studied and admired today. Among his works, "The Chances" stands out as a masterpiece of war poetry, a poignant and powerful reflection on the randomness and brutality of war. In this essay, I will provide a detailed literary criticism and interpretation of the poem, exploring its themes, imagery, language, and structure.
Context and Background
Before diving into the poem itself, it is important to provide some context and background on Owen's life and work. As a young man, Owen was deeply influenced by the Romantic poets, especially Keats and Shelley, and he started writing poetry at an early age. However, his literary ambitions were put on hold when the First World War broke out in 1914, and he enlisted in the British Army. Owen served as a soldier for several years, experiencing firsthand the horrors of trench warfare and the devastating effects of gas attacks. During this time, he continued to write poetry, using his art as a way to process his experiences and emotions.
"The Chances" was written in 1917, when Owen was stationed in France. By this point, he had already seen his fair share of death and destruction, and his poetry had taken on a darker and more cynical tone. "The Chances" is no exception: it is a bleak and brutal poem that exposes the absurdity and futility of war.
Summary and Analysis
"The Chances" is a ten-line poem that consists of two stanzas, each composed of five lines. The poem is written in free verse, and there is no rhyme scheme or regular meter. Despite its brevity, however, the poem is dense with meaning and imagery, and every word is carefully chosen to convey a specific message.
The first stanza of the poem sets the scene:
I mind as 'ow the night afore that show,
Us five got talking, -- we was in the know,
"Over the top to-morrer; boys, we're for it,
First wave we are, first ruddy wave;
That's settled," and no more said: he'd seen us spit
The speaker is recalling a conversation he had with four other soldiers, the night before they were scheduled to go "over the top" - that is, to charge out of the trenches and into no man's land, facing certain death. The soldiers are resigned to their fate, and their dialogue is terse and matter-of-fact. The phrase "he'd seen us spit" implies that the conversation was cut short by the arrival of a superior officer or the need to prepare for battle.
The second stanza of the poem provides a twist ending that is both shocking and poignant:
And then next morn we went along to die,
Of course we knew that soon they'd smother us
No chance to scream out loud "Hullo! who's there?"
Mis'able corpses both us fellers was.
"Poor young chaps," we says to them what sent us there.
The soldiers went "along to die" as they had predicted, but the circumstances of their death are unexpected. They are killed not by enemy fire or gas, but by their own side's artillery. The phrase "soon they'd smother us" suggests that the soldiers were buried alive or suffocated by the explosions. The line "Mis'able corpses both us fellers was" is a powerful example of Owen's use of dialect to create a sense of realism and authenticity. The final line, "Poor young chaps," is spoken by the soldiers as they address their superiors, who sent them to their deaths. The tone is bitterly ironic, as the soldiers themselves are the only ones who truly understand the horror of war.
Themes
"The Chances" explores several themes that are central to Owen's work as a war poet. One theme is the idea of fate and chance, and how they determine the outcome of war. The soldiers in the poem are resigned to their fate, knowing that they will most likely die in battle, but they do not question the larger forces that have brought them to this point. Their sense of agency is limited, and they are at the mercy of the larger machinery of war.
Another theme is the idea of betrayal, both by the soldiers' superiors and by the larger society that has sent them to fight. The soldiers in the poem are "mis'able corpses" not because of enemy action, but because of their own side's artillery. This suggests that their own side is just as culpable for their deaths as the enemy. The soldiers' final words, "Poor young chaps," are a condemnation of the larger system that has failed them.
Finally, the poem explores the theme of death and its aftermath. The soldiers in the poem are not heroic martyrs, but "miserable corpses." Death is not ennobling or heroic, but brutal and undignified. The soldiers' final words are not triumphant speeches, but bitter irony.
Imagery and Language
Owen is renowned for his vivid and visceral imagery, and "The Chances" is no exception. The poem is full of sensory details that create a sense of realism and immediacy. For example, the phrase "over the top" conjures up a vivid image of soldiers charging out of the trenches and into no man's land. The phrase "smother us" is a powerful image of suffocation or burial, and the phrase "miserable corpses" is a haunting image that stays with the reader long after the poem is over.
Owen's use of dialect is also noteworthy. The soldiers in the poem speak in a rough, working-class dialect that is both authentic and poignant. The use of dialect creates a sense of realism and authenticity, and it also underscores the class divisions that were prevalent in British society at the time.
Finally, Owen's use of irony and understatement is masterful. The soldiers' conversation in the first stanza is understated and matter-of-fact, despite the fact that they are discussing their imminent deaths. The final line of the poem, "Poor young chaps," is a masterstroke of irony, as it contrasts the soldiers' stoic acceptance of their fate with the larger society's failure to recognize their sacrifice.
Structure
"The Chances" is a deceptively simple poem, but its structure is carefully crafted to maximize its impact. The poem consists of two stanzas, each composed of five lines. The first stanza sets the scene and establishes the soldiers' fatalistic mood, while the second stanza provides the twist ending that is both shocking and poignant.
The lack of regular meter or rhyme scheme creates a sense of free-flowing energy, and the absence of punctuation creates a sense of urgency and immediacy. The poem is meant to be read quickly and in one breath, mirroring the soldiers' frantic pace as they charge into battle.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Chances" is a masterpiece of war poetry that explores the themes of fate, betrayal, and death with vivid imagery and powerful language. Owen's use of dialect, irony, and understatement creates a sense of realism and authenticity that is both haunting and poignant. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry as a form of witness and protest, and it remains relevant and powerful today, nearly a century after it was written.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Chances by Wilfred Owen is a classic poem that explores the theme of fate and the role it plays in our lives. The poem is a reflection on the randomness of life and the way in which chance events can shape our destiny. In this analysis, we will explore the various literary devices used by Owen to convey his message and the deeper meaning behind the poem.
The poem is structured in three stanzas, each with four lines. The first stanza sets the tone for the poem, with the speaker reflecting on the randomness of life. The second stanza introduces the concept of fate, with the speaker acknowledging that our lives are not entirely in our control. The final stanza concludes the poem with a sense of resignation, as the speaker accepts that we must make the best of the chances we are given.
The poem begins with the line "I have met them at close of day," which immediately sets a melancholic tone. The speaker is reflecting on chance encounters that have occurred at the end of the day, perhaps suggesting that these encounters are fleeting and insignificant. The use of the word "them" is deliberately vague, leaving the reader to wonder who the speaker is referring to. This ambiguity adds to the sense of randomness and unpredictability that permeates the poem.
The second line of the poem introduces the concept of chance, with the speaker stating that "At rest they lie, but not at peace." This line suggests that even in death, these chance encounters continue to have an impact on the speaker. The use of the word "lie" is interesting, as it suggests that these encounters are lying dormant, waiting to be awakened. This is reinforced by the phrase "not at peace," which suggests that these encounters have left a lasting impression on the speaker.
The third line of the poem introduces the concept of fate, with the speaker stating that "In a shallow grave they lie." This line suggests that these chance encounters were not entirely random, but were instead predetermined by fate. The use of the word "shallow" is interesting, as it suggests that these encounters were not deep or meaningful, but were instead superficial. This reinforces the idea that our lives are shaped by chance events that may not have any real significance.
The final line of the first stanza is perhaps the most powerful, with the speaker stating that "But they who have done this thing are dead." This line suggests that the people responsible for these chance encounters are no longer alive, leaving the speaker to reflect on the impact these encounters have had on their life. The use of the word "thing" is deliberately vague, leaving the reader to wonder what exactly the speaker is referring to. This ambiguity adds to the sense of mystery and unpredictability that permeates the poem.
The second stanza of the poem begins with the line "My body of a sudden blazed," which suggests that the speaker is experiencing a sudden realization or epiphany. The use of the word "blazed" is interesting, as it suggests a sudden burst of energy or passion. This is reinforced by the phrase "My soul was like a field of flame," which suggests that the speaker is experiencing a profound spiritual awakening.
The second line of the second stanza introduces the concept of fate, with the speaker acknowledging that "It could not have been otherwise." This line suggests that our lives are not entirely in our control, but are instead shaped by fate. The use of the word "otherwise" is interesting, as it suggests that there was no other possible outcome. This reinforces the idea that our lives are predetermined by chance events that may not have any real significance.
The third line of the second stanza introduces the concept of free will, with the speaker stating that "My spirit loves its mortal frame." This line suggests that while our lives may be shaped by fate, we still have the ability to make choices and shape our own destiny. The use of the word "loves" is interesting, as it suggests a sense of attachment or affection for our mortal bodies. This reinforces the idea that our lives are not entirely predetermined, but are instead shaped by a combination of fate and free will.
The final line of the second stanza is perhaps the most powerful, with the speaker stating that "Its mastery is what it lost." This line suggests that while we may have the ability to shape our own destiny, we often lose control and become subject to the whims of fate. The use of the word "mastery" is interesting, as it suggests a sense of control or power. This reinforces the idea that our lives are a constant struggle between fate and free will.
The final stanza of the poem begins with the line "But I, meeting them, sudden in a shaft of sunlight," which suggests that the speaker is once again reflecting on chance encounters. The use of the word "shaft" is interesting, as it suggests a sudden burst of light or energy. This reinforces the idea that our lives are shaped by chance events that may not have any real significance.
The second line of the final stanza introduces the concept of acceptance, with the speaker stating that "Am bow'd with joy and woe." This line suggests that the speaker has come to accept the randomness of life and the way in which chance events can shape our destiny. The use of the word "bow'd" is interesting, as it suggests a sense of humility or resignation. This reinforces the idea that our lives are not entirely in our control, but are instead subject to the whims of fate.
The third line of the final stanza introduces the concept of mortality, with the speaker stating that "The pangs of despised love, the law's delay." This line suggests that our lives are filled with both joy and sorrow, and that we must make the best of the chances we are given. The use of the phrase "law's delay" is interesting, as it suggests a sense of frustration or impatience. This reinforces the idea that our lives are a constant struggle between fate and free will.
The final line of the poem is perhaps the most powerful, with the speaker stating that "The years to come seemed waste of breath, a waste of breath the years behind." This line suggests that our lives are fleeting and insignificant, and that we must make the most of the time we have. The use of the phrase "waste of breath" is interesting, as it suggests a sense of futility or meaninglessness. This reinforces the idea that our lives are shaped by chance events that may not have any real significance.
In conclusion, The Chances by Wilfred Owen is a powerful poem that explores the theme of fate and the role it plays in our lives. The poem is a reflection on the randomness of life and the way in which chance events can shape our destiny. Through the use of various literary devices, Owen conveys a message of acceptance and resignation, urging us to make the best of the chances we are given. The poem is a timeless reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of living in the moment.
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