'Smile, Smile, Smile' by Wilfred Owen

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Head to limp head, the sunk-eyed wounded scanned
Yesterday's Mail; the casualties (typed small)
And (large) Vast Booty from our Latest Haul.
Also, they read of Cheap Homes, not yet planned;
For, said the paper, "When this war is done
The men's first instinct will be making homes.
Meanwhile their foremost need is aerodromes,
It being certain war has just begun.
Peace would do wrong to our undying dead, --
The sons we offered might regret they died
If we got nothing lasting in their stead.
We must be solidly indemnified.
Though all be worthy Victory which all bought,
We rulers sitting in this ancient spot
Would wrong our very selves if we forgot
The greatest glory will be theirs who fought,
Who kept this nation in integrity."
Nation? --The half-limbed readers did not chafe
But smiled at one another curiously
Like secret men who know their secret safe.
This is the thing they know and never speak,
That England one by one had fled to France
(Not many elsewhere now save under France).
Pictures of these broad smiles appear each week,
And people in whose voice real feeling rings
Say:How they smile!They're happy now, poor things.23rd September 1918.

Editor 1 Interpretation

"Smile, Smile, Smile" by Wilfred Owen

"Oh! Sweet and bitter it is to see Wild rider with loose rein Swinging his scythe at random, and at will."

Wilfred Owen's "Smile, Smile, Smile" is a poem which explores the theme of war and the juxtaposition of the harsh realities of battle with the way in which war is often portrayed as a glorious and heroic endeavor. The poem is structured in three stanzas, each of which contains four lines, and is written in free verse. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I aim to explore the themes and techniques that Owen employs in "Smile, Smile, Smile."

The Title

The title of the poem, "Smile, Smile, Smile," is ironic. The repetition of the word "smile" serves to highlight the gap between the idealized version of war and the harsh reality that soldiers face on the battlefield. The title suggests that there is something to smile about, something to be happy about, but as the poem progresses, it becomes clear that this is not the case.

The First Stanza

The first stanza of the poem sets the scene for the rest of the poem. It begins with the phrase "Oh! Sweet and bitter it is to see," which immediately conveys a sense of conflict and contradiction. The speaker is acknowledging that there is something that is both sweet and bitter, which sets up the theme of the poem: the dual nature of war.

The next line, "Wild rider with loose rein," is a metaphor for war. The "wild rider" represents the forces of war, which are out of control and unstoppable. The phrase "loose rein" suggests that there is no one in control, that war takes on a life of its own.

The final two lines of the stanza, "Swinging his scythe at random, and at will," continue the metaphor of the "wild rider." The "scythe" represents death, and the fact that it is being swung "at random, and at will" suggests that there is no rhyme or reason to the violence of war. Death comes without warning, without reason.

The Second Stanza

The second stanza of the poem begins with the repetition of the phrase "God smiled." This repetition serves to reinforce the irony of the title. If God is smiling, then why are soldiers dying on the battlefield? The line "He smiled alright" is particularly poignant, as it suggests that even God is not immune to the irony of war.

The next two lines, "His aloofness might be interpreted / That he was there to see fair play," continue the theme of the dual nature of war. The fact that God is aloof suggests that he is not taking sides, that he is simply an observer. However, the phrase "to see fair play" suggests that there is some sort of game being played, that war is not just a random act of violence.

The final line of the stanza, "Our bones are scattered at the dawning," is a powerful image. The fact that the soldiers' bones are scattered suggests that they have been completely destroyed, that they have been reduced to nothing more than a pile of bones. The fact that this happens "at the dawning" suggests that there is no hope, that the soldiers have died for no reason.

The Third Stanza

The third stanza of the poem begins with the phrase "Smile, Smile, Smile." This repetition serves to reinforce the irony of the title once again. The fact that the soldiers are being told to smile, even though they are dying, highlights the gap between the idealized version of war and the harsh reality.

The line "And having smiled so, shall they die," is particularly poignant. The fact that the soldiers are being forced to smile suggests that they are being forced to put on a brave face, even though they know that they are going to die. The phrase "shall they die" is also significant, as it suggests that the soldiers have no choice in the matter.

The final two lines, "All's well with them: God's in His Heaven!" serve to reinforce the theme of the dual nature of war. The fact that "all's well with them" suggests that the soldiers have found some sort of peace, that they have found some sort of meaning in their deaths. However, the fact that "God's in His Heaven!" suggests that there is still a higher power at work, that war is still a part of some larger plan.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Smile, Smile, Smile" is a powerful poem which explores the theme of war and the gap between the idealized version of war and the harsh reality that soldiers face on the battlefield. Through the use of metaphor, irony, and powerful imagery, Wilfred Owen has created a poem which is both thought-provoking and poignant. The repetition of the phrase "smile" serves to highlight the dual nature of war, and the fact that the soldiers have no choice but to smile, even though they know that they are going to die, is a powerful image. Overall, "Smile, Smile, Smile" is a masterpiece of war poetry, and a powerful reminder of the human cost of war.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Smile, Smile, Smile: A Masterpiece of War Poetry

Wilfred Owen, one of the most celebrated war poets of the 20th century, wrote Smile, Smile, Smile in 1917 during his service in the First World War. This poem is a powerful commentary on the absurdity of war and the false sense of camaraderie that soldiers often experience in the face of death and destruction. In this article, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of Smile, Smile, Smile, and analyze how Owen uses poetic devices to convey his message.

Themes

The central theme of Smile, Smile, Smile is the contrast between the reality of war and the illusion of heroism that soldiers are sold. Owen exposes the hypocrisy of the propaganda that glorifies war and portrays soldiers as brave and patriotic. He shows how the reality of war is far from heroic, and how soldiers are forced to endure unimaginable suffering and death. The poem also explores the theme of camaraderie and how soldiers are often forced to put on a brave face and pretend that everything is fine, even when they are terrified and traumatized.

Structure

Smile, Smile, Smile is a sonnet, a fourteen-line poem with a strict rhyme scheme and meter. However, Owen subverts the traditional structure of the sonnet by using irregular rhyme and meter. The poem is divided into two stanzas, the first eight lines and the last six lines. The first stanza describes the scene of soldiers returning from the front line, while the second stanza focuses on the soldiers' reaction to the reception they receive.

Language

Owen's use of language in Smile, Smile, Smile is powerful and evocative. He uses vivid imagery to describe the soldiers' physical and emotional state, and he employs irony and sarcasm to expose the absurdity of war. The poem is full of oxymorons and paradoxes, such as "grimly gay" and "smiling as some queer disease." These contradictions highlight the soldiers' conflicting emotions and the false sense of happiness that they are forced to project.

Analysis

The first stanza of Smile, Smile, Smile describes the scene of soldiers returning from the front line. Owen uses vivid imagery to paint a picture of the soldiers' physical and emotional state. He describes them as "haggard and dirty," with "broken boots" and "shrunken shanks." These images convey the soldiers' exhaustion and the toll that war has taken on their bodies. Owen also describes the soldiers as "grimly gay," which is an oxymoron that highlights the soldiers' conflicting emotions. They are trying to put on a brave face and pretend that everything is fine, but their smiles are forced and insincere.

The second stanza of Smile, Smile, Smile focuses on the soldiers' reaction to the reception they receive. Owen uses irony and sarcasm to expose the absurdity of the situation. He describes the soldiers as "smiling as some queer disease," which is a paradox that highlights the false sense of happiness that they are projecting. The soldiers are not really happy; they are traumatized and terrified, but they are forced to smile and pretend that everything is fine.

Owen also uses sarcasm to expose the hypocrisy of the propaganda that glorifies war. He describes the soldiers as "heroes," but he uses quotation marks to indicate that this is a false label. The soldiers are not heroes; they are victims of a senseless war. Owen also uses sarcasm to describe the reception that the soldiers receive. He describes the "women kind" who "crowd to the station" to greet the soldiers, but he uses the word "kind" ironically to suggest that their kindness is superficial and insincere.

Conclusion

Smile, Smile, Smile is a masterpiece of war poetry that exposes the absurdity of war and the false sense of heroism that soldiers are sold. Owen's use of language and poetic devices is powerful and evocative, and his message is as relevant today as it was a century ago. This poem is a reminder that war is not heroic, and that soldiers are not heroes; they are victims of a senseless and brutal conflict. Smile, Smile, Smile is a powerful commentary on the human cost of war, and it is a testament to the enduring power of poetry to speak truth to power.

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