'Exposure' by Wilfred Owen
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I
Our brains ache, in the merciless iced east winds that knife us . . .
Wearied we keep awake because the night is silent . . .
Low drooping flares confuse our memory of the salient . . .
Worried by silence, sentries whisper, curious, nervous,
But nothing happens.
Watching, we hear the mad gusts tugging on the wire.
Like twitching agonies of men among its brambles.
Northward incessantly, the flickering gunnery rumbles,
Far off, like a dull rumour of some other war.
What are we doing here?
The poignant misery of dawn begins to grow . . .
We only know war lasts, rain soaks, and clouds sag stormy.
Dawn massing in the east her melancholy army
Attacks once more in ranks on shivering ranks of gray,
But nothing happens.
Sudden successive flights of bullets streak the silence.
Less deadly than the air that shudders black with snow,
With sidelong flowing flakes that flock, pause and renew,
We watch them wandering up and down the wind's nonchalance,
But nothing happens.
II
Pale flakes with lingering stealth come feeling for our faces --
We cringe in holes, back on forgotten dreams, and stare, snow-dazed,
Deep into grassier ditches. So we drowse, sun-dozed,
Littered with blossoms trickling where the blackbird fusses.
Is it that we are dying?
Slowly our ghosts drag home: glimpsing the sunk fires glozed
With crusted dark-red jewels; crickets jingle there;
For hours the innocent mice rejoice: the house is theirs;
Shutters and doors all closed: on us the doors are closed --
We turn back to our dying.
Since we believe not otherwise can kind fires burn;
Now ever suns smile true on child, or field, or fruit.
For God's invincible spring our love is made afraid;
Therefore, not loath, we lie out here; therefore were born,
For love of God seems dying.
To-night, His frost will fasten on this mud and us,
Shrivelling many hands and puckering foreheads crisp.
The burying-party, picks and shovels in their shaking grasp,
Pause over half-known faces. All their eyes are ice,
But nothing happens.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Exposure by Wilfred Owen: A Masterpiece of War Poetry
As a literary critic, it's hard to describe the impact that Wilfred Owen's "Exposure" has on me every time I read it. There's something hauntingly beautiful and tragic about this poem that captures the essence of what it means to be a soldier in war. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve deeper into the themes, imagery, and emotions that make "Exposure" one of the greatest war poems of all time.
The Setting: A Bleak and Harsh Landscape
"Exposure" is set in the winter of 1917, during World War I, and portrays a group of soldiers huddled in a trench, exposed to the harsh elements of nature. The landscape is bleak and desolate, with snow and frost covering everything in sight. The soldiers are weary and tired, with nothing but their rifles and their comrades to shield them from the enemy.
The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem with the repeated phrase "but nothing happens." The soldiers are waiting for something to happen, but all they hear is the sound of the wind and the snow falling. The second stanza describes the men's physical and mental state, as they struggle to stay awake and keep warm. The third stanza continues this theme, with the soldiers hallucinating and seeing things that aren't there. They are on the brink of exhaustion, and their minds are playing tricks on them.
The Theme: The Brutality of War
The theme of "Exposure" is the brutality of war and its effects on the human psyche. Owen portrays the soldiers as helpless victims of a war they never asked for, caught in a cycle of violence and death. The soldiers are not heroes, but ordinary men who have been forced to fight for their country.
The poem also serves as a commentary on the futility of war. The soldiers are waiting for something to happen, but nothing does. They are stuck in a never-ending cycle of waiting and fighting, with no end in sight. The repetition of the phrase "but nothing happens" reinforces this theme, emphasizing the sense of hopelessness and despair that pervades the poem.
The Imagery: Cold, Darkness, and Despair
Owen's use of imagery in "Exposure" is powerful and evocative. He describes the cold and darkness of the winter landscape, with the snow and frost covering everything in sight. The soldiers are exposed to the elements, with nothing but their thin uniforms to protect them. The metaphor of the wind as a "twitching agonies of men among its brambles" is particularly effective, conveying the sense of pain and suffering that the soldiers are experiencing.
The imagery of darkness is also prominent in the poem. The soldiers are in a trench, surrounded by darkness and shadows. The sun is absent, and they are left to fend for themselves in the cold and gloom. The metaphor of the "pale flakes with fingering stealth" creates a sense of foreboding and anxiety, as if something terrible is about to happen.
The imagery of despair is perhaps the most powerful in the poem. The soldiers are exhausted and on the brink of collapse. They have lost their sense of purpose and are waiting for death to claim them. The metaphor of the "merciless iced east winds that knive us" is particularly effective, conveying the sense of hopelessness and despair that pervades the poem.
The Emotions: Fear, Sorrow, and Despair
The emotions that Owen conveys in "Exposure" are intense and visceral. The soldiers are afraid, not just of the enemy, but of the cold and darkness that surround them. They are filled with sorrow, as they think of their loved ones back home and wonder if they will ever see them again. And they are filled with despair, as they realize that their fate is in the hands of something much larger than themselves.
The repetition of the phrase "but nothing happens" emphasizes the soldiers' fear and anxiety. They are waiting for something terrible to happen, but they don't know when or where it will come from. The metaphor of the "frost-dawn" also creates a sense of sorrow and sadness, as the soldiers contemplate the fleeting nature of life.
The soldiers' despair is perhaps the most powerful emotion in the poem. They are tired and disillusioned, with no hope for the future. The metaphor of the "demented choirs of wailing shells" is particularly effective, conveying the sense of chaos and madness that surrounds them.
Conclusion: A Masterpiece of War Poetry
In conclusion, "Exposure" is a masterpiece of war poetry that captures the essence of what it means to be a soldier in war. Owen's use of imagery, emotions, and themes is powerful and evocative, conveying the sense of hopelessness and despair that pervades the poem. As a literary critic, I am in awe of this poem's ability to move me every time I read it. It is a testament to the human spirit and the resilience of those who have had to endure the horrors of war.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Exposure: A Haunting Poem by Wilfred Owen
Wilfred Owen, one of the most celebrated war poets of the 20th century, wrote the haunting poem Exposure during World War I. The poem is a powerful commentary on the horrors of war and the impact it has on soldiers who are forced to endure the harsh realities of battle. In this article, we will take a closer look at the poem and analyze its themes, imagery, and language.
The poem is set in the winter of 1917, during the Battle of Passchendaele, one of the bloodiest battles of World War I. The soldiers are stationed in the trenches, exposed to the harsh winter weather and the constant threat of enemy fire. The poem is divided into six stanzas, each of which describes a different aspect of the soldiers' experience.
The first stanza sets the scene and establishes the mood of the poem. The soldiers are described as being "out in the dark" and "on the edge of doom." The use of the word "doom" creates a sense of foreboding and suggests that the soldiers are in grave danger. The stanza also introduces the theme of isolation, as the soldiers are described as being "lonely" and "silent." This sense of isolation is reinforced by the repetition of the word "but" at the beginning of each line, which creates a sense of detachment and distance.
The second stanza focuses on the soldiers' physical discomfort. They are described as being "weary" and "cold," and the imagery of "frost" and "ice" creates a sense of the harsh winter weather. The soldiers are also described as being "numb" and "dazed," which suggests that they are struggling to cope with their surroundings. The use of the word "dazed" is particularly effective, as it suggests that the soldiers are not only physically but also mentally disoriented.
The third stanza introduces the theme of fear. The soldiers are described as being "watchful" and "alert," constantly on the lookout for enemy fire. The repetition of the word "but" at the beginning of each line creates a sense of tension and anticipation, as the soldiers wait for the inevitable attack. The use of the word "whispering" also creates a sense of unease, as it suggests that the soldiers are hearing things that they cannot quite make out.
The fourth stanza focuses on the soldiers' mental state. They are described as being "worried" and "anxious," and the repetition of the word "what" at the beginning of each line creates a sense of confusion and uncertainty. The soldiers are also described as being "haunted" by memories of home, which suggests that they are struggling to cope with the emotional toll of war. The use of the word "ghosts" is particularly effective, as it suggests that the soldiers are being haunted by their own past.
The fifth stanza introduces the theme of death. The soldiers are described as being "deadly" and "pale," and the imagery of "pale flakes" creates a sense of deathly stillness. The soldiers are also described as being "blind" and "deaf," which suggests that they are no longer fully aware of their surroundings. The use of the word "death" in the final line of the stanza is particularly powerful, as it suggests that the soldiers are on the brink of death.
The final stanza brings the poem to a close and reinforces the themes of isolation and fear. The soldiers are described as being "lost" and "forgotten," and the repetition of the word "nothing" at the beginning of each line creates a sense of emptiness and despair. The soldiers are also described as being "sunk" and "drowned," which suggests that they are being overwhelmed by their surroundings. The final line of the poem, "But nothing happens," is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the soldiers are trapped in a never-ending cycle of fear and isolation.
In terms of language, Owen uses a range of techniques to create a sense of tension and unease. The repetition of the word "but" at the beginning of each line creates a sense of anticipation and suggests that something is about to happen. The use of alliteration, such as "fingers numbly" and "sudden successive," creates a sense of rhythm and adds to the poem's musicality. The use of onomatopoeia, such as "cringe" and "whispering," creates a sense of sound and adds to the poem's sensory appeal.
In conclusion, Exposure is a powerful and haunting poem that captures the horrors of war and the impact it has on soldiers. The poem's themes of isolation, fear, and death are reinforced by its imagery and language, and the repetition of certain words and phrases creates a sense of tension and unease. Owen's use of poetic techniques adds to the poem's musicality and sensory appeal, making it a truly memorable piece of literature.
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