'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 by Wilfred Owen: A Masterpiece of War Poetry
The Chances is a masterpiece of war poetry, written by Wilfred Owen during World War I. It is a deeply emotional and poignant work, filled with vivid imagery and powerful language that captures the horror and tragedy of war. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the themes, imagery, and language of The Chances, and analyze how they contribute to the poem's overall impact.
Themes
At its core, The Chances is a meditation on the unpredictability of war and the random nature of death. The poem is structured around a series of "chances," or moments when the speaker narrowly avoids death or is spared by chance. These chances highlight the fragility of life in the midst of war, where death can strike at any moment, without warning or reason.
The theme of chance is also connected to the idea of fate or destiny. The speaker seems to believe that his survival is not entirely in his own hands, but is instead subject to the whims of fate. This idea is expressed in the final stanza, where the speaker reflects on the fact that he has survived while others have perished:
But their ghosts have gone to rest,
Had their chance, did their best, —
Will they never more be guests
On these high and gusty downs?
The idea of fate is also connected to the poem's treatment of religion. The speaker references "the God of his fathers" in the second stanza, but seems to reject the idea of divine intervention in the face of war. This rejection is expressed in the final stanza, where the speaker asks whether the dead will "never more" be guests on the downs. The implication is that they are gone forever, without hope of an afterlife or divine intervention.
Imagery
The Chances is filled with vivid and evocative imagery that brings the horrors of war to life. The opening lines set the tone:
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."
The language here is colloquial and informal, but it is also intensely vivid. The phrase "over the top" was a common euphemism for going over the top of the trenches and into no man's land, where soldiers were exposed to enemy fire. The use of the word "ruddy" is also significant, as it suggests a kind of rough, working-class masculinity that was associated with soldiers at the time.
Throughout the poem, Owen uses vivid imagery to convey the horror and chaos of war. In the third stanza, for example, he describes a soldier falling "crumped" to the ground:
And one chap's keeled over like a sack,
And we're left to finish 'is packing,
With the Lewis gun a-packing,
Christ! And what's in front of us!
The use of the word "crumped" is particularly powerful, as it conveys the sudden, violent nature of the soldier's death. The image of the Lewis gun being "a-packing" also suggests a kind of callousness or indifference to the soldier's fate.
Language
The language of The Chances is poetic and rhythmic, but it is also highly colloquial and informal. This gives the poem a sense of authenticity and realism, as if the speaker is recounting his experiences in his own words. The use of dialect and slang also adds to this effect, as it conveys the sense of a distinct culture and community among the soldiers.
The poem is structured around a series of rhymed quatrains, which give it a sense of formality and structure. However, within this structure, Owen uses a variety of poetic techniques to create a sense of movement and momentum. For example, in the second stanza, he uses repetition to build tension:
I mind the time we come upon them first
(A Company I think), we was relieved to see
They 'ad dug themselves in 'alf-way down the slope,
They used the traverse like a bleedin' zoo.
The repetition of the phrase "we was" creates a sense of urgency and excitement, as if the speaker is reliving the moment in real time. The use of the word "bleedin'" is also significant, as it conveys a sense of frustration and anger at the situation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Chances is a masterful work of war poetry that captures the horror and tragedy of World War I. Through its themes of chance, fate, and religion, its vivid imagery, and its powerful language, the poem conveys the sense of randomness and chaos that characterized the war. The poem is a testament to the human cost of war, and a reminder of the importance of peace and understanding in our world today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Chances: A Poem of Life and Death
Wilfred Owen, the renowned English poet, is known for his poignant and powerful war poetry that captures the horrors of World War I. However, his lesser-known works, such as The Chances, offer a glimpse into his broader themes of life, death, and fate. The Chances is a poem that explores the fragility of life and the randomness of death, and how chance plays a significant role in our existence.
The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with a distinct tone and message. The first stanza sets the scene with a description of a group of soldiers who are waiting to go into battle. Owen uses vivid imagery to paint a picture of the soldiers' surroundings, describing the "dank trenches" and the "gloomy sky." The soldiers are waiting for their chance to fight, and Owen highlights the uncertainty and fear that they feel as they wait for the battle to begin.
The second stanza is where the poem takes a philosophical turn, as Owen reflects on the role of chance in our lives. He describes how "chance rules our lives," and how we are all at the mercy of fate. He uses the metaphor of a game of dice to illustrate this point, saying that "the dice are loaded against us." This metaphor is particularly powerful, as it suggests that we have no control over the outcome of our lives, and that we are all just pawns in a larger game.
The final stanza brings the poem full circle, as Owen returns to the soldiers waiting for battle. He describes how some of the soldiers will die in battle, while others will survive. He acknowledges that this outcome is entirely random, and that there is no way to predict who will live and who will die. He ends the poem with a powerful image of a soldier who has just been killed, lying "face downwards on the ground." This image is a stark reminder of the brutal reality of war, and how chance can determine who lives and who dies.
The Chances is a poem that is both beautiful and haunting. Owen's use of vivid imagery and powerful metaphors creates a sense of urgency and immediacy that draws the reader in. The poem's message is clear: life is fragile, and death is random. We are all at the mercy of chance, and there is no way to predict what the future holds.
One of the most striking aspects of The Chances is its relevance to our lives today. While the poem was written over a century ago, its message is still as relevant as ever. We live in a world where chance plays a significant role in our lives, whether it's the chance of getting a job, meeting someone special, or even surviving a pandemic. The poem reminds us that we are all vulnerable to the whims of fate, and that we should cherish every moment of our lives.
In conclusion, The Chances is a powerful poem that explores the themes of life, death, and fate. Owen's use of vivid imagery and powerful metaphors creates a sense of urgency and immediacy that draws the reader in. The poem's message is clear: life is fragile, and death is random. We are all at the mercy of chance, and there is no way to predict what the future holds. The Chances is a reminder that we should cherish every moment of our lives and appreciate the people around us, as we never know when chance will take them away.
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