'The Send-Off' by Wilfred Owen
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Down the close, darkening lanes they sang their way
To the siding-shed,
And lined the train with faces grimly gay.
Their breasts were stuck all white with wreath and spray
As men's are, dead.
Dull porters watched them, and a casual tramp
Stood staring hard,
Sorry to miss them from the upland camp.
Then, unmoved, signals nodded, and a lamp
Winked to the guard.
So secretly, like wrongs hushed-up, they went.
They were not ours:
We never heard to which front these were sent.
Nor there if they yet mock what women meant
Who gave them flowers.
Shall they return to beatings of great bells
In wild trainloads?
A few, a few, too few for drums and yells,
May creep back, silent, to still village wells
Up half-known roads.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Send-Off by Wilfred Owen
Wilfred Owen is one of the most famous war poets of the 20th century, and his poem, The Send-Off, is a prime example of the powerful and deeply emotional poetry he produced during his brief life. Written during World War I, the poem explores the theme of departure and the human emotions that accompany it. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, I will analyze the poem's structure, language, themes, and imagery, and offer my own interpretation of its meaning.
The poem's structure
The Send-Off is a sonnet, a fourteen-line poem that follows a specific rhyme scheme and structure. Owen uses a variant of the Petrarchan sonnet form, which divides the poem into an octave (eight lines) and a sestet (six lines). The rhyme scheme of the octave is ABABCDCD, and the sestet follows the pattern EFGEFG. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which means that each line has ten syllables and follows a pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables. This regular structure gives the poem a sense of formality and control, which heightens the emotional impact of the words.
The language of the poem
Owen's use of language in The Send-Off is powerful and evocative. He employs a range of literary devices, including imagery, metaphor, and alliteration, to create a vivid picture of the soldiers' departure. For example, he uses the metaphor of a "dull portentous crowd" to describe the soldiers as they leave, suggesting that their departure is a foreboding omen of what is to come. He also uses alliteration to create a sense of tension and apprehension, with lines like "grimly gay" and "darkening lanes." The language is also full of contrasts, with the soldiers' initial excitement and anticipation juxtaposed against their growing sense of unease and fear.
The themes of the poem
The Send-Off explores a number of universal themes, including the transience of life, the fear of the unknown, and the power of ritual. The soldiers are leaving for war, a journey that is both physically and metaphorically dangerous. They are leaving behind the safety and security of their homes, families, and communities, and heading into the unknown. The poem captures the sense of fear, anxiety, and uncertainty that accompanies such a departure, as well as the sense of excitement and anticipation that comes with embarking on a new adventure. This tension is heightened by the soldiers' realization that they are not returning, and their growing sense of isolation and loneliness as they travel further from home.
The imagery of the poem
One of the most striking features of The Send-Off is its use of imagery. Owen creates vivid pictures of the soldiers and their surroundings, using a range of techniques to create a sense of atmosphere and mood. For example, he describes the soldiers as "like a dull portentous crowd," creating an image of a group of people who are weighed down by a sense of foreboding. He also uses visual imagery to describe the landscape around them, with "sidelong pursuing tides" and "darkening lanes and alleys." These images create a sense of claustrophobia and confinement, as if the soldiers are trapped in a hostile and unfamiliar environment.
Interpretation of the poem
The Send-Off is a powerful and deeply moving poem that captures the complex emotions of departure and the fear of the unknown. Owen uses a range of literary devices to create a vivid picture of the soldiers as they leave for war, and to explore the themes of transience, fear, and ritual. The poem's structure, language, and imagery contribute to its emotional impact, creating a sense of foreboding and uncertainty that lingers long after the poem has ended.
At its heart, The Send-Off is a meditation on the human condition, and the universal fear of what lies ahead. Owen captures the sense of isolation and loneliness that accompanies departure, as well as the sense of anticipation and excitement that comes with new beginnings. His use of language and imagery is masterful, creating a haunting and evocative portrait of a group of soldiers as they set out on a journey from which they will never return.
In conclusion, The Send-Off is a masterpiece of war poetry, and a testament to the power of language to capture the complexities of the human experience. Its themes are universal, and its emotional impact is profound. Owen's legacy as one of the greatest poets of the 20th century is secure, and The Send-Off remains one of his most enduring and powerful works.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Send-Off: A Masterpiece of War Poetry
Wilfred Owen, one of the most celebrated poets of the First World War, is known for his poignant and powerful poems that capture the horrors and futility of war. Among his many works, The Send-Off stands out as a masterpiece of war poetry that vividly portrays the emotions and experiences of soldiers departing for battle. In this essay, we will analyze and explain the themes, imagery, and language of The Send-Off, and explore how Owen uses these elements to convey his message about the dehumanizing effects of war.
The Send-Off is a short poem consisting of eight stanzas, each with four lines. The poem is written in a simple and direct style, with no complex metaphors or obscure references. However, the simplicity of the language belies the depth of the emotions and ideas that Owen conveys through his words. The poem begins with a description of soldiers leaving for the front, and ends with a haunting image of their fate. Let us examine each stanza in detail.
The first stanza sets the scene and establishes the mood of the poem. The soldiers are leaving the railway station, and the atmosphere is one of uncertainty and fear. The use of the word "grimly" in the first line suggests that the soldiers are not happy about their departure, and that they are aware of the dangers that await them. The second line, "silent, they go," emphasizes the solemnity of the occasion, and the fact that the soldiers are not talking or laughing as they usually do. The third line, "cold-footed, like pigeons from a dovecote," is a powerful simile that compares the soldiers to birds that are reluctant to leave their home. The use of the word "cold-footed" suggests that the soldiers are hesitant and unsure, and that they would rather stay behind if they could.
The second stanza introduces the idea of deception and betrayal. The soldiers are being sent off to war, but they do not know where they are going or what they will face. The use of the word "darkening" in the first line suggests that the future is uncertain and ominous. The second line, "they were not ours," implies that the soldiers do not belong to their country or their people, but are being used as pawns in a larger game. The third line, "we never heard to which front these were sent," emphasizes the confusion and lack of information that the soldiers are facing. The use of the word "never" suggests that the soldiers are being kept in the dark deliberately, and that they are being sent to their deaths without knowing why.
The third stanza introduces the theme of isolation and loneliness. The soldiers are leaving their homes and families, and are facing an unknown future. The use of the word "lonely" in the first line emphasizes the fact that the soldiers are alone and vulnerable. The second line, "some cheered him home, but not as crowds cheer Goal," suggests that the soldiers are not being celebrated or honored, but are being sent off quietly and without fanfare. The third line, "only a solemn man who brought him fruit," introduces a character who is sympathetic to the soldiers, but who is powerless to help them. The use of the word "solemn" suggests that the man is aware of the gravity of the situation, and that he is mourning the loss of the soldiers even before they have left.
The fourth stanza introduces the idea of deception and betrayal again, but this time from the perspective of the soldiers. The soldiers are being sent off to war, but they do not know what they are fighting for or who their enemies are. The use of the word "grimly gay" in the first line suggests that the soldiers are trying to put on a brave face, but that they are aware of the dangers that await them. The second line, "they marched away, smartly," implies that the soldiers are being sent off as if they were going on a parade, rather than to a war. The third line, "And soon they came to marching in the dark," introduces the idea of deception and betrayal again, as the soldiers are being sent to their deaths without knowing why or who they are fighting.
The fifth stanza introduces the theme of innocence and youth. The soldiers are young and inexperienced, and are being sent to fight a war that they do not understand. The use of the word "young" in the first line emphasizes the fact that the soldiers are not mature or experienced enough to handle the horrors of war. The second line, "their eyes were touched with death," suggests that the soldiers are already aware of their mortality, and that they are facing a fate that is beyond their control. The third line, "And watchful faces, pale," introduces the idea of fear and anxiety, as the soldiers are aware of the dangers that await them.
The sixth stanza introduces the theme of dehumanization. The soldiers are being treated as objects or machines, rather than as human beings with emotions and feelings. The use of the word "shuttered" in the first line suggests that the soldiers are being closed off from the world, and that they are being prepared for their role as killers. The second line, "all their eyes are ice," implies that the soldiers have lost their humanity, and that they are no longer capable of feeling compassion or empathy. The third line, "But nothing happens," introduces the idea of waiting and anticipation, as the soldiers are waiting for their orders to attack.
The seventh stanza introduces the theme of betrayal and abandonment. The soldiers are being sent to their deaths, but they are not being given the support or protection that they need. The use of the word "whispering" in the first line suggests that the soldiers are being betrayed by their own leaders, who are not telling them the truth about their mission. The second line, "of fields unsown," implies that the soldiers are being sacrificed for a cause that is not worth their lives. The third line, "always it awoke him, even in France," introduces the idea of guilt and regret, as the soldiers are aware of the futility of their mission, but are powerless to stop it.
The eighth and final stanza introduces the haunting image of the soldiers' fate. The soldiers are being sent to their deaths, and their fate is sealed. The use of the word "ghosts" in the first line suggests that the soldiers are already dead, and that they are walking towards their own graves. The second line, "Smelling the grass," introduces the idea of nature and beauty, as the soldiers are aware of the beauty of the world that they are leaving behind. The third line, "With faces grimly gay," implies that the soldiers are trying to put on a brave face, but that they are aware of the horrors that await them. The final line, "they went away," is a powerful and haunting image that suggests that the soldiers are walking towards their own deaths, and that their fate is sealed.
In conclusion, The Send-Off is a masterpiece of war poetry that vividly portrays the emotions and experiences of soldiers departing for battle. Through his use of themes, imagery, and language, Wilfred Owen conveys his message about the dehumanizing effects of war, and the betrayal and futility of sending young men to their deaths without a clear purpose or justification. The poem is a powerful reminder of the horrors of war, and a tribute to the courage and sacrifice of those who fought and died in the First World War.
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