Teacher
Tuesday/Thursday 8-9:50
6 December 2012
Wilfred Owen and the Darkest Sides Of War
Authors generally write about what they know. They write about the time in which they live, they emulate the experiences that they have had and the things that they have witnessed through their characters and overall plot. Each character, each scene, each line in their works, are extensions of them. Keeping this in mind, it would be completely feasible to note that soldiers and writers of war perhaps compose and present the most iconic and picturesque stories. Although they may not necessarily write their works in a “based on a true story” sense, their works are essentially based on true stories of war and thus, everything that comes with it. With an author such as Wilfred Owen, it can clearly be demonstrated how his experiences as a soldier influenced his works such as “Greater Love,” “Apologia Por Poemate Meo,” “Mental Cases,” and other poems. The titles, in and of themselves, illustrate how the war influenced his writing, yet Owen furthers this by utilizing diction, imagery, and other literary devices to offer up a catalyst by which all readers can view and understand the consequences and entanglements that come with war.
Wilfred Owen was born at Oswetry on March 18, 1893 and educated at Birkenhead Institute. He has been regarded as one of the best poets of the First World War. “In 1913, he obtained private tutorship near Bordeaux, where he remained until 1915. During this period he became acquainted with the eminent French poet, Laurent Tailhade, to whom he showed his early verses, and from whom he received considerable encouragement.” (Sassoon 5). This demonstrates that even prior to his admittance and experiences in the army, Owen was destined to be an author. Furthermore, it can be inferred that Owen would have continued his writings had he not been in the army because of the encouragement of Tailhade, however it is doubtful that his writings would have...