When I first read this poem it was pretty difficult to understand the poem because of the sophisticated diction and the very lyrical form. Another thing I found out was that the poem had a specific rhyme pattern and after I counted the number of lines, I realized it was a sonnet.
1. Why is the poem called ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’?
a. The title of the poem is very ironic because the two parts are negating each other in a way. Anthem is usually a positive thing showing positive things about something. But on the other hand, doomed youth is a negative word meaning troubled and despondent young people. The poem itself is very negative about war so the title using its ironic meaning can fully emphasize the truth behind the poem.
2.
What
does the simile, ‘who die as cattle’ suggest about the deaths of
the young soldiers?
a. Cattles are large animals with hooves
that are usually slaughtered for meat. Saying that soldiers die as cattle are
saying the soldiers get slaughtered likes animals.
3.
Which
weapons of war are described in the octet (the first eight lines of the
sonnet)?
a. Rifles are described in the octet.
4.
How
does the poetry to capture the sounds and atmosphere of the battlefield where
the soldiers died? Use quotations from the octet
(the first
eight lines of the sonnet) to support your answer.
a. Owen uses alliteration and imagery to
convey the sound and atmosphere of the battlefield.
·
What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
·
Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle
·
No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells
· Nor any voice of
mourning save the choirs,—
· The shrill,
demented choirs of wailing shells;
· And bugles
calling for them from sad shires.
5.
Why
do you think religious words are used in the octet? What is the poet
trying to say about organized religion and its relevance to the soldiers?
a. Poet is saying that in war, religion will
not affect them. Owen is sort of implying that most soldiers care about
religion but Owen is saying that during war, religion will not be present.
6.
Why
is there a break in the sonnet after the octet? Which words link
the two parts
of the sonnet together?
a. There is a break between the two parts
because the first is talking about rifles and the second is talking about
goodbyes. The religious words used in the first octet link the two parts
together.
7.
Which
words used in the sestet (the last six lines of the sonnet) would we
associate with a funeral?
a.
What candles may be held to speed them all?
b.
Shall shine the holy glimmers of good-byes.
8.
What
do the young soldiers have instead of a
funeral?
a. They won’t have anything; no candles and
no bells but the sounds of weapons, war and a bugle.
9.
Why
are these two ideas contrasted in the sestet?
a. Owen is deliberately trying to emphasize
the consequences of war and by contrasting the two different “ceremonies”, a
clear understanding will occur in the readers’ minds.
10. What is the overall impression of the war
that the
poet is trying to create for the reader?
a. In a nutshell, Owen is trying to say war
is BAD; it is not a good place to die, because the only things that will say
goodbye to one who goes to war is the sound of a rifle and a bugle.