Comparing poems 
Done by the amazing Marina Roy and
Lamis Izaky  (we finished before
Hannah and Liam)
A+B: Conscientious Objector+Exposure
• Analysis of Conscientious Objector –
• Structure: 4 stanzas of different amounts of lines, and no rhyming
scheme. It starts off with a statement that is later on repeated for
emphasis.
• Meaning/Title: Conscientious Objector is someone who refuses to go to
war. They were looked down upon in society in the past, for they were
seen as people who didn’t want to serve and defend their country. The tit
le gives us the impression that it is about someone taking a stand and
expressing their beliefs regardless to what other people may think of him.
• Imagery: Horse imagery, the narrator is the horse. Horses are a sign of
freedom and strength, relating back to the title’s meaning. Secondly, he
describes Death as a person, personifying it. He doesn’t seem scared of it,
and he accepts this fact of life, but he also won’t adhere to it or conform
to it easily.
• Analysis of Conscientious Objector –
• Language: very descriptive. There are no metaphors or similes, hence it is
a very direct and simplistic explicit message. The narrator uses words that
brings connotations to horses, such as ‘stall’ ‘bridle’ and ‘girth’. The whole
idea of horses shows a sense of a silent hero. They carry the soldiers and
get no recognition for their help and assistance.
• Effect: The beginning, starting with a statement, makes it an abrupt start,
making it a punch line to introduce the sense of confidence in the
narrator. It has a harsh effect on us readers. Throughout the poem, the
narrator seems to be arguing with Death. He seems angry at it, telling it he
wont surrender to it and he will fight back. The tone is more awake and
lively, it is in the moment and descriptive.
A+B: Conscientious Objector+Exposure
• Analysis of Exposure• Structure: 8 even stanzas of 5 lines, the 5th line is always short. The 2nd and
3rd line always rhyme. At first glance, the poem looks organised in a certain
pattern and looks like it conforms to poetry rules.
• Meaning: Explicitly, it describes the war between English and German
people during the First World War. Wilfrid Owen realises how both camps
are in the same harsh and drastic situation thus the poem is about the war
between humans and the universe.
• Imagery: the imageries are harsh and violent, such as ‘iced east winds that
knive us’. The scene is set as a cold and gloomy environment, just before
dawn when the night is at its darkest.
•
•
•
Analysis of ExposureLanguage: Metaphors- ‘the poignant misery of dawn begins to grow’ makes
us fear the dawn, hence what is yet to come, a sense of fear is felt within us as
the poem advances more and more. Repetition- ‘but nothing happens’,
emphasis and makes keeps the readers anticipating something dangerous is
going to happen. Listing- which creates suspense and adds to pace. Rhetorical
Questions- They are directed at the reader and engages with them directly. It
shows that the author is unsure of his situation and creates and atmosphere of
uncertainty.
Effects: The whole poem is a philosophical refection of Wilfrid Owens thoughts
of the propose of war. He ponders on the thought of why the universe would
allow such a situation to happen. As readers, the poem creates a tone of
despairing resignation which makes us empathise for the narrator. It makes
the reader feel helpless to his hopeless situation. Wilfrid Owen also uses
pathetic fallacy where he describes the gloomy and depressing whether to
reflect his helplessness.
Comparing A+B
Both narrators are
present in the
situationsdescriptive
Both poems use enjambments
to create a flow in the poem
Similarities
Exposure seems to be from someone
who is younger as the rhetorical questions
convey a sense of uncertainty or nervousness
Both the poems have a
contrast in the
atmosphere as a whole
and the structure of the
poem:
Conscientious Objector
has the an uneven or
‘messy’ structure which
contrasts the tone of
certainty and
confidence
Exposure has the
‘official’ or
conventional structure
which implies certainty
or organization but the
tone is of uncertainty
or nervousness.
Comparing A+B
Structure: Stanzas
and Lines
A has no rhyming within it
whereas Exposure has some
rhyming.
Differences
Both poems use repetition for emphasis
Seems like the poems
were written from 2
different perspectives;
Conscientious Objector
seems to take an older
perspective or that of
someone who is sure of
themselves and is ready to
stand up for what they
believe in
Comparing B+C
•
We have chosen Belfast Confetti as our 3rd poem to compare.
Listing; this adds to the pace
and builds up suspense of
upcoming events
Narrators are present in
the poem- Narrative.
Both poems discuss the
prospect of war or
conflict and their effects
on people involved in it.
Similarities
Both poems have the
idea of death and
the feeling of being
trapped
Both poems uses rhetorical questions to engage with the readers and
to emphasise the idea of the poet being confused and nervous
Comparing B+C
Tone; Belfast Confetti has a quicker pace
as compared to the somber tone and
pace of Exposure
Both set in different
time periods
Differences
The length of the
poems are different;
Belfast Confetti being
more short and concise
which gives the
impression that the
event happened in a
rush. Exposure was
much longer, giving the
impression that the
event dragged on as if
it was never ending.
Belfast Confetti uses 2 different tenses whereas Exposure only uses one
tense throughout the whole poem
Comparing A+C
Both don’t have rhyme. Both poems are
short
Both poems convey
their messages through
sound effects- ‘I hear
the clatter on the barnfloor’ in Conscientious
Objector
‘And the explosion’ in
Belfast Confetti
Similarities
Both reluctant to the
idea of conflict or war
Both poems also describe pain or struggle; the torture described in
Conscientious Objector and also the interrogation in Belfast Confetti.
Comparing A+C
Belfast Confetti seems like a monoligue
whereas Conscientious Objector is more
like a dialog between the Narrator and
Death.
Belfast Confetti builds
suspense through the
use of listing which
creates an upbeat pace
compared to the steady
pace of Conscientious
Objector.
Differences
Belfast Confetti uses rhetorical questions to engage with the readers
and covey the idea of confusion compared to the steady stance of the
narrator in Conscientious Objector
The title of Conscientious
Objector reflects the
tone and message of the
poem which is taking a
stand and keeping to
ones believe whereas
Belfast Confetti’s title is a
contrast to the poem;
Confetti’s are usually
used in celebrations but
the word in this poem is
actually falling pieces of
metal in a riot.
Conscientious Objector
is sure about their
ideas and believes
whereas Belfast
Confetti seems
confused and unsure of
the situation or where
he stands in the event.