Dulce et Decorum Est
How to respond to the question
Essay Question
• Choose a poem which deals with an
important issue such as war, crime,
poverty or racism.
• Explain how the poet deepens your
understanding of the issue by the choice
of content and the skillful use of poetic
techniques.
Using The Essay Question
• Choose a poem which deals
with an important issue such
as war, crime, poverty or
racism.
• “Dulce Et Decorum Est”
• Explain how the poet deepens
your understanding of the
issue
•
•
•
•
•
• by the choice of content and
the skilful use of poetic
techniques.
• Issue of war
1st Stanza –
2nd stanza3rd stanza 4th stanza Description of
events/experience
• Word
choice/similes/metaphors/
Sentence structure/tone
Introduction
•
•
•
•
Title
Author (Poet)
Refer to Question
Task Overview - Summary of topic
sentences you will write in the essay.
• Summary (brief summary of situation of
poem)
Introduction – You need to refer to question in first
line then justify how the question is relevant to the
poem and set out how you will respond.
• Example – “Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen is a
poem which deals with the issue of war. (not “an issue
such as war”)
• Owen uses a variety of poetic techniques such as
imagery, word choice and rhythm to illustrate the horrific
conditions and the way this affected the soldiers. Owen
also conveys the extreme physical danger and lasting
mental torture suffered by soldiers through his vivid
description of a gas attack. Owen clearly conveys the
message that it was wrong that young men were told
that it was sweet and honourable to die for their country
in war.
• The poet deepens our understanding of war by
describing his harrowing experience of being a soldier in
WW1 and watching a soldier die horrifically in a gas
attack.
Remember - P.E.A.R Structure!
• Point – topic sentence that should refer to the
question
• Evidence –should be relevant to question and
should be the best quotation(s) to support your
point.
• Analysis – should be consistently relevant to
question
• Response – Should be a thorough explanation
of how the evidence and analysis in the key
point answers the question!!
Point – Topic Sentence
• Initially, Owen deepens the reader’s
understanding of the issue of war by
demonstrating the dramatic effect of the
dreadful conditions on the soldiers health.
Key Point 2 – Topic Sentence
• Additionally, Owen improves the reader’s
understanding of warfare by graphically
illustrating the extreme physical danger of
the soldiers and how one man suffered
terribly.
Key Point 3 - Your turn
1. Opener
2. Reference to question
3. Outline the key point
Furthermore…
Key Point 4
• Moreover or Finally…
Relevant Evidence
Key Point 1 – terrible
conditions and effect on
soldiers
• “Bent double, like old
beggars under sacks”
• “And towards our distant
rest began to trudge.”
Key Point 3 – Lasting
psychological effects
•
•
“In all my dreams, before my
helpless sight”
“He plunges at me, guttering,
choking, drowning.”
Key Point 2 – Extreme
dangers and suffering
• “GAS! Gas! Quick, boys!–
• “An ecstasy of fumbling, fitting the
clumsy helmets just in time;”
• “And floundering like a man in fire
or lime.–”
Key Point 4 – How it was
wrong to lie to soldiers in
this way.
•
•
•
“My friend,”
To children ardent for some
desperate glory
The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori.
Analysis
• When you explain the use of a technique – you
must explain the effect of this either to 1. support
the point you are making or 2. to relate to the
question! (preferably both!!)
• E.g The simile in the opening line illustrates:
1. The poor physical condition of the soldiers and
how they have been changed because of the
war.
2. Owen’s criticism of the lie about war told to the
soldiers – (because of the stark contrast to the
title/myth …
Response
• You should of course be consistently
relevant to the question – you generally
are!
• But the P.E.A.R structure is used to ensure
you specifically respond to the question
explain (not simply refer) the link to the
question at the end of each key point.
Key Point 1 – You have just given at least two
quotations and an insightful analysis of techniques
used. – You now need to demonstrate that your
point is relevant to the question
• Owen deepens the reader’s understanding
of the issue of war by using effective
imagery and word choice to illustrate the
dramatic effect the conditions and
environment had on the physical state of
the soldiers and to convey how war
changes people.
Key Point 2 – Your Turn
• The poet enhances the reader’s
appreciation of the extreme suffering of
warfare by illustrating the catastrophic
effects of chlorine gas used during WW1.
Through this Owen highlights how war is
abnormal and alters people.
Key Point 3 – You again!
• Owen’s harrowing description of his
recurring nightmare deepens the readers
understanding of war because he explains
how the atrocities of war can have a
lasting psychological impact on soldiers.
Key Point 4 – Yup you guessed it,
this one is for you too!
• Owen attempts to convince the reader
about the true nature of war and to dispel
the myth told by many that to die for your
country is a sweet and honourable thing to
do by using emotive language and a
bitterly critical tone.