War Poets : Owen, Sassoon, Brooke

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 #ugcnetenglish #englishliterature


Introduction

War poetry emerged during World War I as a stark contrast to the romanticized Georgian poetry that preceded it. Poets like Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, and Rupert Brooke rejected glorified notions of war, instead exposing its brutality, futility, and psychological toll. Their works, often termed "anti-war poetry," combined raw realism with profound pity, capturing the horrors of trench warfare and the disillusionment of a generation.

Key War Poets

1. Rupert Brooke (1887–1915)

Biography

  • Born into an affluent family; educated at Rugby and Cambridge.
  • Early influences: French Symbolists, English Decadents (Wilde, Swinburne).
  • Traveled extensively (U.S., Tahiti) before enlisting in 1914.
  • Died of blood poisoning en route to Gallipoli; buried in Skyros, Greece.

Style & Themes

  • Patriotic idealism: Celebrated sacrifice and national pride ("The Soldier").
  • Romantic lyricism: Contrasted sharply with later poets’ grim realism.
  • Key works: 1914 & Other Poems, including sonnets like "Peace" and "The Dead."

Legacy

  • Symbolized early war enthusiasm; critiqued later for ignoring frontline horrors.

2. Wilfred Owen (1893–1918)

Biography

  • Born in Oswestry; worked as a tutor before enlisting in 1915.
  • Suffered shell shock (1917); treated at Craiglockhart Hospital, where he met Sassoon.
  • Killed in action one week before Armistice (November 4, 1918).

Style & Themes

  • Bleak realism: Graphic depictions of gas attacks, PTSD, and futility ("Dulce et Decorum Est").
  • Pity vs. glory: Debunked the Latin motto "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori" (It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country).
  • Technical innovation: Pararhyme, vivid imagery ("Strange Meeting," "Anthem for Doomed Youth").

Legacy

  • Posthumously published; now regarded as the quintessential war poet.

3. Siegfried Sassoon (1886–1967)

Biography

  • Wealthy Jewish background; educated at Cambridge.
  • Served in Royal Welsh Fusiliers; earned Military Cross (1915).
  • Publicly protested the war in 1917; declared shell shock to avoid court-martial.
  • Later wrote memoirs (The Complete Memoirs of George Sherston) and religious poetry.

Style & Themes

  • Satirical anger: Condemned generals and politicians ("The General," "Attack").
  • Compassion for soldiers: Focused on camaraderie and trauma ("Conscripts").
  • Prose influence: Blended autobiography with fiction.

Legacy

  • Championed Owen’s work; shifted post-war to religious themes.

Common Themes in War Poetry

  • Horror of War: Mud, trenches, gas attacks, and senseless death.
  • Disillusionment: Contrast between propaganda and reality.
  • Pity: Owen’s emphasis on suffering over heroism.
  • Nature’s Role: Often a silent witness or violated force ("Spring Offensive").

Key Facts

  • Georgian vs. War Poetry: Georgians romanticized war; war poets exposed its truths.
  • Influences: Owen’s "Dulce et Decorum Est" inspired Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem (1961).
  • Women Poets: Vera Brittain and Charlotte Mew also contributed to the genre.

Notable Works

Poet Key Poems Theme

Brooke "The Soldier," "Peace" Patriotism, idealized sacrifice

Owen "Dulce et Decorum Est," "Futility" Trauma, futility of war

Sassoon "Attack," "The General" Satire, leadership failures

The war poets redefined modern literature by stripping war of its false nobility. Brooke’s idealism, Owen’s visceral pity, and Sassoon’s fiery critique collectively paint a harrowing portrait of WWI. Their works remain essential to understanding the psychological and cultural scars of conflict.

"My subject is War, and the pity of War. The Poetry is in the pity." — Wilfred Owen

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