Oppdatert: 01.04.2018

World War 1 Poetry

Wilfred Owens vs Rupert Brooke

Rupert Brooke
Rupert Brooke
Wilfred Owen
Wilfred Owen


The First World War (1914-1918)
The Western Front


The mass-slaughter of WW1 demonstrated the extreme cruelty of modern warfare.
People around the world were shocked by the atrocities which wiped out a large part of Europe's young generation.
Our two poems, "The Soldier" from the beginning of the war, and "Dulce et Decorum est" from its final stage, show how the old-fashioned, romantic attitude to warfare is replaced by a far more realistic acknowledgement of the madness of modern war.


  1. To show how a growing awareness of the atrocities of war is reflected by the two poems.

  2. To show how the choice of words, syntax, structure and use of literary devices emphasizes the very different messages of the poems

  3. To discuss theme(s) and message(s)


Work in pairs
Read the two poems, the background information and do the exercises.
Finalize your study by discussing the three issues above (see: 'Purpose')

The poems:

"The Soldier" by Rupert Brooke

"Dulce et Decorum est" by Wilfred Owen

Good luck !

oppdatert 01.04.2018
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