Describing
a group of new soldiers departing for the trenches by train
, ‘The Send-Off' is one of Wilfred Owen's best poems. ‘The Send-Off' muses upon the unknown fates of those young men who left for war. Do they now mock the women who gave them flowers to wish them goodwill as they left for the horrors of the Front?
How does Wilfred Owen use irony in his poem The Send-Off?
The overall tone of the poem is sombre and ironic. …
The resigned way in which Owen describes the events
heightens the irony. Perhaps hoping for glory, the soldiers sing on their way to death, yet the celebrations which accompany their journey to face the horrors of war will not be there for the few who survive.
How does Wilfred Owen feel about the soldiers send-off?
Wilfred Owen had a particular dislike of any and all forms of public
affection
, but it became a point of contention for him that the displays of emotion at send-offs and the likes were so patently performed, rather than felt; for after the soldiers were returned home, sometimes disabled, and other times mad, nobody …
What is the meaning of the poem Anthem for Doomed Youth?
“Anthem for Doomed Youth” was written by British poet Wilfred Owen in 1917, while Owen was in the hospital recovering from injuries and trauma resulting from his military service during World War I. The poem
laments the loss of young life in war and describes the sensory horrors of combat.
Who stood staring hard at the soldiers in the Owen's poem send off?
Jay Gilbert, Ph. D.
A “casual tramp
” in this poem stands staring hard at the women who rush to bid farewell to a group of soldiers going off to the front. The tramp appears interested in the soldiers and the poet says that he was “sorry to miss” those who had come from the…
What is the tone of the poem the send off?
The tone shifts as
the implications of the war changes the men to be more serious as they do not have uphold their fa ade, their unease slipping through their masks
. This is shown through the alliteration of so secretly as though they know their actions are in the wrong.
Who is the speaker of the poem the send off?
The speaker is
a soldier from another regiment
as he says ‘They were not ours'. He thinks about how few of them will survive and feels that those involved in sending them off are committing a crime.
Was it for this the clay grew tall?
Full-nerved,—still warm,—too hard to stir? Was it for this the clay grew tall? To break earth's sleep at all? The titular theme of the poem is claimed to be common to many World War I and World War II war poets and to apply not only to war, but human institutions (including religion) and human existence itself.
When was the send off published?
The send-off (
1918
)
Why are the youth doomed?
The youth in this poem are doomed because
they have been called to a war—World War I—which will steal their childhood and innocence
. In addition, these young boys are doomed to never truly grow into men, as they are fighting a war which will most likely take their lives.
What is the irony in Anthem for Doomed Youth?
The phrase “doomed youth” seems to suggest irony as
the word “doomed” is often associated with destruction
and this is exemplified in this poem, by the death of lives lost in battle to protect their country. The word “youth” however, is a symbol of life and often related to a bright future.
What kind of poem is Anthem for Doomed Youth?
Anthem for Doomed Youth is
a sonnet
. It has the octect / sestet structure of the Italian Petrarchan sonnet , but is loosely based on the rhyme scheme of the English Shakespearean sonnet .
Who are these Why sit they here in twilight?
Who are these? Why sit they here in twilight? Wherefore rock they,
purgatorial shadows, Drooping tongues from jaws that slob their relish
, Baring teeth that leer like skulls' tongues wicked?
Why are the signals unmoved?
Unmoved =
another reference to indifference and lack of emotion
. It is here, after the train leaves from the siding shed, that the atmosphere becomes more and more sinister. Signal nodded = Personification. The fact that the signal nodded and the lamp winked at the guard indicates they are all part of a conspiracy.
What is the meaning of the word clay in the following line Was it for this the clay grew tall?
The speaker then asks “Was it for this the clay grew tall?” (“clay” being a reference to the earth that human beings originally came from—an idea common in creation myths throughout the world, including the Bible),
expressing incredulity that life would bother existing given that it would always lose to death.
