War Related Literature “Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen & “If We Must Die” by Claude McKay

Many authors, Timothy Findlay included, have done what they can to bring people’s attention to the horrors and stupidities of war. Below are two of the more famous war poems to come out of World War I.

Read the poems carefully. For each, write three sentences which deal with what the authors are saying about war. Focus on such things as what conditions are like during war, what effects was has on people, and how different people new war.

The two poems contrast strongly in terms of the attitudes towards war that they express.

 Which poem expresses most clearly how you feel about war? Explain? Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks, Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge, Till on the haunting flares we turned out backs, And towards our distant rest began to trudge. Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots, But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame, all blind; Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots Of tired, outstripped Five-Nines that dropped behind.

Gas! GAS! Quick, boys!--An ecstasy of fumbling Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time, But someone still was yelling out and stumbling And flound’ring like a man in fire or lime.-- Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light, As under a green sea, I saw him drowning. In all my dreams before my helpless sight, He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.

If in some smothering dreams, you too could pace Behind the wagon that we flung him in, And watch the white eyes writhing in his face, His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin, If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs, Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,-- My friend, you would not tell with such high zest To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old Lie: Dulce et Decorum est Pro patria mori.

8 October 1917 – March, 1918 If We Must Die Claude McKay By Claude McKay When British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill went to America to encourage the Americans to enter the Second World War, he ended his address to the American Congress with this poem by an American poet. To Churchill, the poem aptly projected his views of the Allied If we must die, let it not be like hogs War Effort. Hunted and penned in an inglorious spot, While round us bark the mad and hungry dogs, Making their mock at our accursèd lot. If we must die, O let us nobly die, So that our precious blood may not be shed In vain; then even the monsters we defy Shall be constrained to honor us though dead! O kinsmen! we must meet the common foe! Though far outnumbered let us show us brave, And for their thousand blows deal one death-blow! What though before us lies the open grave? Like men we'll face the murderous, cowardly pack, Pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back!

Critical Thinking

 Timothy Findley’s The Wars is not easy to classify as a genre. In your opinion, is the novel an example of a tragedy, historical drama or postmodernism? Which genre best applies?

 “Earth and Air and Fire and Water” is the inscription found on Ross’ grave stone (pg.217). How does this connect to Ross’ journey to heroism? In essence, consider the life and death obstacles he faced and how they relate to the inscription. Images of Earth, Air, Water & Fire

Ross endures and survives a menace in each of the other primary elements: o Earth – violated by the mud (chlorine) o Water – contaminated by bodies o Air – poisoned by gas o Fire – in the fire, he becomes supremely disfigured – Roberts, now mangled and disfigured by fire, has transcended the very real madness of war. His last utterance, “Not yet” (pg.216) places him above Taffler – for him death is to come naturally

 Mythological Level: Ross is often referred to as a knight in shining armour – a hero. His experiences during the war are considered as his journey. In The War, fire is an essential part of Ross’ journey, and along with the other three elements, gives mythological references a sound base.

“Earth and Air and Fire and Water” is the inscription found on Ross’ grave stone (pg.217) – these words give a final clue to the hidden myth. The four elements represent the four stages in the “trials” of a hero. In order to become a hero Robert must ascent these hurdles: It begins with Robert almost drowning in the marshes (water); he was almost buried in a collapsing dugout (earth); he escaped a gas attack (trial by air) and finally he is fatally wounded by fire.