Romello Lovinsky

COL Miller

ERH-205WX-02

April 6, 2018

 

Dulce Et Decorum Est by Wilford Owens

 

Till on the haunting:Owens edited the line “till on the glimmering” to “till on the haunting” which I believe was an improvement because glimmering seems to be less serious then changing it to haunting. Haunting symbolizes the fear that went through the soldiers on the battlefield.

 

Guttering: Although only a one-word change, changing gargling to guttering adds significant value to the poem. Gargling is word that is often times not spoken of in a bad light; you gargle when you brush your teeth. On the other hand, guttering, seems more like the gut wrenching pain that would be caused by being gassed to death.

 

Dragging the worst among us: I noticed that Owens eliminated this line from the poem altogether and I do not agree with his choice of doing so. This line would have enhanced the previous line, “And towards our distant rest began to trudge”. Showing that even with them being tired they still had to care for the weaker in the group. This would have showed how crippling this was to those fighting in the war.