WWI+Poetry+essay

= How to write a year 11 short texts essay... =


 * Step 1**: Read the question carefully. Make sure you can answer __**both**__ parts of the question for __**both**__ texts. For example:

"Describe at least one interesting technique in each text. Explain how those techniques were used to show you an important idea in each text."

Dulce Et Decorum Est: techniques = metaphor, pronouns; idea = war is bad Who's for the Game: techniques = metaphor, pronouns; idea = war is good

**Step 2**: Plan your essay. Organise points in a logical order, group similar ideas together, make sure you have answered the question.

//Introduction// – Titles, authors, topic. //Background// – Brief summary of each poem. //First poem// – "Who's for the game." Metaphor comparing war/game, pronouns. Glorifying war, encouraging men to enlist. //Second poem// – "Dulce Et Decorum Est". Metaphor comparing gas/sea, pronouns. War is horrific, wrong to lie to boys about what it will be like. //Comparison// – "Dulce" response to "Game", both use same techniques for different reasons. //Conclusion// – Sum up main points.

**Step 3**: Write your essay.

//Introduction/Background// The poems “Who’s for the Game” by Jessie Pope and “Dulce Et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen both had a purpose for why they were written. “Who’s for the Game was written with the intent of trying to enlist more men for the war because the author believed that all men should fight for their country. “Dulce Et Decorum Est” was written a year later, in response to “Who’s for the Game”, and it was to show Jessie Pope and everyone else that war is not so glorious and there is nothing sweet about fighting for their country. Both poems used metaphors and pronouns to portray important ideas.

//First poem// “Who’s for the Game” uses interesting techniques such as metaphors and pronouns. The metaphor used relates the whole poem to a game. The metaphor is then extended by saying “Who wants a seat in the stands?” By relating war to a game it makes war seem light-hearted and not serious, much like a casual game. The use of this metaphor also makes people expect war to be fun when in reality this is glorified. Jessie Pope’s purpose is to encourage men to enlist. The pronouns used make this poem appeal directly to the reader, “And she’s looking and calling for you.” The pronouns make the poem sound like it is written personally for you as they request you to join the military and fight for your country.

//Second poem// “Dulce Et Decorum Est” uses techniques such as metaphor and pronouns to express the idea of the reality of war. Owen uses a metaphor to compare the gas to a “green sea”. This helps the reader to understand that men are suffering and breathless during the gas attacks. The use of the pronoun in the line “If __you__ too could pace behind the wagon…”, like in Jessie Pope’s poem, appeals directly to the reader. However, Owen’s use of first person pronouns in the line “I saw him drowning” gives a strong sense of personal experience that Pope’s poem is lacking.

//Comparison// “Dulce Et Decorum Est” was a direct response aimed at Jessie Pope. The techniques used in the two poems are similar; they both use figurative language to present their ideas. However, Pope plays on the reader’s guilt to support the war effort, and encourages soldiers to fight for their country. Phrases like “it won’t be a picnic – not much” trivialise the conditions soldiers faced on the front. “Dulce Et Decorum Est” contradicts this idea, referring to it as “the old Lie”. He shows the harsh reality of war and how inhuman it can be, written from firsthand experience. He uses haunting images like “He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning” to help the reader understand his experience of war.

//Conclusion// Both poems use something as simple as a metaphor to express their ideas clearly, and include pronouns to appeal to the reader. However, “Dulce Et Decorum Est” uses a more honest, graphic description of war, whereas “Who’s for the Game” manipulates the reader’s emotions to persuade them to support the war effort.

**Step 4**: If you have time, edit. Read over your essay and check spelling and grammar. Make sure you have used quotes from each poem to support your ideas.