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Exposure (War) (Structure (Use of half rhyme (or pararhyme) (i.e.'…
Exposure (War)
Structure
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Repetition of 'Nothing happens' implies waiting, uncertainty amd boredom.
Use of half rhyme (or pararhyme) (i.e.'knive us and nervous') creates a sense of discord and disquiet. This might resemble the conflict of nature vs man or the soldiers vs the government. Also presents their half-hearted nature
The soldiers are nervously on edge. They're denied the satidfaction of full rhyme but is forced to be incomplete and imperfect. Implying that closure is denied to them.
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Both the beginning and the ending refers to the freezing conditions, which reinforces that 'nothing happened'.
Anti-climatic ending of each stanza. - after dramatically heightening the tension each stanza ends with an anti-climax 'but nothing happens'
the anticlimatic waiting around nature as it's the weather that's killing them and they're not seeing any action in the war it self.
Repetetive rhyme scheme of ABBAC- Reinforces the idea of nothing happening. Which highlights the futility of war.
Caesura in stanza 6 creates division in each line reflecting the division caused by war between those at home and the present setting for the soldiers in the trenches.
Meaning
Although nothing is happening and there is no fighting, there is still danger because they are exposed to the extreme cold and their wait through the night is terrifying.
speaker describes the trauma of living and struggling in such poor conditions. There is a sense of despair and of lost hope.
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Owen wanted to expose government propaganda as lies. The poem is also about physical and psychological suffering.
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Imagery
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Biblical imaege created in 'like a dull rumour in some other war'- owen is deliberately referencing biblical references concerning the end of the world. As in the Gospel of Matthew 24- Jesus says "You will hear of wars and rumours of wars" and Owen is making the point that the situation they're in feels like the end of the world.
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Language
Personal plurals 'us' and 'we' shows unity between the soldiers and suggests that Owen is writing from his own personal experiences.
Overwhelming use of personification of weather- highlights the ferocity of nature and presents nature as more deadly than enemy soldiers.
Sibilance- Imitates the sound of the wind, bullets or the shivering soldiers. It creates a sinister tone which reminds the readers of the constant threat of the environment the soldiers are in.
Alliteration- the movement of snow flakes and a sense of repetition which reflects boredom and monotony of the soldiers.
Assonance- highlights tedious drawn out nights in the trenches. It takes longer to say the vowels- Feelings of weariness as we drag our feet when tired or reluctant to move. ("Slowly our ghosts drag us home")
Effect
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The reader can almost feel the intensity of the weather, drawing them into the scene and inviting them to empathise with the soldiers.
Context
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During the Somme, over 60,000 British troops died in one day. They only gained 6 miles by the end of the war.
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Owen viewed that the British government was prelonging the war that the originally defensive motive for war had become opportunistic and ignored possibilities for peace.
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