Based on the Heart of Darkness quiz scores, some of you need to redeem yourselves a bit. Here is your chance.
For Thursday, please discuss the title of Wilfred Owen's famous poem, "Dulce Et Decorum Est." This phrase, taken from Horace, means something like, "It is sweet and proper to die for one's country." In his poem, Owen calls this "The old lie." (The "friend" Owen is speaking to at the end of the poem is Jessie Pope, whose poetry, as you will have noticed in your reading, zealously encourages young men to enlist and fight.)
My specific question is this: Do you agree that these words are a "lie"? If so, why/how are they a lie? If not, what is true about them?
Also consider this question about all of the poetry you are reading for Thursday: Can any of these be called anti-war poems? Why or why not?
Before answering these questions, please read the introduction to this section, "Voices from World War I," as well as the biographical sketch on each writer. Note that these are soldier poets, not bystanders. Owen and Rosenberg were killed in action, Brooke died on a troopship, and Sassoon was severely wounded in battle. Please refer specifically to one or more of their poems as part of your response.
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