ANTHEM FOR DOOMED YOUTH and DEVASTATION

9C2 have been looking at the theme of 'devastation' in the poem 'Anthem for Doomed Youth' by Wilfred Owen.

Here's what they had to say:

Georgina Freeman and Caroline Pfeiffer commented on structure:
In stanza one it is more angry with more of a bad mood. In stanza two it is more calm and not so stressed out. This could show the instability of war and how quickly people's feelings can change following the death of a loved one.

Jodie Kinnersley, Nas Ahmadi and Mark Goldson commented on imagery:
"Monstrous anger of the guns" uses a metaphor (personification) to show the devastation of war. It is effective because it makes the guns seem scary; it creates fear. Comparing the guns to monsters works as we are frightened of monsters.

Charlie Banks commented on imagery:
"Rifle's rapid rattle" is powerful alliteration. This gives you good imagery on how the war really is.

STOP!

Compare Charlie's response with the one above it.

It is missing one key thing: it doesn't tell us HOW the war really is.
What is DOES do is tell us that Owen uses alliteration - this is good!

Read this improved response:

"Rifles' rapid rattle" is powerful alliteration. This gives us a good image of the war as it makes us think of the repetetive gunfire on the battlefield. The war is devastating as people are constantly being shot and killed; there is no stopping the constant gunfire. The alliteration emphasises this repetition.

Can you see the difference?

NEVER write an answer that doesn't explain your ideas thoroughly. Imagine that the examiner has never read the poem before. Use the word 'because' to explain WHY you think what you do.