||War is a patriotic act in which one seeks determination to lead one's country. It can be considered noble, cruel, inhumane and can make an individual a hero or a criminal. It affects everyone in a society, hoping that their loved one is safe whether fighting in the trenches or waiting at home. It has led to severe individuals suffering from PTSD. Two poems from war literature “Anthem for Doomed Youth” by Wilfred Owen and “Facing it” by Yusef Komunyakaa will be presented, the different perspectives of the authors. Owen describes the war as a battlefield of horror not to be experienced and the glorious feeling of fighting for your country. Komunyakaa on the other hand shows an African American serving in the Vietnam War and visits the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. The poets' choice of diction, the battlefield setting, and the various uses of poetic devices create the desired effect. Owen presents us with a sarcastic take on the idea of being honorable in sacrificing oneself for one's country and reinforces it with abundant horrific imagery. It is a war sonnet that captures the feelings of the survivors towards those who lost their lives in the war. The use of a sonnet creates a sense of intensity in his poetry, brevity, and portrays the nature of death on a battlefield. Additionally, Owen uses the rhyme scheme “ababcdcdeffegg” to show the strong division between the lines. Choosing a sonnet allows Owen to convey his message effectively and remain emotional to keep his readers interested. His tone in the poem is somber and asks the reader to consider the question posed at the beginning of the poem: “What death knells for these who die like cattle” (1). Their deaths are significant to those of livestock and occur en masse. This leads the reader to consider t...... middle of the card...... The wall represents an oxymoron that is unshakable and holds the spirits of the fallen. The image of: “names glitter on a woman's blouse but when she walks away the names remain on the wall” shows the names trying to escape the granite confines (19-21). “In the black mirror a woman tries to erase names: no, she is brushing a boy's hair” (29-31). We see the poet's urgency to escape and hope for fewer monuments on the wall. The use of devices enhances the effects of poetry. In conclusion, both poets show their experiences of war and its effects on them. Owen presents the poem in a descriptive context of war as Komunyakaa recalls the terrible memories that have haunted him throughout his life. These poems share the same idea of loss and helplessness. The Komunyakaa poem is more about life, while Owen's poem is associated with death and the struggle for honor.

Topic > ||War is a patriotic act in which one seeks determination to lead one's country. It can be considered noble, cruel, inhumane and can make an individual a hero or a criminal. It affects everyone in a society, hoping that their loved one is safe whether fighting in the trenches or waiting at home. It has led to severe individuals suffering from PTSD. Two poems from war literature “Anthem for Doomed Youth” by Wilfred Owen and “Facing it” by Yusef Komunyakaa will be presented, the different perspectives of the authors. Owen describes the war as a battlefield of horror not to be experienced and the glorious feeling of fighting for your country. Komunyakaa on the other hand shows an African American serving in the Vietnam War and visits the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall. The poets' choice of diction, the battlefield setting, and the various uses of poetic devices create the desired effect. Owen presents us with a sarcastic take on the idea of being honorable in sacrificing oneself for one's country and reinforces it with abundant horrific imagery. It is a war sonnet that captures the feelings of the survivors towards those who lost their lives in the war. The use of a sonnet creates a sense of intensity in his poetry, brevity, and portrays the nature of death on a battlefield. Additionally, Owen uses the rhyme scheme “ababcdcdeffegg” to show the strong division between the lines. Choosing a sonnet allows Owen to convey his message effectively and remain emotional to keep his readers interested. His tone in the poem is somber and asks the reader to consider the question posed at the beginning of the poem: “What death knells for these who die like cattle” (1). Their deaths are significant to those of livestock and occur en masse. This leads the reader to consider t...... middle of the card...... The wall represents an oxymoron that is unshakable and holds the spirits of the fallen. The image of: “names glitter on a woman's blouse but when she walks away the names remain on the wall” shows the names trying to escape the granite confines (19-21). “In the black mirror a woman tries to erase names: no, she is brushing a boy's hair” (29-31). We see the poet's urgency to escape and hope for fewer monuments on the wall. The use of devices enhances the effects of poetry. In conclusion, both poets show their experiences of war and its effects on them. Owen presents the poem in a descriptive context of war as Komunyakaa recalls the terrible memories that have haunted him throughout his life. These poems share the same idea of loss and helplessness. The Komunyakaa poem is more about life, while Owen's poem is associated with death and the struggle for honor.