Dulce et Decorum Est

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Dulce et Decorum Est

• How to respond to the question

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Overview

• Introduction You need to refer to question in
  first line then justify how the question is
  relevant to the poem.
• Main Body
• Topic Sentences
• Relevant Quotations
• Relevant Analysis
• Response to question

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Introduction You need to refer to question in
first line then justify how the question is
relevant to the poem and set out how you will
respond.

• Example Dulce et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen is
  a poem which deals with the issue of war. (not
  an issue such as war)
• The poet deepens our understanding of war by
  describing his harrowing experience of being a
  soldier in WW1 and watching a soldier die
  horrifically in a gas attack.
• Owen clearly conveys the message that it was
  wrong that young men were told that it was sweet
  and honourable to die for their country in war.
  Owen uses a variety of poetic techniques such as
  imagery, word choice and rhythm to illustrate the
  horrific conditions and the way this affected the
  soldiers. Owen also conveys the extreme physical
  danger and lasting mental torture suffered by
  soldiers.

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Remember - P.E.A.R Structure!

• Point should refer to the question
• Evidence should be relevant to question and
  should be the best quotation(s) to support your
  point.
• Analysis should be consistently relevant to
  question
• Response Should be a thorough explanation of
  how the evidence and analysis in the key point
  answers the question!!

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Point Topic Sentence

• Initially, Owen deepens the readers
  understanding of the issue of war by
  demonstrating the dramatic effect of the dreadful
  conditions on the soldiers health.

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Key Point 2 Topic Sentence

• Additionally, Owen improves the readers
  understanding of warfare by graphically
  illustrating the extreme physical danger of the
  soldiers and how one man suffered terribly.

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Key Point 3 - Your turn

• Opener
• Reference to question
• Outline the key point
• Furthermore

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Key Point 4

• Moreover or Finally

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Relevant Evidence

• Key Point 1
• Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
• And towards our distant rest began to trudge.
  

• Key Point 2
• GAS! Gas! Quick, boys!
• An ecstasy of fumbling, fitting the clumsy
  helmets just in time
• And floundering like a man in fire or lime.

• Key Point 3
• In all my dreams, before my helpless sight, He
  plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.
• And watch the white eyes writhing in his
  face,His hanging face, like a devil's sick of
  sin

• Key Point 4
• My friend, you would not tell with such high
  zestTo children ardent for some desperate glory
• The old Lie Dulce et decorum estPro patria
  mori.

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Analysis

• When you explain the use of a technique you
  must explain the effect of this either to 1.
  support the point you are making or 2. to relate
  to the question! (preferably both!!)
• E.g The simile in the opening line illustrates
• 1. The poor physical condition of the soldiers
  and how they have been changed because of the
  war.
• 2. Owens criticism of the lie about war told to
  the soldiers (because of the stark contrast to
  the title/myth

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Response

• You should of course be consistently relevant to
  the question you generally are!
• But the P.E.A.R structure is used to ensure you
  specifically respond to the question explain (not
  simply refer) the link to the question at the end
  of each key point.

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Key Point 1 You have just given at least two
quotations and an insightful analysis of
techniques used. You now need to demonstrate
that your point is relevant to the question

• Owen deepens the readers understanding of the
  issue of war by using effective imagery and word
  choice to illustrate the dramatic effect the
  conditions and environment had on the physical
  state of the soldiers and to convey how war
  changes people.

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Key Point 2 Your Turn

• The poet enhances the readers appreciation of
  the extreme suffering of warfare by illustrating
  the catastrophic effects of chlorine gas used
  during WW1. Through this Owen highlights how war
  is abnormal and alters people.

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Key Point 3 You again!

• Owens harrowing description of his recurring
  nightmare deepens the readers understanding of
  war because he explains how the atrocities of war
  can have a lasting psychological impact on
  soldiers.

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Key Point 4 Yup you guessed it, this one is for
you too!

• Owen attempts to convince the reader about the
  true nature of war and to dispel the myth told by
  many that to die for your country is a sweet and
  honourable thing to do by using emotive language
  and a bitterly critical tone.