Although Wilfred Owen’s Dulce et Decorum Est and Owen Seaman’s Pro Patria deal with the subject of war, both poems are distinctly different in their treatment of the subject. First, Owen’s theme is the brutality and horror of war, whereas Seaman’s theme is patriotism and valor. Owen’s poem focuses on the ghastly, gruesome and gory memories of being on the battlefield when a gas attack occurs. This is noted in the lines “In all my dreams before my helpless sight, / He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning” (15-16). However, Seaman’s poem glorifies the soldier’s notion of glory and honor towards war. Second, the setting of the two poems differ because in Dulce et Decorum Est, the setting is the retreatment of the soldiers from the battlefield
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/ Men marched asleep” (3-5). In contrast, the setting in Pro Patria is England, where the soldiers next to enlist remain. Here we can see the soldiers being mentally prepared in the opening lines, “England, in this great fight to which you go / Because, where Honor calls you, go you must” (1-2). Third, the tone of the two poems shows the different perceptions of war. The tone in Dulce et Decorum Est is angry and critical as the speaker recounts the horrific memories of a gas attack and the agony to watch the bitter result. However, in Pro Patria, the tone is tranquil and persuasive as the soldiers are being taught that all that matters is one’s duty to willingly sacrifice oneself for his nation, for the sake of glory and honor. This is noted in the lines “Where Honour calls, go you must” (2) and “Her cause you pleaded and her ends you sought; / But not for her sake, being what you are, / Could you be bribed and bought” (6-8). Finally, the diction and imagery of the two poems depict the two extremely different perceptions regarding the subject of war. This is because Owen maximizes the intensity of the horror of the gas attack with the use of powerful and vivid
/ Men marched asleep” (3-5). In contrast, the setting in Pro Patria is England, where the soldiers next to enlist remain. Here we can see the soldiers being mentally prepared in the opening lines, “England, in this great fight to which you go / Because, where Honor calls you, go you must” (1-2). Third, the tone of the two poems shows the different perceptions of war. The tone in Dulce et Decorum Est is angry and critical as the speaker recounts the horrific memories of a gas attack and the agony to watch the bitter result. However, in Pro Patria, the tone is tranquil and persuasive as the soldiers are being taught that all that matters is one’s duty to willingly sacrifice oneself for his nation, for the sake of glory and honor. This is noted in the lines “Where Honour calls, go you must” (2) and “Her cause you pleaded and her ends you sought; / But not for her sake, being what you are, / Could you be bribed and bought” (6-8). Finally, the diction and imagery of the two poems depict the two extremely different perceptions regarding the subject of war. This is because Owen maximizes the intensity of the horror of the gas attack with the use of powerful and vivid