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Apologia Final

The poem 'Apologia Pro Poemate Meo' by Wilfred Owen reflects on the experiences of soldiers during World War I, emphasizing themes of brotherhood, hopelessness, and the horror of war. Written in response to a letter from Robert Graves urging a more optimistic tone, the poem juxtaposes moments of joy and camaraderie with the brutal realities of combat. Owen employs various poetic devices, such as onomatopoeia and personification, to convey the emotional and physical toll of war on soldiers.

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Dina Bardakji
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8 views12 pages

Apologia Final

The poem 'Apologia Pro Poemate Meo' by Wilfred Owen reflects on the experiences of soldiers during World War I, emphasizing themes of brotherhood, hopelessness, and the horror of war. Written in response to a letter from Robert Graves urging a more optimistic tone, the poem juxtaposes moments of joy and camaraderie with the brutal realities of combat. Owen employs various poetic devices, such as onomatopoeia and personification, to convey the emotional and physical toll of war on soldiers.

Uploaded by

Dina Bardakji
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Apologia Pro Poemate

Meo
Layan khayyat, Mohammad Saidi.
The Poem
• I, too, saw God through mud— • By joy, whose ribbon slips,—
The mud that cracked on cheeks when wretches smiled. But wound with war’s hard wire whose
War brought more glory to their eyes than blood, stakes are strong;
And gave their laughs more glee than shakes a child. Bound with the bandage of the arm that
• Merry it was to laugh there— drips;
Where death becomes absurd and life absurder. Knit in the welding of the rifle-thong.
For power was on us as we slashed bones bare • I have perceived much beauty
Not to feel sickness or remorse of murder. In the hoarse oaths that kept our
• I, too, have dropped off fear— courage straight;
Behind the barrage, dead as my platoon, Heard music in the silentness of duty;
And sailed my spirit surging, light and clear, Found peace where shell-storms spouted
Past the entanglement where hopes lie strewn; reddest spate.
• And witnessed exhultation— • Nevertheless, except you share
Faces that used to curse me, scowl for scowl, With them in hell the sorrowful dark of
Shine and lift up with passion of oblation, hell,
Seraphic for an hour, though they were foul. Whose world is but a trembling of a flare
• I have made fellowships— And heaven but a highway for a shell,
Untold of happy lovers in old song.
For love is not the binding of fair lips • You shall not hear their mirth:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XRlrs_KgDs
You shall not come to think them well
The significance of the
title and contextual
background
• The title “Apologia Pro Poemate Meo” translates to “an
apology to my poetry”. It was written after Owen
received a letter written by Robert Graves, urging him to
cheer up, and avoid pessimistic thoughts. ‘For god’s
sake, cheer up and write more optimistically – The war’s
not ended yet, but a poet should have a spirit above
wars.’ (1917). The letter includes several other
comments, and appreciation for some of the work done
by Owen. This poem is regarded by some critics as a
rebuttal of graves’s criticism, but some believe Owen
changed his tone in line according to the request of
Graves.
Introduction to
theme.
• As in his other books, Owen's
battle scenery is vibrant to the
point of colorful awfulness, but
the battleground images in
"Apologia" are combined with
moments of deep joy and
brotherhood, emphasizing these
essential points. The poem is a
genuine patchwork quilt of the
sounds, feelings, of the First
World War.
Major themes in
the poem
• Brotherhood and friendship
Owen highlights the importance of brotherhood
and friendship among soldiers. He constantly
expresses that it is the only source of hope, and the
spark of light that detaches soldiers from their
sorrows
• Hopelessness and Religion
The poet consistently describes his lack of faith in
God. He describes how the endless fight during
war time drives soldiers out of hope, and
completely drains any sense of optimism left in
them.
• Horror, war and death.
The visceral brutality of war, the extreme scenery,
and the numerous blood-shed experienced during
war, shapes the context of Wilfred's poems
Poetic Devices Analysis and Themes
• 1- Onomatopoeia: This literary device links back to theme of “war, horror,
and death”​
​
• “Where death becomes absurd and life absurder. For power was on us
as we slashed bones bare Not to feel sickness or remorse of murder.”(lines 7-8)​

• “The mud that cracked on cheeks when wretches smiled. War brought more
glory to their eyes than blood”(lines 1-2)​
Poetic devices
• 2- Personification: This literary device links back to several
themes including “war, horror, and death” as well as “brotherhood
and friendship”​

• “War brought more glory to their eyes than blood, And gave their laughs
more glee than shakes a child.”(also ironic)​
​
• “I, too, have dropped off fear -Behind the barrage, dead as my platoon” ​
Poetic devices
• Diction: mostly religious diction links back to the 3 main themes of the
poem ​

• “sailed my spirit surging, light and clear, Past the entanglement where hopes
lay strewn”​

• “And witnessed exultation -Faces that used to curse me, scowl for scowl”​
Sound Devices
Analysis and Themes

• The repetition of the sound “S”,


which indicates “fading away”.
• Pronunciation of the repeated “s”
talks the glossy fruitful eyes of
sadness.
• “soft silk”.
Structure analysis

• Stanza 1- Wilfred Owen is using personal pronouns to describe how he only


meets god when he hides or encounters the trenches. Description of the attitude
of men towards war. Wilfred also illustrates soldiers as children, when they first
enter war with their smiles and family celebrations.
• Stanza 2- Owen questions his life, and the meaning of it.
• Stanza 3- Owen describes how soldiers must act inhumane, to decline their
strong empathetic emotions.
• Stanza 4- contradictory and using words of angelic meaning to describe the
soldiers, even though they act in violence.
• Stanza 5- the love between men in war
• Stanza 6- a change of tone occurs where Owen highlights war as something
positive.
• Stanza 7- the purpose of the poet becomes clear, and he mentions that the
true/real image of war is only felt by those who experience, not those who sit at
home.
FOI and the Chosen
Global Issues
• FOI: Culture, identity and community
• Global Issue: The impact of the
extremity of wars on the identity of its
victims.
• Physical Identity
• Mental identity
• Soldier communities
Bibliography
• https://www.gradesaver.com/wilfred-owen-poems/study-guide/themes
• http://www.wilfredowen.org.uk/poetry/apologia-pro-poemate-meo

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