Stanzas 3 and 4: The Aftermath and Reflection

The third and fourth stanzas shift to the aftermath of the gas attack and the lasting psychological impact on the speaker. Owen employs haunting imagery to describe the speaker's recurring nightmares of the incident.

Quote: "In all my dreams, before my helpless sight, / He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning."

The repetition of drowning-related words emphasizes the speaker's trauma and the horrific nature of the soldier's death. Owen's vivid descriptions challenge the reader to confront the true cost of war.

Highlight: The poem's structure, moving from immediate experience to reflection, mirrors the lasting impact of war trauma on soldiers.

Title and Context

"Dulce et Decorum Est" takes its title from a Latin phrase by Horace, meaning "It is sweet and proper to die for one's country." This sets up the central ironic meaning of Dulce et Decorum Est, as Owen's poem starkly contradicts this sentiment.

Wilfred Owen, the poem's author, was a British soldier and poet who experienced the trenches of World War I firsthand. His work, including this poem, stands in stark contrast to the patriotic verse popular at the time, offering instead a brutally honest portrayal of war's realities.

Highlight: The poem was originally dedicated to Jessie Pope, a propaganda poet, though this dedication was removed before publication. This context underscores Owen's intent to challenge those who glorified war.

Quote: "Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori" - The Latin phrase that forms the poem's title and its ironic core.

Vocabulary: Irony - The use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning.