Exposure by Wilfred Owen: Analysis and Context

Language Analysis

Owen's masterful use of language in Exposure brings the harsh realities of trench warfare to life. The poem's opening line, "Sudden successive flights of bullets streak the silence," employs sibilance to mirror the sound of gunfire, positioning nature as the true enemy. This technique presents snow as a deadly threat, with snowflakes slicing through the air like bullets.

Quote: "The burying party, picks and shovels in the shaking grasp [...] but nothing happens"

This line builds anticipation through visual imagery, only to collapse it with an anti-climactic fifth line. This structure mirrors the constant alertness required of soldiers, even when nothing occurs.

Highlight: Owen's use of biblical references adds depth to the soldiers' sacrifice.

The line "Like a dull rumour of some other war" alludes to Matthew 24:6, where Jesus discusses the end times. This connection draws parallels between the soldiers' sacrifice and Jesus' death to save humanity.

Context

Understanding Wilfred Owen's background enhances our appreciation of Exposure:

• Owen initially pursued a career in the church but became a soldier, feeling the church had failed its duty.
• He was killed in battle on November 4, 1918, just one week before the armistice.
• Owen was inspired by John Keats and mentored by Siegfried Sassoon while recovering from shell shock.
• His therapist advised him to write about his war experiences, leading to authentic first-person narratives.

Highlight: Exposure was written in 1917 while Owen was in the trenches, lending authenticity to its portrayal of war.

Structure

The poem's structure reinforces its themes:

• Cyclical structure with repeated lines emphasizes the war's futility.
• Anaphora (repetition of "but nothing happens") underscores the monotony of war.
• Slant rhyme scheme allows the fifth line of each stanza to stand out.
• Consistent stanza and rhyme patterns reflect the war's tedium.

Themes

Exposure explores several powerful themes:

1. The power of nature: "merciless iced east winds that knive"
2. Loss and absence: "what are we doing here?"
3. The reality of conflict: "the burying party, picks and shovels in the shaking grasp"
4. Boredom among soldiers: "but nothing happens"

Vocabulary: Anaphora - The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or verses.

Owen's use of punctuation, especially ellipsis, reinforces the sense of waiting and anticipation that dominates the soldiers' experience.