Page 2: Language and Imagery in "Exposure"
The second page of the analysis delves deeper into the language and imagery used in "Exposure", highlighting how Owen crafts a powerful depiction of the soldiers' experiences.
Owen's use of contradiction is evident in his portrayal of dawn. Typically associated with hope and new beginnings, dawn in this poem brings only more suffering and the prospect of facing another day of war's horrors.
Quote: "Dawn massing in the east her melancholy army"
This line personifies dawn as an attacking force, emphasizing how even natural cycles offer no respite for the soldiers.
The repetition of the phrase "But nothing happens" throughout the poem serves multiple purposes. It reinforces the sense of boredom and waiting that characterizes much of the soldiers' experience, while also hinting at the futility of war itself.
Highlight: The repeated phrase "But nothing happens" reflects the stasis and unchanging nature of the soldiers' situation, creating a feeling that they have been trapped in these conditions forever.
Owen employs irony to underscore the true threat to the soldiers:
Quote: "Less deadly than the air that shudders black with snow,"
This line suggests that the weather and atmosphere pose a greater danger than enemy gunfire, as they inflict prolonged suffering rather than a quick death.
The poem's vivid imagery continues with metaphors that depict the soldiers' physical and spiritual state:
Quote: "Slowly our ghosts drag home: glimpsing the sunk fires, glozed with crusted dark-red jewels."
This metaphor suggests that war has drained the life from the soldiers, leaving them as mere ghosts. The "dark-red jewels" symbolize the comforts of home that now seem distant and unattainable.
As the poem progresses, it touches on themes of obligation, loss of faith, and the psychological toll of war:
Quote: "We lie out here... For the love of God seems dying"
This line encapsulates the soldiers' loss of hope and faith, feeling abandoned by God in their time of greatest need.
Example: The line "Tonight, this frost will fasten on this mud and us," shifts to the future tense, indicating the soldiers' belief that their situation will never change, emphasizing the relentless nature of their suffering.
Through his masterful use of language and imagery, Owen creates a powerful analysis of the soldiers' experience, making "Exposure" a cornerstone of World War I poetry and a poignant exploration of the human cost of conflict.
