I think we can all agree that war is a terrible thing that should be avoided at all costs. But different people view war different ways. Some people see it as more of a heroic & noble experience, and some just see it as sad & horrible. Our own experiences and thoughts can be different, so war is represented in different ways in writing, music, and movies.

Writers us specific words, forms, and devices to create a tone and mood in their work. The most effective writing is one that can make the reader feel or at least understand a certain mood. Poetry is especially linked to mood and tone. Here’s how:

For each of the poems below, I want you to go through and pick out words that are positive (make war sound heroic) and words that sound negative (a terrible tragedy.) Make a list of each kind of word and try to figure out whether the writer was portraying war as a noble/heroic experience, or something horrible that is to be avoided at all costs.

Look at this poem and consider the tone and mood that are created by the poet:

The Charge of the Light Brigade

Describe the mood of this poem. With its mood in mind, why do you think army recruiters used this poem to inspire young men to join up at the start of The Great War?

DULCE ET DECORUM EST-WOwen

or

Describe the mood of this poem. What words & devices does the author include that help create that tone & mood? Pick out some examples and explain why they’re used and what the effect is.

Assignment: War Words

1. Using words/proof from the poem as proof/evidence, how does the poet feel about war in The Charge of the Light Brigade.
2. Using words/proof from the poem as proof/evidence, how does the poet feel about war in Dulce et Decorum Est.
3. What does the last line of Dulce et Decorum Est mean?
4. Explain your personal opinion about war. Use examples and descriptive words.