Wilfred Owen 1883 1918 Wilfred Owen Born in

Wilfred Owen 1883 -1918

Wilfred Owen. • Born in Shropshire in 1883. • Became interested in poetry and music at an early age • Couldn’t afford to go to university • Went to France to teach English. • Was in France when the war broke out. • Returned to England to volunteer for service. “I do now most intensely want to fight. ”

Wilfred Owen • Before you find out any more have a look at some statements made by Wilfred Owen. “The people of England needn’t hope. They must agitate. “ “ I do now most intensely want to fight. ” “I hate washy pacifists. "

Task 1 • What do these statements tell us about Owen’s feelings regarding the war? • Explain your answer. • Would you regard Owen as an Anti-war or Pro War poet?

You are now going to find out more about Owen • Sent to the battle field in 1916. Sent to the Somme sector to begin with and then to the Hindenburg line. • A shell exploded close by him and left him severely shell shocked. He was sent back to England to recover. • Upon his return his view of war began to change. • He became very critical of armchair patriots

In your groups discuss…. . • What is a Patriot? • Once you have discussed this point decide on what you think an arm chair patriot is. • Can you think of an example of someone who you would describe as an arm chair patriot? • Explain your answer.

Wilfred Owen • Look the list of titles opposite. These are all titles of poems that Owen wrote after he was injured during the war. • What do these titles suggest about Owen’s feelings towards the war at that stage? • Has his opinion of War changed? Why do you think this is? • Mental Cases • Anthem for Doomed Youth • Disabled • Futility • Insensibility

More about Owen • Owen was sent to Craiglock Hospital to be treated for shell shock. • By day the hospital was a relatively pleasant place but at night the atmosphere changed • The patients were tormented by their experiences and Owen was woken up frequently by the screams of the men around him. Some symptoms of shell shock: Mental Trauma Anxiety Hallucinations Facial/ Body tics

Wilfred Owen • Once Owen recovered he was sent out to fight once more. • He was sent to the front line and was killed in action on 4 th November 1918. A week later the war ended. • His family received notification of his death on the 11 th of November, the day the war ended.

Dulce et Decorum Est. • We are now going to study one of Owen’s most famous poems • “Dulce et Decorum Est. ” • Which means “ it is a sweet and fitting thing to die for one’s country” • What is your opinion on the topic? • Do you believe that it is a good thing to die for your country?