Poetry has the power to enormously change and transform human perspective, expression, and emotion. Poets use their art to speak about the realities, illusions and fantasies of humanity. Renowned poet Wilfred Owen depicts the harsh realities of war through his exceptional poem, Dulce et Decorum Est. He explains that the brutality of war outweighs the patriotism and glory gained after the battle. Considering the use of sound devices, rich diction, and vivid imagery used throughout, it is safe to say that Dulce et Decorum Est is among the world's greatest poems. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay First, Owen depicts a dark and desolate mood to convey his message through his use of poetic sound devices. On the one hand, alliteration is used to draw the reader's attention to the brutality of war and reinforce the message. The author highlights the horrible physical state of a soldier after an attack through alliteration: “white eyes twist” (line 19) and “the devil is sick of sin” (line 20). Owen uses these alliterations to create a haunting overall mood so that readers understand the dangers of war. Additionally, the use of the letter “S” in “sin sick” creates a hissing sound reminding readers of a snake thus developing a dark mood. Additionally, various hyphenations are used to further develop the atmosphere. Throughout the second and third stanzas, particularly in lines 9, 12, and 24, abrupt caesuras describe the soldiers' disorganized actions and efforts. The sudden pauses emphasize the constant fear and surprise present in an unpredictable battlefield. Additionally, the author uses line-by-line assonance to immerse the reader in the war setting. In almost every line of the poem, the vowel “U” creating the sound “uh” is repeated. The use of words like “groping” (line 9), “clumsy” (line 10), and “stumbling” (line 11) imitate the sound of explosions and fighting in the distance. Owens highlights the destruction, stress, and chaos created by war through assonance in the poem. Overall, Owen's subtle but effective use of sound devices immerses the reader in the atmosphere and evokes an emotional response to the message. The intense diction implemented in Dulce et Decorum Est creates a detailed picture of the war and contributes to the development of the theme. Above all, the author describes the poor physical and mental state of the soldiers through the choice of his words. Early in the poem, words like “beggars…sacks” (line 1), “witches” (line 2), and “lame” (line 6) indicate an impoverished state of deprivation. This highlights the detrimental effects of war on the soldiers and allows readers to empathize with them. Owen highlights the injustice of war and its costly impact on innocent humans. Additionally, the bleak and dangerous atmosphere is created by using terms such as “haunting” (line 3), “writhing” (line 19), and “hanging face” (line 20). Again, the reader is meant to sympathize with the soldiers living in such terrible environments because of the war and allow the mood of the poem to affect their perspective. Additionally, the use of health-related words signifies the vast danger and chaos of war. For example, the "lungs corrupted by foam" (line 22), the "incurable wounds" (line 24), and the comparison with "cancer" (line 23) highlight the realities of war in a tangible sense . Mention of health problems.