Poetry has the power to change and transform human perspective, expression, and emotion immensely. Poets use their art to speak to the realities, illusions, and fantasies of humanity. The famous poet Wilfred Owen describes the harsh reality of war through his exceptional poem, Dulce et Decorum Est. He states that the brutality of war surpasses the patriotism and glory gained after battle. Considering the use of sound devices, the rich diction, and the vivid imagery used throughout, it is safe to say that Dulce et Decorum Est is among the greatest poems in the world. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay First, Owen depicts a dark and desolate mood to convey his message through the use of poetic sound devices. First, alliteration is used to draw the reader's attention to the brutality of war and reinforce the message. The author highlights the horrific physical state of a soldier after an attack through alliteration: “white eyes writhing” (line 19) and “sin-sick devil” (line 20). Owen uses these alliterations to create an overall disturbing atmosphere so that readers understand the dangers of war. Additionally, the use of the letter 'S' in “sick of sin” creates a hissing sound that reminds readers of a snake thus developing the dark mood. Additionally, a variety of caesuras are used to further develop the atmosphere. Throughout the second and third stanzas, particularly in lines 9, 12, and 24, sudden caesuras describe the soldiers' disorganized actions and efforts. The sudden pauses highlight the constant fear and surprise present in an unpredictable battlefield. Additionally, the author uses assonance line by line to immerse the reader in the setting of war. In almost every line of the poem, the vowel “U” is repeated which creates the “uh” sound. The use of words such as “fumble” (line 9), “clumsy” (line 10), and “stumble” (line 11) mimics the sound of explosions and fighting in the distance. Owens highlights the destruction, stress, and chaos created by war through the assonance of the poem. Overall, Owens' subtle yet 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 image of the war and contributes to the development of the theme. First, the author describes the poor physical and mental state of the soldiers through his choice of words. At the beginning of the poem, words such as “beggars…bags” (line 1), “hags” (line 2), and “limp” (line 6) indicate an impoverished state of deprivation. This highlights the toll that war takes on soldiers and allows readers to sympathize with them. Owen highlights the injustice of war and the costly impact it has on innocent humans. Furthermore, the sad and dangerous atmosphere is created by using language such as “disturbing” (line 3), “writhing” (line 19), and “hanging face” (line 20). Once again, the reader must sympathize with the soldiers living in such terrible environments due to war and allow the atmosphere of the poem to influence their perspective. Furthermore, the use of health-related words indicates the vast danger and chaos of war. For example, the “foam-corrupted lungs” (line 22), the “incurable sores” (line 24), and the comparison to “cancer” (line 23) highlight the reality of war in a tangible sense. The mention of health issues implies a call to action from readers to discourage behaviors or practices that cause physical harm. All in all, use.