Nonfiction
Poem of the Week: 1914 by Wilfred Owen
An Analysis by Andrea Eichenberger, 12th Grade
1914
War broke: and now the Winter of the world
With perishing great darkness closes in.
The foul tornado, centred at Berlin,
Is over all the width of Europe whirled,
Rending the sails of progress. Rent or furled
Are all Art's ensigns. Verse wails. Now begin
Famines of thought and feeling. Love's wine's thin.
The grain of human Autumn rots, down-hurled.
For after Spring had bloomed in early Greece,
And Summer blazed her glory out with Rome,
An Autumn softly fell, a harvest home,
A slow grand age, and rich with all increase.
But now, for us, wild Winter, and the need
Of sowings for new Spring, and blood for seed.
- Wilfred Owen
The poem chosen today is from Wilfred Owen, one of the most widely recognized
war poets of his time. He is known most for shifting the tone of war poetry away from
the romantized and towards the realities of battle. Owen’s mentor, Siegfried Sassoon,
had a hand in this shift. It is worthy to note that this poem was written before Owen met
him, which is perhaps an explanation for the more removed tone of the poem. At this
point, Owen may still have retained a more nationalistic outlook on war.
An interesting note about structure is that 1914 is written in the format of an
Italian sonnet. Layered on top of that is the use of iambic pentameter. This contrast
between the usage of Italian and English poetic structures could express added tension,
but it could also be a message about working together to make something better. The
concept of globalization became especially relevant as the first great world conflict
emerged in this year of 1914. This may also be linked with an allusion to the poetry of
Percy Blythe Shelley in the poem “The Revolt of Islam”, which is about seeing the
common humanity of the enemy. Both of these possibilities highlight a desire to unite
instead of destroy.
By capitalizing the names of each season in the poem, Owen subtly gives the
seasons more weight, personifying them and making it seem as though the seasons are
actors in the poem, or even the subject of the poem. By doing so, the seasons become the
driving force of the action, by extension, taking blame away from humanity. This
supports the idea that war is an inevitable part of civilization. A cycle, even.
In Grecian and Roman civilization, late spring and summer were the seasons for
conquering: going out and attacking other city-states for riches and glory. This explains
the references of spring blooming early in Greece, and summer blazing glory in Rome. It
is entirely possible that Owen means spring came early this year of 1914, as war began
sooner than it usually did in ancient times. In the summer, all the glory “blazed out” in
Rome, and now there is no violence left in the year. However, contradicting with history,
winter in this poem is depicted as the most negative and violent time of year. In fact, this
winter and war are so terrible and the “winds of change” are so strong that progress and
art have been ripped to shreds, and “Now begin/Famines of thought and feeling”.
The extensive use of wind and sailing words, such as tornado, sails, and furled,
connects back to nature and the seasons being actors in the war, which gives war a
connotation of unpredictability and uncontrollability. This once again suggests that
humanity does not have control over violence.
By no means is war portrayed in a positive light by this poem. However, many
parts of it seem to imply that it is an inevitable part of civilization, or even necessary, as
is demonstrated in the last lines “the need/Of sowing for new Spring, blood for seed”. I
argue that because of this, as well as the lack of human responsibility or specificity, that
this poem does romanticize war—especially in comparison to his later poems. “1914”,
simply by failing to provide specific or horrific details, or putting a human in the center of
the action (as opposed to seasons) he has removed the reader from the action,
making it far easier to justify war.
1914
War broke: and now the Winter of the world
With perishing great darkness closes in.
The foul tornado, centred at Berlin,
Is over all the width of Europe whirled,
Rending the sails of progress. Rent or furled
Are all Art's ensigns. Verse wails. Now begin
Famines of thought and feeling. Love's wine's thin.
The grain of human Autumn rots, down-hurled.
For after Spring had bloomed in early Greece,
And Summer blazed her glory out with Rome,
An Autumn softly fell, a harvest home,
A slow grand age, and rich with all increase.
But now, for us, wild Winter, and the need
Of sowings for new Spring, and blood for seed.
- Wilfred Owen
The poem chosen today is from Wilfred Owen, one of the most widely recognized
war poets of his time. He is known most for shifting the tone of war poetry away from
the romantized and towards the realities of battle. Owen’s mentor, Siegfried Sassoon,
had a hand in this shift. It is worthy to note that this poem was written before Owen met
him, which is perhaps an explanation for the more removed tone of the poem. At this
point, Owen may still have retained a more nationalistic outlook on war.
An interesting note about structure is that 1914 is written in the format of an
Italian sonnet. Layered on top of that is the use of iambic pentameter. This contrast
between the usage of Italian and English poetic structures could express added tension,
but it could also be a message about working together to make something better. The
concept of globalization became especially relevant as the first great world conflict
emerged in this year of 1914. This may also be linked with an allusion to the poetry of
Percy Blythe Shelley in the poem “The Revolt of Islam”, which is about seeing the
common humanity of the enemy. Both of these possibilities highlight a desire to unite
instead of destroy.
By capitalizing the names of each season in the poem, Owen subtly gives the
seasons more weight, personifying them and making it seem as though the seasons are
actors in the poem, or even the subject of the poem. By doing so, the seasons become the
driving force of the action, by extension, taking blame away from humanity. This
supports the idea that war is an inevitable part of civilization. A cycle, even.
In Grecian and Roman civilization, late spring and summer were the seasons for
conquering: going out and attacking other city-states for riches and glory. This explains
the references of spring blooming early in Greece, and summer blazing glory in Rome. It
is entirely possible that Owen means spring came early this year of 1914, as war began
sooner than it usually did in ancient times. In the summer, all the glory “blazed out” in
Rome, and now there is no violence left in the year. However, contradicting with history,
winter in this poem is depicted as the most negative and violent time of year. In fact, this
winter and war are so terrible and the “winds of change” are so strong that progress and
art have been ripped to shreds, and “Now begin/Famines of thought and feeling”.
The extensive use of wind and sailing words, such as tornado, sails, and furled,
connects back to nature and the seasons being actors in the war, which gives war a
connotation of unpredictability and uncontrollability. This once again suggests that
humanity does not have control over violence.
By no means is war portrayed in a positive light by this poem. However, many
parts of it seem to imply that it is an inevitable part of civilization, or even necessary, as
is demonstrated in the last lines “the need/Of sowing for new Spring, blood for seed”. I
argue that because of this, as well as the lack of human responsibility or specificity, that
this poem does romanticize war—especially in comparison to his later poems. “1914”,
simply by failing to provide specific or horrific details, or putting a human in the center of
the action (as opposed to seasons) he has removed the reader from the action,
making it far easier to justify war.
Tobacco Should be Illegal
A Persuasive Essay by Stella Crichton, 10th Grade
Today, the world is more than aware of how damaging cigarette smoking is for the environment and our health. Smoking affects almost every part of our body in a very harmful way. According to the American Cancer Society, over 16 million people are living with disease caused by smoking, and in the past 50 years, over 20 million Americans have died as a result of smoking. Disturbingly 2.5 million of these 20 million Americans died not because they were smokers but due to secondhand smoke. Smokers need to realize that their addiction is not only affecting their health but those around them.
Secondhand smoking is very dangerous and a huge problem. Secondhand smoking is when the smoke that is exhaled from a smoker or smoke that comes from the cigarette is involuntarily inhaled by nearby people or animals. Non-smokers who breathe in the smoke take in nicotine and toxic chemicals the same way smokers do. Therefore, it is possible for people and pets that have experienced secondhand smoke to later develop cancers in the voice box, throat, nasal sinuses, brain, bladder, rectum, stomach, and breasts. I have seen parents smoking in their cars with their small children in the back seat and I find it very upsetting. The American Cancer Society says that there are over 7,000 deadly chemicals in just one puff of smoke. So, when parents smoke in the car, they must not realize what they are doing to themselves and their children.
It’s no lie that smoking definitely takes a huge toll on your body, skin, and physical appearance. Here is an example of twins. (click here for more examples). Twin A is a non smoker and twin B is a heavy smoker. It’s clear to see the difference in the two women. The Mayo Clinic states that the nicotine in cigarettes causes narrowing of the blood vessels in the outermost layers of our skin. This stops some of the blood flow to the skin. With less blood flow, skin won’t be able to get as much oxygen and important nutrients, such as vitamin A. Smoking also leads to deterioration of the teeth. A British dental health foundation found that the chemicals in cigarettes lead to tooth staining, gum disease, tooth loss, and in severe cases even mouth cancer.
Nicotine, which is a harmful chemical in cigarettes, is unfortunately very addictive. This is the biggest problem for most smokers. A survey taken by the American Cancer Society says that 7 out of 10 smokers wish they could stop their deadly addiction. Most say that they just don’t have the will power. The world understands this issue and has fortunately made many alternatives to smoking. These alternatives encourage smoking cessation, thus avoiding the harmful cancers and the unattractive physical appearance. Companies make all kinds of different products such as medical prescriptions, nicotine patches, herbal teas, and different types of electronic cigarettes. Here is a link to some alternatives. Smokers should have no excuse to not try to stop smoking with all of these alternatives.
Some people might think that they’ll be fine from smoking. My great grandfather thought the same thing. In his defense, this was before we knew smoking was dangerous to our health. When he was a child, he was exposed to secondhand smoking and later on in his life he became a heavy smoker. When he was in his late 50s, he was diagnosed with throat cancer and had to get part of his neck removed. For the rest of his life, he could not talk and had a large, open hole on the front of his neck. Then, later in his life, he was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed away.
Smoking is not something that should be taken lightly and it needs to come to an end. It need to become illegal sooner than later or millions of people will continue to die.
Today, the world is more than aware of how damaging cigarette smoking is for the environment and our health. Smoking affects almost every part of our body in a very harmful way. According to the American Cancer Society, over 16 million people are living with disease caused by smoking, and in the past 50 years, over 20 million Americans have died as a result of smoking. Disturbingly 2.5 million of these 20 million Americans died not because they were smokers but due to secondhand smoke. Smokers need to realize that their addiction is not only affecting their health but those around them.
Secondhand smoking is very dangerous and a huge problem. Secondhand smoking is when the smoke that is exhaled from a smoker or smoke that comes from the cigarette is involuntarily inhaled by nearby people or animals. Non-smokers who breathe in the smoke take in nicotine and toxic chemicals the same way smokers do. Therefore, it is possible for people and pets that have experienced secondhand smoke to later develop cancers in the voice box, throat, nasal sinuses, brain, bladder, rectum, stomach, and breasts. I have seen parents smoking in their cars with their small children in the back seat and I find it very upsetting. The American Cancer Society says that there are over 7,000 deadly chemicals in just one puff of smoke. So, when parents smoke in the car, they must not realize what they are doing to themselves and their children.
It’s no lie that smoking definitely takes a huge toll on your body, skin, and physical appearance. Here is an example of twins. (click here for more examples). Twin A is a non smoker and twin B is a heavy smoker. It’s clear to see the difference in the two women. The Mayo Clinic states that the nicotine in cigarettes causes narrowing of the blood vessels in the outermost layers of our skin. This stops some of the blood flow to the skin. With less blood flow, skin won’t be able to get as much oxygen and important nutrients, such as vitamin A. Smoking also leads to deterioration of the teeth. A British dental health foundation found that the chemicals in cigarettes lead to tooth staining, gum disease, tooth loss, and in severe cases even mouth cancer.
Nicotine, which is a harmful chemical in cigarettes, is unfortunately very addictive. This is the biggest problem for most smokers. A survey taken by the American Cancer Society says that 7 out of 10 smokers wish they could stop their deadly addiction. Most say that they just don’t have the will power. The world understands this issue and has fortunately made many alternatives to smoking. These alternatives encourage smoking cessation, thus avoiding the harmful cancers and the unattractive physical appearance. Companies make all kinds of different products such as medical prescriptions, nicotine patches, herbal teas, and different types of electronic cigarettes. Here is a link to some alternatives. Smokers should have no excuse to not try to stop smoking with all of these alternatives.
Some people might think that they’ll be fine from smoking. My great grandfather thought the same thing. In his defense, this was before we knew smoking was dangerous to our health. When he was a child, he was exposed to secondhand smoking and later on in his life he became a heavy smoker. When he was in his late 50s, he was diagnosed with throat cancer and had to get part of his neck removed. For the rest of his life, he could not talk and had a large, open hole on the front of his neck. Then, later in his life, he was diagnosed with lung cancer and passed away.
Smoking is not something that should be taken lightly and it needs to come to an end. It need to become illegal sooner than later or millions of people will continue to die.