Wilfred Owen's Poetry

Support for studying English GCSE and A Level

Wilfred Owen - Biography

Wilfred Edward Salter Owen was born (Oswestry, Shropshire, England) on 18 March 1893 and died on 4 November 1918 (Sambre–Oise Canal, France). He was one of the foremost First World War poets.

Owen’s parents were Thomas and Susan. He was the eldest of four children. Owen was raised as an evangelical Anglican and was a devout believer in his youth – this was in part down to his strong relationship with his mother. He lost his faith (became disillusioned) when he worked as lay assistant to the Vicar of Dunsden (near Reading). He lived in the vicarage (September 1911 to February 1913). Over this period, Owen attended University College (now Reading University).

Owen’s early poetic influences were the Bible and the Romantic poets – especially John Keats. It was in 1904 that he realised poetry was his passion, during a holiday in Cheshire.

Owen did not sign up for the army immediately and at one point considered signing up for the French one, as he had been teaching there. However, on 21 October 1915, he enlisted in the Artists Rifles Officers' Training Corps. He trained for seven months at Hare Hall Camp in Essex. Owen experienced several traumatic events on the front line that led to him being diagnosed as suffering from neurasthenia (shell shock). He was sent to Craiglockhart War Hospital in Edinburgh for treatment and met the poet Siegfried Sassoon, which transform Owen's life. Sassoon helped to refine Owen’s poetry.

Unfortunately, Owen was killed in action in France, on 4 November 1918 during the crossing of the Sambre–Oise Canal. This event took place one week before the signing of the Armistice which ended the war. Owen was promoted to Lieutenant the day after his death. Owen’s mother received the telegram informing her of his death on Armistice Day, as the church bells in Shrewsbury were ringing out in celebration.

Wilfred Owen - References

Wilfred Owen - 'Dulce et Decorum Est' - Annotation

Annotation prompts for Wilfred Owen’s ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’.

‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ concentrates on the suffering of soldiers, during World War 1, on the battlefield.

The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further analysis and interpretation.

Wilfred Owen – ‘Futility’ – Annotation

Annotation prompts for Wilfred Owen’s ‘Futility’.

‘Futility’ concentrates on the pointlessness of war and even questions life itself.

The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further analysis and interpretation.

Wilfred Owen - 'Anthem for Doomed Youth' - Annotation

Annotation prompts for Wilfred Owen's 'Anthem for Doomed Youth'.

'Anthem for Doomed Youth' is an elegy - it mourns death like a funeral song.

The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further analysis and interpretation.

Wilfred Owen - 'Exposure' - Annotation

Annotation prompts for Wilfred Owen's 'Exposure'.

'Exposure' focuses on the impact of weather and the harsh conditions that soldiers encountered during WW1.

The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further analysis and interpretation.

Wilfred Owen - 'Disabled' - Annotation

Annotation prompts for Wilfred Owen's 'Disabled'.

'Disabled' accounts for a soldier who has lost some of his limbs in a battle.

The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further analysis and interpretation.

Wilfred Owen - 'Conscious' - Annotation

Annotation prompts for Wilfred Owen's 'Conscious'.

'Conscious' describes a wounded soldier moving in and out of consciousness, in a war hospital.

The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further analysis and interpretation.

Wilfred Owen - 'Inspection' - Annotation

Annotation prompts for Wilfred Owen's 'Inspection'.

'Inspection' concerns a platoon officer and sergeant isolating an unnamed soldier for having a dirty uniform.

The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further analysis and interpretation.

Wilfred Owen - 'Spring Offensive' - Annotation

Annotation prompts for Wilfred Owen's 'Spring Offensive'.

'Spring Offensive' refers to the German, World War One, Spring Offensive / Kaiserschlacht (Kaiser's Battle) / Ludendorff Offensive: 21st March - 18th July 1918.

The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further analysis and interpretation.

Wilfred Owen - 'Miners' - Annotation

Annotation prompts for Wilfred Owen's 'Miners'.

'Miners' is a response to the 1918 colliery disaster at Halmer End, where 156 miners died.

The annotation prompts are a supportive tool, intended to encourage further analysis and interpretation.

Exemplar English Literature Essays

Poetry Essay helps you write essays about English Literature more confidently - providing you with a variety of helpful hints. With Poetry Essay, you should find all the help you need - from analysing a text in detail to writing coherently about it. Please visit the links below for exemplar student-style essays.