Wilfred Owen was an English soldier-poet whose World War I experiences deeply influenced his work. Born in 1893, Owen's poetry, including 'Dulce et Decorum Est' and 'Anthem for Doomed Youth,' confronts the horrors of war and reflects on the futility and despair faced by soldiers. His legacy endures through his vivid and empathetic portrayal of the war's brutality.
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Wilfred Owen was born on March 18, 1893, in Oswestry, Shropshire and grew up in a middle-class family
Birkenhead Institute and Shrewsbury Technical School
Owen's education began at the Birkenhead Institute and continued at Shrewsbury Technical School after his family moved
University College, Reading and University of London
Owen studied botany at University College, Reading and later matriculated at the University of London, but did not complete his degree
Before the war, Owen worked as a private tutor in France, teaching English and French
The outbreak of World War I in 1914 prompted Owen to leave his tutoring position in France and enlist in the British Army in 1915
Owen's service on the Western Front profoundly influenced his perspective on the war, which he expressed through his poetry and correspondence
Suffering from shell shock, Owen was treated at Craiglockhart War Hospital in Edinburgh, where he met Siegfried Sassoon and began to develop as a poet
Owen's recovery led to his return to active duty in 1918, where he displayed remarkable bravery but was killed in action just one week before the Armistice
Owen's poetry is renowned for its stark imagery and themes that expose the grim realities of war
Through poems like "Dulce et Decorum Est," Owen challenges the glorification of war and rebukes those who perpetuate such myths
A sense of futility pervades Owen's poetry, particularly in "Futility," where he laments the death of a soldier and questions the meaning of life amidst senseless destruction
In "Insensibility," Owen examines the emotional detachment soldiers had to maintain to survive the relentless trauma, while also expressing compassion for their suffering and critiquing the public's indifference
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Wilfred Owen's main occupation before WWI
Private tutor in France, teaching English and French.
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Year Wilfred Owen enlisted in British Army
1915.
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Impact of WWI on Wilfred Owen's work
Transformed into a poignant war poet, with work shaped by soldiering experiences.
