'The Parable Of The Old Men And The Young' by Wilfred Owen

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So Abram rose, and clave the wood, and went,
And took the fire with him, and a knife.
And as they sojourned both of them together,
Isaac the first-born spake and said, My Father,
Behold the preparations, fire and iron,
But where the lamb for this burnt-offering?
Then Abram bound the youth with belts and straps,
And builded parapets and trenches there,
And stretchèd forth the knife to slay his son.
When lo! an Angel called him out of heaven,
Saying, Lay not thy hand upon the lad,
Neither do anything to him, thy son.
Behold! Caught in a thicket by its horns,
A Ram. Offer the Ram of Pride instead.But the old man would not so, but slew his son,
And half the seed of Europe, one by one.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Introduction

The Parable of the Old Men and the Young is one of Wilfred Owen's most powerful poems, and it is an excellent representation of his anti-war sentiments. Owen was a poet who lived through World War I and saw firsthand the horrors of trench warfare. His poetry often reflects the brutality and senselessness of war, and this poem is no exception. In this literary criticism, I will provide a detailed analysis of The Parable of the Old Men and the Young, exploring the themes, imagery, and language used by Owen to convey his message.

Background

Before we dive into the poem itself, it's essential to understand the context in which Owen wrote it. Owen was a British soldier who fought in World War I, and he experienced the horrors of trench warfare firsthand. He was wounded several times and was eventually killed in action just a week before the armistice was signed. Owen's poetry reflects his experiences as a soldier and his opposition to war. His work often explores the physical and psychological toll of war on soldiers, and The Parable of the Old Men and the Young is a perfect example of this.

Analysis

The Parable of the Old Men and the Young is a reimagining of the biblical story of Abraham and Isaac. In the original story, God asks Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, as a test of his faith. Abraham is about to go through with it when an angel intervenes and stops him. In Owen's retelling, Abraham is replaced with Europe, and Isaac is replaced with a young soldier. The poem explores the theme of sacrifice, and it raises questions about the morality of war and the value of human life.

Structure and Form

The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which gives it a rhythmic quality. The use of rhyme adds to this effect, and the poem has a sing-song quality that makes it memorable. The poem is broken up into four stanzas, each with a different rhyme scheme. The first and third stanzas have an ABAB rhyme scheme, while the second and fourth stanzas have a CDCD rhyme scheme. This gives the poem a sense of symmetry and balance, which is appropriate given the theme of sacrifice.

Themes

One of the main themes of The Parable of the Old Men and the Young is the idea of sacrifice. The poem explores the question of whether it is ever right to sacrifice human life for a greater cause. The biblical story of Abraham and Isaac is a classic example of this, and Owen's retelling of the story raises important questions about the morality of war. Is it ever right to ask young men to sacrifice their lives in the service of their country? Owen seems to suggest that the answer is no.

Another theme of the poem is the futility of war. Owen was a soldier who had seen the horrors of trench warfare firsthand, and his poetry often reflects the senselessness of war. In The Parable of the Old Men and the Young, Owen seems to be suggesting that war is a pointless exercise that only leads to death and destruction. The fact that Europe is willing to sacrifice a young soldier for the sake of victory is a powerful indictment of the whole idea of war.

Imagery

The Parable of the Old Men and the Young is full of vivid and powerful imagery. The biblical story of Abraham and Isaac is turned on its head, and the image of a young soldier being sacrificed is a shocking one. The poem is full of metaphors and similes that bring the story to life. For example, when Europe is about to sacrifice the young soldier, Owen writes:

"Then Abram bound the youth with belts and straps, And builded parapets and trenches there, And stretched forth the knife to slay his son."

This image of Abram preparing for sacrifice is juxtaposed with the images of war, as he builds parapets and trenches. The use of the word "slay" is also powerful, as it suggests a violent and brutal act.

Another powerful image in the poem is the final lines, where the ram becomes a symbol of hope:

"And half the seed of Europe, one by one."

The image of the ram rescuing the young soldier from sacrifice is a powerful one, and it suggests that even in the midst of war, there is still hope for redemption.

Language

The language used in The Parable of the Old Men and the Young is simple and direct. Owen uses short, declarative sentences to convey his message. The language is also full of biblical references, which highlights the theme of sacrifice. Owen uses language to create a sense of tension and conflict, which is appropriate given the subject matter. The use of repetition is also effective, as Owen repeats the phrase "But the old man would not so" several times throughout the poem.

Conclusion

The Parable of the Old Men and the Young is a powerful poem that explores the themes of sacrifice, war, and the futility of violence. Owen uses vivid imagery and powerful language to convey his message, and the poem is a perfect representation of his anti-war sentiments. The biblical references add depth and meaning to the poem, and the use of rhyme and iambic pentameter give it a rhythmic quality. This is a poem that stays with you long after you've read it, and it is a powerful reminder of the human cost of war.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Parable of the Old Men and the Young: A Poetic Masterpiece by Wilfred Owen

Wilfred Owen, one of the most celebrated war poets of the 20th century, is known for his powerful and poignant poems that capture the horrors of war and the human suffering it causes. Among his many works, "The Parable of the Old Men and the Young" stands out as a masterpiece of poetic expression and social commentary. In this poem, Owen retells the biblical story of Abraham and Isaac, but with a twist that challenges the traditional interpretation of the tale and exposes the futility of war.

The poem begins with a description of the biblical story, in which God commands Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac as a test of his faith. Abraham obediently prepares to carry out the sacrifice, but at the last moment, an angel intervenes and provides a ram for the sacrifice instead. Owen then introduces a new character, an "old man" who represents the traditional values of honor, duty, and sacrifice that have been glorified in war literature and culture. The old man urges Abraham to carry out the sacrifice, saying that "God's will" must be done, even if it means sacrificing one's own child.

However, Owen then introduces a second character, a "young man" who represents the voice of reason and compassion. The young man questions the old man's logic, asking why God would demand such a cruel and senseless act. He suggests that there must be another way to prove one's faith and loyalty, without resorting to violence and bloodshed. The old man dismisses the young man's objections as naive and foolish, insisting that war is necessary to defend one's honor and protect one's country.

The tension between the old man and the young man builds throughout the poem, as they argue over the meaning of sacrifice and the value of human life. The old man represents the traditional values of war, which glorify sacrifice and martyrdom as noble and heroic acts. He sees war as a necessary evil, a way to defend one's honor and protect one's country from enemies. The young man, on the other hand, represents a new perspective on war, one that questions the morality and logic of violence and destruction. He sees war as a senseless and tragic waste of human life, a cycle of violence that only perpetuates more violence.

Owen's use of language and imagery in the poem is masterful, as he creates a vivid and haunting portrait of the horrors of war. He describes the ram that is sacrificed in Isaac's place as "caught in a thicket by its horns," a powerful image that suggests the entrapment and suffering of innocent victims of war. He also uses biblical language and allusions to create a sense of irony and subversion, as he reinterprets the story of Abraham and Isaac in a way that challenges the traditional interpretation of the tale.

The poem reaches its climax in the final stanza, as the old man and the young man come to a tragic and inevitable conclusion. The old man insists that Isaac must be sacrificed, even though it goes against his own sense of compassion and morality. The young man, unable to accept this cruel fate, takes matters into his own hands and "slays the old man" with his sword. The poem ends with a haunting and powerful image of the young man weeping over the body of the old man, as he realizes the tragic consequences of war and violence.

In conclusion, "The Parable of the Old Men and the Young" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that challenges the traditional values of war and sacrifice. Owen's use of language, imagery, and biblical allusions creates a vivid and haunting portrait of the horrors of war, while his characters represent two opposing perspectives on the morality and logic of violence. The poem is a testament to Owen's skill as a poet and his commitment to exposing the futility and tragedy of war. It remains a timeless masterpiece of poetic expression and social commentary, and a powerful reminder of the human cost of violence and conflict.

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