'Futility' by Wilfred Owen


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Move him into the sun --
Gently its touch awoke him once,
At home, whispering of fields unsown.
Always it woke him, even in France,
Until this morning and this snow.
If anything might rouse him now
The kind old sun will know.

Think how it wakes the seeds --
Woke, once, the clays of a cold star.
Are limbs so dear-achieved, are sides
Full-nerved, -- still warm, -- too hard to stir?
Was it for this the clay grew tall?
-- O what made fatuous sunbeams toil
To break earth's sleep at all?

Editor 1 Interpretation

Futility by Wilfred Owen: An Analysis

Wilfred Owen is one of the greatest war poets of all time, and his poem "Futility" is a perfect example of his masterful use of language to convey the horror and tragedy of war. Written in 1917, during the height of World War I, "Futility" explores the futility of war and the senseless loss of life that it produces.

The Poem

Before we dive into the analysis, let's take a closer look at the poem itself. "Futility" is a short, 14-line poem that is divided into two stanzas. The first stanza consists of eight lines, while the second stanza consists of six lines. Here is the poem in its entirety:

Move him into the sun— Gently its touch awoke him once, At home, whispering of fields unsown. Always it woke him, even in France, Until this morning and this snow. If anything might rouse him now The kind old sun will know.

Think how it wakes the seeds— Woke, once, the clays of a cold star. Are limbs, so dear-achieved, are sides, Full-nerved—still warm—too hard to stir? Was it for this the clay grew tall? —O what made fatuous sunbeams toil To break earth's sleep at all?

Analysis

Now that we have read the poem, let's take a closer look at some of its key themes and literary devices.

The Futility of War

The most obvious theme in "Futility" is the futility of war. The poem begins with the speaker telling someone to "Move him into the sun," presumably referring to a dead soldier. The speaker then goes on to describe how the sun used to wake the soldier up, even when he was in France fighting in the war. But now, even the sun can't bring him back to life. The soldier is dead, and his life has been wasted in the senseless violence of war.

The Power of Nature

Another important theme in "Futility" is the power of nature. Throughout the poem, the sun is portrayed as a powerful force that can wake up the soldier and bring him back to life. The speaker even suggests that if anything can rouse the soldier now, it's the "kind old sun." But in the end, even the sun is powerless to bring the soldier back to life. This highlights the fact that while nature can be a powerful force, it is ultimately powerless in the face of death and destruction.

Literary Devices

"Futility" is also notable for its use of various literary devices. For example, the repetition of the word "woke" in the first stanza emphasizes the soldier's repeated awakenings by the sun, and creates a sense of familiarity and comfort. Similarly, the repetition of the word "are" in the second stanza emphasizes the soldier's physical presence and the fact that he was once a living, breathing human being. The use of rhetorical questions throughout the poem also adds to its overall sense of sadness and despair.

Interpretation

So what is the meaning of "Futility"? At its core, the poem is a reflection on the senselessness of war and the tragic loss of life that it produces. The soldier in the poem is a symbol for all of the men and women who have lost their lives in war, and the sun is a symbol for the hope and promise of life that war destroys.

A Critique of War

One interpretation of "Futility" is that it is a critique of war itself. The poem suggests that war is a pointless and destructive endeavor that leads only to death, destruction, and despair. The repeated use of the word "futility" emphasizes this point, and suggests that there is no purpose or meaning to war.

A Eulogy for the Dead

Another interpretation of "Futility" is that it is a eulogy for the dead. The poem celebrates the life of the soldier, and mourns his passing. The description of the soldier's physical appearance in the second stanza, and the repeated use of the word "dear" emphasize his humanity and the fact that he was a loved and valued member of society. In this sense, the poem is a reminder that every life lost in war is a tragedy, and that we must do everything in our power to prevent such senseless loss of life in the future.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Futility" is a powerful and poignant poem that speaks to the tragedy and senselessness of war. Through its use of literary devices and powerful imagery, the poem conveys a sense of sadness, despair, and loss. But at the same time, it also offers a reminder of the power of life, and the importance of cherishing and valuing every moment that we have. As we continue to grapple with the realities of war and violence in our world today, "Futility" remains a timeless reminder of the need for peace, understanding, and compassion.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Futility: A Poem of Despair and Hopelessness

Wilfred Owen's "Futility" is a powerful and moving poem that captures the sense of despair and hopelessness that characterized the First World War. Written in 1917, the poem reflects the disillusionment and loss of faith that many soldiers experienced as they witnessed the horrors of the war. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language of "Futility" to understand its meaning and significance.

The poem begins with a simple and direct statement: "Move him into the sun." The speaker, presumably a soldier, is addressing his comrades as they try to revive a fallen comrade. The use of the imperative "move" suggests urgency and desperation, as if the speaker is trying to do something, anything, to save his friend. The phrase "into the sun" is significant because it suggests warmth, light, and life. The sun is a symbol of hope and renewal, and the speaker seems to be hoping that by exposing his friend to the sun, he can bring him back to life.

However, the next line of the poem undermines this hope: "Gently its touch awoke him once." The use of the past tense suggests that the speaker has tried this before, and it has not worked. The word "gently" suggests tenderness and care, but it also implies a sense of futility. The sun's touch was not enough to revive the fallen soldier, and the speaker seems to be resigned to this fact.

The next stanza of the poem explores the theme of futility more explicitly. The speaker asks, "Was it for this the clay grew tall?" The use of the word "clay" suggests the fragility and impermanence of human life. The fact that the clay "grew tall" suggests that it was once alive and vital, but now it is dead and useless. The speaker seems to be asking whether human life is ultimately futile, whether it is worth anything at all.

The next line of the poem reinforces this sense of futility: "—O what made fatuous sunbeams toil." The word "fatuous" means foolish or pointless, and the phrase "sunbeams toil" suggests that even the sun's efforts are ultimately futile. The speaker seems to be questioning the very nature of existence, wondering whether anything has any meaning or purpose.

The next stanza of the poem shifts focus to the fallen soldier himself. The speaker asks, "And why, why do we feel in him such wasted light?" The use of the word "wasted" suggests that the soldier's life was pointless and futile. The phrase "such wasted light" suggests that the soldier had some kind of inner radiance or goodness, but it was not enough to save him. The speaker seems to be mourning not just the soldier's death, but the loss of all that he represented.

The next line of the poem is particularly poignant: "Is there no balm in Gilead?" The phrase "balm in Gilead" comes from the Bible, and it refers to a healing ointment that was said to come from the region of Gilead. The speaker seems to be asking whether there is any hope, any healing, any comfort to be found in the midst of all this despair. The fact that the question is posed as a rhetorical one suggests that the speaker does not believe there is any such hope.

The final stanza of the poem returns to the theme of futility. The speaker asks, "Oh, what made you so dear?" The use of the word "dear" suggests that the fallen soldier was loved and valued, but the question is posed in a way that suggests that this love and value were ultimately pointless. The speaker seems to be asking why anyone would bother to care about someone who is ultimately doomed to die.

The final lines of the poem are particularly haunting: "Nothing, not even the voice of the Lord, can wake him once more." The use of the word "nothing" suggests that there is no hope, no salvation, no redemption. The fact that even the voice of the Lord is powerless to revive the fallen soldier suggests that there is no divine intervention, no higher purpose, no meaning to be found in this senseless slaughter.

In conclusion, "Futility" is a powerful and moving poem that captures the sense of despair and hopelessness that characterized the First World War. Through its themes, imagery, and language, the poem explores the futility of human existence, the fragility of life, and the ultimate powerlessness of even the most powerful forces in the universe. Despite its bleakness, however, the poem also contains a glimmer of hope, a sense that even in the midst of all this despair, there is still something worth fighting for, something worth caring about.

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