'Arms And The Boy' by Wilfred Owen


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Let the boy try along this bayonet-blade
How cold steel is, and keen with hunger of blood;
Blue with all malice, like a madman's flash;
And thinly drawn with famishing for flesh.

Lend him to stroke these blind, blunt bullet-heads
Which long to muzzle in the hearts of lads.
Or give him cartridges of fine zinc teeth,
Sharp with the sharpness of grief and death.

For his teeth seem for laughing round an apple.
There lurk no claws behind his fingers supple;
And God will grow no talons at his heels,
Nor antlers through the thickness of his curls.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Arms And The Boy by Wilfred Owen: A Poem of Irony and Horror

Are you ready to delve into the world of Wilfred Owen, a poet of war who fought in the trenches of World War I and died tragically just one week before the armistice? If you are, then let me take you on a journey through one of his most haunting and ironic poems, "Arms and the Boy."

First, let me give you some background on the poet and the context in which he wrote. Owen was born in 1893 in Shropshire, England, and he volunteered for the army in 1915. He served as an officer in the Manchester Regiment and was sent to the Western Front in 1917. He witnessed the horrors of trench warfare and was diagnosed with shell shock, which earned him a trip back to England for treatment. In 1918, he returned to the front and was killed in action just one week before the end of the war.

Owen's poetry is known for its vivid descriptions of the physical and psychological effects of war on soldiers. He was a master of irony and satire, using these techniques to expose the hypocrisy and brutality of war. "Arms and the Boy" is no exception.

The poem begins with a startling image: "Let the boy try along this bayonet-blade/How cold steel is and keen with hunger of blood." The speaker is addressing a young boy, perhaps a new recruit, and urging him to experience the reality of war. The image of the bayonet-blade is a powerful one, suggesting the violence and aggression that will be required of the boy in battle. The phrase "hunger of blood" is particularly chilling, as it implies that the blade is not satisfied with just one victim.

As the poem continues, the irony becomes more apparent. The speaker asks the boy to "throw away ambition" and "surrender" to the weapon, as if it has a life of its own. He tells the boy that the weapon is his "mate" and that they will have "many a jest" together. The tone is almost playful, as if the speaker is trying to make the boy feel comfortable with the idea of killing.

But then the speaker turns abruptly and angrily on the weapon itself, as if realizing the horror of what he has just said: "Hell's own greyhound, mongrel-cur/You, chisel-teeth, nesting from the hearts of men." The image of the weapon as a "mongrel-cur" is a powerful one, as it suggests that the weapon is a wild and uncontrollable animal. The phrase "chisel-teeth" is also interesting, as it implies that the weapon is literally carving into the hearts of men.

The poem ends on a note of bitter irony: "What is the boy now, who has lost his ball,/What, what is he to do?" The image of the boy losing his ball is a poignant one, as it suggests that he is still just a child, despite the fact that he has been trained to kill. The question "What, what is he to do?" is a rhetorical one, as the answer is obvious: he has no choice but to continue in the war.

In conclusion, "Arms and the Boy" is a powerful and haunting poem that exposes the irony and horror of war. Owen's use of imagery, irony, and satire is masterful, and he forces the reader to confront the brutal reality of war. The poem is a reminder of the sacrifices made by soldiers in every war, and it is a tribute to the courage and resilience of those who have fought and died for their country.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Arms And The Boy: A Powerful Anti-War Poem by Wilfred Owen

Wilfred Owen is one of the most celebrated war poets of the 20th century. His poems are known for their powerful imagery, vivid descriptions, and emotional depth. Among his most famous works is "Arms and the Boy," a poem that explores the relationship between war and the young soldiers who fight in it. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, imagery, and language.

The poem begins with a striking image: "Let the boy try along this bayonet-blade." The bayonet is a symbol of war, a weapon that is used to kill and maim. By using the word "boy," Owen immediately establishes the youth and vulnerability of the soldier. The image of the boy trying along the bayonet-blade suggests a sense of danger and risk, as if the boy is playing with fire. The word "try" also implies a sense of experimentation, as if the boy is testing the limits of his own courage and strength.

The second stanza continues with the theme of youth and innocence: "His teeth seem for laughing round an apple." The image of the boy's teeth suggests a sense of joy and playfulness, as if he is enjoying the simple pleasures of life. The apple is a symbol of innocence and purity, a reminder of the boy's youth and naivety. The contrast between the bayonet and the apple is stark, highlighting the brutality of war and the loss of innocence that it entails.

The third stanza introduces a new image: "There lurk no claws behind his fingers supple." This line suggests a sense of vulnerability and defenselessness, as if the boy is unarmed and unprotected. The word "lurk" implies a sense of danger and threat, as if there are hidden dangers waiting to pounce on the boy. The phrase "fingers supple" suggests a sense of agility and flexibility, as if the boy is nimble and quick on his feet. This image reinforces the sense of danger and risk that pervades the poem.

The fourth stanza introduces a new theme: the relationship between war and masculinity. "No gun's wild promptings make his feet misgive," Owen writes. The word "promptings" suggests a sense of aggression and violence, as if the gun is urging the soldier to act. The phrase "feet misgive" suggests a sense of doubt and hesitation, as if the soldier is unsure of himself. By suggesting that the soldier is immune to the gun's promptings, Owen is challenging the traditional idea of masculinity as being associated with violence and aggression.

The fifth stanza returns to the theme of youth and innocence: "Young bloods can't love half so boldly." The phrase "young bloods" suggests a sense of youth and vitality, as if the soldiers are full of life and energy. The word "love" suggests a sense of passion and intensity, as if the soldiers are capable of great emotion. The phrase "half so boldly" suggests a sense of restraint and limitation, as if the soldiers are unable to fully express their emotions. This image reinforces the sense of loss and tragedy that pervades the poem.

The sixth and final stanza returns to the image of the bayonet: "And when he's lugged a gun-oh, Christ! / ... / And maybe killed his man, / His mother's eyes will look as his / And none of the 'Blood of the Fold' / Be gone, and dripping from the man." The phrase "lugged a gun" suggests a sense of burden and weight, as if the soldier is carrying a heavy load. The phrase "maybe killed his man" suggests a sense of uncertainty and doubt, as if the soldier is unsure of his own actions. The image of the mother's eyes looking at her son suggests a sense of love and compassion, as if the mother is the only one who truly understands the soldier's pain and suffering. The phrase "Blood of the Fold" suggests a sense of tradition and heritage, as if the soldier is part of a larger community. The final image of the blood dripping from the man suggests a sense of horror and disgust, as if the soldier is haunted by the memory of his own actions.

In conclusion, "Arms and the Boy" is a powerful anti-war poem that explores the relationship between war and the young soldiers who fight in it. Through vivid imagery and emotional language, Wilfred Owen challenges the traditional ideas of masculinity and heroism, and exposes the brutal reality of war. The poem is a reminder of the human cost of war, and a call to action for peace and understanding.

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