Duce et Decorum Est and Death of the Ball Turret Gunner

"Dulce et Decorum est" is a Latin titled poem meaning to die for ones country. It was written during the World War 1 by Wilfred Owen in the 1920s. The poem is known for its terrible imagery and denunciation of war. Also, the poem describes how sweet and honourable it is to die for ones country. The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner is a five- line poem written by Randall Jarrell and published in the year 1945. The poem talks about the passing of a gunner during the Second World War in a Sperry ball turret in an American bomber aircraft.

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"Duce et Decorum Est" and "Death of the Ball Turret Gunner" are poems that hint on matters of war. The poets use imageries, grief, and expressions to show the brutality and sorrow of war. In both poems, the speakers talk about how people die to be patriots to their nations. For instance, a situation where the boys in blue die fighting for the lives of the citizens of the country. Moreover, the poets are sympathetic as they speak of both uselessness of life and the callousness of war. They find it contradictive to explain the worth of living in a brutal life in times of war. However, the poets are graceful in describing the fruitfulness of dying being a martyr of ones country. According to, to the Death of the Ball Turret Gunner, the poet is remorseful as he describes the death of the soldiers death in the Ball Turret of a fighter plane during the Second World War.

In the poem "Death of the Ball Turret Gunner", Randall Jarrell is sorry about those soldiers who died fighting for the lives of the citizens during the Second World War. However, in "Duce et Decorum Est", Owen depicts the traumatic truth about war (5). He is so angry with the military chains that command callously and encourage the young men to go courageously to the battlefield without fear of dying for their nation. It is seen as an honour by the young men in being patriots and introduced by terrifying images of the soldiers /Bent double, like old beggars under sacks/ (1). Despite the poems having similar themes, the poets have different feelings towards war.

In "Duce et Decorum Est", Owen is sombre and uneasy about the war, and he is survivor while in the "Death of the Ball Turret Gunner", Jarrell seems apathetic of the issue and the results show that the soldiers are deceased. Moreover, Owen speaking on the issues of the war he refers to others but Jarrell is personal as he talks about war referring to him. The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner the author describes himself in the past tense form giving room for own inferences to the reader.

Also, he ensures that his poem is brief for the reader to understand clearly his feeling about the war matters despite it forcing them to imagine how he feels (4). However, Owens poem is lengthy to allow him to express his feelings and experiences while visiting the deceased in fighting for the country. Moreover, Owen is sympathetic as he describes how the psychological and physically exhausted the soldiers were during the World War 1. They had to endure the cruel ordeal and yet remain patriotic to the nation (1-8). Therefore, the two poems are similar in encouraging people in being happy fighting for their countrys freedom.

Work Cited

Quinn, Mary B. Randall Jarrell. Boston, Mass: Twayne, 1981. Print.