Introduction
Ethos, pathos, and logos are the three most known rhetorical appeals writers can use to convince their audience of a particular perspective or opinion. These principles apply to various mediums of literature and narrative, including poetry. In his poem Dulce et Decorum Est, Wilfred Owen describes the horrors of the war, depicting his personal experience on the frontlines in World War I.
Ultimately, the current essay thoroughly examines Wilfred Owen’s poem to determine the usage of rhetorical appeals and claims that the author actively utilizes all three modes of persuasion, with a particular focus on ethos and pathos.
Ethos
Ethos is the appeal to the writer’s credibility and the manner of writing. This mode of persuasion generally concerns the author’s reputation and whether they are qualified to write on a particular subject. In the case of Dulce et Decorum Est, ethos is present substantially through using personal pronouns and the apparent message that the author witnessed the horrors of the war first-hand. Owen (1921) writes, “In all my dreams before my helpless sight/He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning” (15-16).
Visualizing the tragedy increases the reader’s engagement in the process and makes the argument more credible since it is believable that Owen was at the front. Moreover, if one decides to research more about the poem, one quickly discovers that Wilfred Owen was a soldier and died at the early age of 25 (“Wilfred Owen”, n.d.). This knowledge further strengthens the author’s credibility, making ethos even more prevalent in the argument concerning the horrors of the war.
Pathos
Consequently, pathos is the appeal to emotions and is arguably the most relevant mode of persuasion in Dulce et Decorum Est. Owen uses multiple literary devices, including metaphors and imagery, to convey his fear and anger to the readers. For instance, he writes, “But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind/Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues” (Owen, 1921, lines 6, 25).
Moreover, Owen (1921) tries to involve the reader in the process, increasing engagement through personal participation, “If in some smothering dreams, you too could pace/and watch/if you could hear” (17-22). This approach transparently appeals to readers’ emotions, as the author tries to evoke a sense of disdain and anger toward the war. In addition, Owen (1921) contrasts these feelings with a patriotic view of “Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori,” which can be translated as “It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country” (27-28). As a result, pathos is highly apparent in Owen’s poem concerning the war.
Logos
Lastly, logos is the appeal to logic, structure, and organization to make the argument more credible. In Dulce et Decorum Est, logos is the least notable mode of persuasion, primarily due to the prevalence of the other two. Nevertheless, the author adds the structure of the explanation and conclusion. Namely, throughout the first twenty-four lines, Owen describes why war is such a terrible affair.
Consequently, he uses this narrative to conclude why the patriotic perspective, depicted in the last four lines, is wrong. Owen writes, “My friend, you would not tell with such high zest/To children ardent for some desperate glory” (25-26). In summary, the author utilizes a logical structure to describe the war and explain why the phrase “Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori” is, in fact, a lie.
Conclusion
Dulce et Decorum Est is an excellent example of a thought-provoking poem that actively utilizes all three modes of persuasion. Wilfred Owen primarily appeals to credibility and emotion to convey the horrors of the war, but there is still a logical component in the poem’s structure. Ultimately, ethos and pathos are more prevalent in the narrative due to the war setting and the author’s involvement in WWI.
References
Owen, Wilfred. (1921). Dulce et decorum est. Viking Press.
Wilfred Owen. (n.d.). Academy of American Poets. Web.