Exposure (Wilfred Owen)

Wilfred Owen's poem "Exposure" provides a harrowing portrayal of the experiences of soldiers during World War I. Through vivid imagery and stark language, the poem captures the psychological and physical toll of war, as well as the existential questioning that arises amidst the relentless suffering and death. You can read the poem below and find analysis of the poem further down the page.

Exposure by Wilfred Owen

Our brains ache, in the merciless iced east winds that knive us . . . 
Wearied we keep awake because the night is silent . . . 
Low drooping flares confuse our memory of the salient . . . 
Worried by silence, sentries whisper, curious, nervous, 
But nothing happens.

Watching, we hear the mad gusts tugging on the wire, 
Like twitching agonies of men among its brambles. 
Northward, incessantly, the flickering gunnery rumbles, 
Far off, like a dull rumour of some other war. 
What are we doing here?

The poignant misery of dawn begins to grow . . . 
We only know war lasts, rain soaks, and clouds sag stormy. 
Dawn massing in the east her melancholy army 
Attacks once more in ranks on shivering ranks of grey, 
But nothing happens.

Sudden successive flights of bullets streak the silence. 
Less deadly than the air that shudders black with snow, 
With sidelong flowing flakes that flock, pause, and renew, 
We watch them wandering up and down the wind's nonchalance, 
But nothing happens.

Pale flakes with fingering stealth come feeling for our faces— 
We cringe in holes, back on forgotten dreams, and stare, snow-dazed, 
Deep into grassier ditches. So we drowse, sun-dozed, 
Littered with blossoms trickling where the blackbird fusses. 
—Is it that we are dying?

Slowly our ghosts drag home: glimpsing the sunk fires, glozed 
With crusted dark-red jewels; crickets jingle there; 
For hours the innocent mice rejoice: the house is theirs; 
Shutters and doors, all closed: on us the doors are closed,— 
We turn back to our dying.

Since we believe not otherwise can kind fires burn; 
Now ever suns smile true on child, or field, or fruit. 
For God's invincible spring our love is made afraid; 
Therefore, not loath, we lie out here; therefore were born, 
For love of God seems dying.

Tonight, this frost will fasten on this mud and us, 
Shrivelling many hands, and puckering foreheads crisp. 
The burying-party, picks and shovels in shaking grasp, 
Pause over half-known faces. All their eyes are ice, 
But nothing happens.

Analysis:

Atmosphere of Desolation: The poem begins with a depiction of the soldiers enduring the brutal conditions of war, as they face merciless winds and freezing temperatures. The repetition of "nothing happens" emphasises the sense of futility and stagnation.

Sense of Isolation: The soldiers feel isolated and forgotten amidst the desolate landscape, with the "melancholy army" of dawn and the "shivering ranks of grey" symbolising the pervasive misery and hopelessness of their situation.

Existential Questioning: Throughout the poem, the soldiers grapple with existential questions about the purpose and meaning of their sacrifice. They wonder "What are we doing here?" and contemplate whether their suffering is in vain.

Imagery of Nature: Nature serves as a backdrop to the soldiers' experiences, with the snow, wind, and frost reflecting the harshness and indifference of their surroundings. The soldiers' vulnerability is contrasted with the resilience of the natural world.

Psychological Impact: The poem explores the psychological toll of war, as the soldiers experience fear, confusion, and despair. They seek solace in memories and dreams, but ultimately find no respite from the horrors of battle.

Themes of Death and Loss: Death looms large in the poem, with the soldiers confronting the possibility of their own mortality and witnessing the deaths of their comrades. The burying-party scene at the end underscores the pervasive sense of loss and grief.

Religious Imagery: Religious imagery is woven throughout the poem, with references to God, spring, and love. However, these references are tinged with irony and scepticism, as the soldiers question the existence of divine benevolence amidst the horrors of war.

Themes:

Horror of War: The poem vividly depicts the horror and futility of war, capturing the physical and psychological toll it takes on soldiers.

Existential Angst: The soldiers grapple with existential questions about the purpose and meaning of their sacrifice, confronting the possibility of their own mortality and the seeming indifference of the universe.

Isolation and Desolation: The soldiers feel isolated and forgotten amidst the desolate landscape of war, with nature serving as a stark reminder of their vulnerability and insignificance.

Loss and Grief: Death and loss are recurring themes in the poem, as the soldiers confront the deaths of their comrades and grapple with their own mortality.

Language and Structure:

Imagery: Vivid and evocative imagery is used throughout the poem to convey the sensory experience of war and the bleakness of the soldiers' surroundings.

Repetition: The repetition of phrases such as "nothing happens" and "for love of God seems dying" emphasises the sense of futility and despair experienced by the soldiers.

Enjambment: Enjambment is used to create a sense of continuity and flow between lines, reflecting the relentless march of time and the soldiers' unending ordeal.

Tone: The tone of the poem is sombre and despairing, conveying the sense of hopelessness and resignation felt by the soldiers.

Structure: The poem is structured as a series of vignettes, each depicting a different aspect of the soldiers' experience of war. This fragmented structure mirrors the disjointed and chaotic nature of their reality.

Conclusion:

Exposure by Wilfred Owen is a powerful and poignant exploration of the horror, futility, and existential angst experienced by soldiers during World War I. Through its vivid imagery, stark language, and thematic depth, the poem offers a searing indictment of the brutality of war and the toll it takes on the human spirit.

You can find analysis of all the AQA Power and Conflict Poetry Anthology Poems here. 

You can find analysis of all the Edexcel Conflict Poetry Anthology Poems here.