ANTHEM1 FOR DOOMED YOUTH(the title is CONTRAST OF IMAGERY= “CELEBRATION OF DEAD CHILDREN)

A

What passing-bells* for these who die as cattle? 

Only the monstrous anger of the guns. 

Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle 

Can patter out their hasty orisons*.

No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells*; 

Nor any voice of mourning* save the choirs*, –

The shrill, demented choirs of wailing* shells; 

And bugles calling for them from sad shires.

What candles may be held to speed them all? 

Not in the hands of boys but in their eyes 

Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes. 

The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall; 

Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds, 

And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds

1. *passing bells…orisons…prayers or bells…

mourning…choirs…” = lexical chain (word chain)

creates a recurring motif of a religious funeral

2. The poem is sonnet*… which was, traditionally, a

poem which was written to express love and

beauty. It is ironic that Own chose to write such a

disturbing subject in the form of a sonnet.

3. * A sonnet is a poem which has:

i. 14 lines

ii. The first 8 lines is called an OCTET

iii. The second 6 lines is called a SESTET

iv. The final two lines (within the SESTET) is

called a RHYMING COUPLET

The “focus” or images in the OCTET is

different to the “focus or the images of the

SESTET.