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Owens poems present the reader with a powerful exploration of the impact
of human cruelty on individuals.
How does Owen achieve this in his poetry?
In your response refer to Futility and The Next War.
Introduction
It is true that Owen explores aspects and impacts of human cruelty throughout his
poetry. Specifically he addresses the human capacity and capabilities for cruelty on
fellow men. The cruelties committed by men at war involve the infliction of grievous
harm on other men, the enemy. In his poems Futility and The Next War, Owen
addresses the impact of human cruelty on other men. Through powerful exploration,
Owen addresses key themes such as wastefulness of life and endurance. In exploring
these themes, Owen insights the responder into the impact of human cruelty onto
fellow men.
P.1 Futility Wastefulness of life
S: Owen addresses the capacity of humans to commit cruelty onto individuals through
exploring the theme of the wastefulness of life in his poem, Futility. In doing so,
Owen reflects that human cruelties go beyond the battlefield, and addresses the
causes of the war.
T: Rhetorical question, metaphor
E: Was it for this the clay grew tall?
E: Owen questions the purpose of human beings. Owen asked multiple questions
throughout the poem and we as readers, sense and experience his frustration. Owen
knows that human beings have the potential for far greater things than slaughtering
and harming their fellow man, the enemy. Owen addresses that fact that it is not by
choice that the soldiers were forced to fight one another, but they had been sent
there to fight by their representative/respective countries. As responders to the poem
we experience Owens frustration towards the pointlessness of war, the sheer
wastefulness of life.
L: - Through highlighting the futility of war, Owen reflects on the selfishness of
countries, the cruel decisions of those in charge, in sending their young men off to die
in the masses, to die a futile death. In doing so, Owen explores the impact upon the
individuals who suffered as a result of World War One.
P.2 The Next War Wastefulness of life
S: Owen successfully explores the cruel impact of human action upon individuals
through examining the role of the respective countries of which the men fighting in
the war hail from. Similarly to Futility, this ultimately reflects the cruel viewpoint of
those in charge and the sheer disregard for the wastefulness of life that occurred.
T: Personification, rhyming couplet, symbolism
E: And greater wars: when each proud fighter brags, He wars on Death, for lives; not
men - for flags
E: Like Futility, Owen highlights the fact that it is ultimately the decisions of men
behind the cause of war. The flags, highlighted in the final rhyming couplet of the
sonnet, symbolise the countries at war, the countries led by men trying to win a battle
with precious lives at stake. Owen suggests that men should not commit cruelty
against other men, He wars on Death, for lives; not men. He conveys to his

responders that such atrocities should be avoided, which was ultimately contrary to
the popular belief endorsed by the countries in war at the time.
L: It is in exploring the sheer wastefulness of life during World War One in The Next
War through the use of symbolism; Owen ultimately conveys the cruel consequences
of humans in power upon individuals.
P.3 Futility - Endurance
S: Owen explores the theme of endurance in his poem, Futility by focusing on the
lack of endurance of a single man who has lost his battle against Death.
They see fighting as a futile effort.
T: imagery, (contrasted with sun), symbolism
E Always it woke him even in France, until this morning and this snow
E: Persist
L

P.4 The Next War - Endurance

S: Comparatively, Owen focuses on the endurance of men in the face of Death
throughout his poem, The Next War. It is through persevering in the face of Death
that the men learn to endure the grim conditions of war. Owen explores the capability
for men to commit cruel acts against their fellow man. It is through committing cruelty
onto other individuals, that the men endure the war.
T: Personification, comradery, repetition, military jargon, colloquialism
E: Oh, Death was never enemy of ours! We laughed at him, we leagued with him, old
chum.
E Throughout the poem, Owen reflects the constant struggle of the soldiers in their
war against Death, who has been personified throughout the poem. The men must
fight Death off, but in doing so, they do harm onto other individuals. The men must
prevail through war, and therefore must put on a brave face in the presence of
Death. As a coping mechanism, the men laugh with Death and Owen implies that
the men encounter Death so regularly that he refers to death, colloquially as an old
chum.. They must engage in cruel acts as a group to cause death for other
men, the enemy in order for them to endure their experience at war and ultimately
prevail. ..
L: - To endure the war, the men must commit cruel acts on individuals from the other
side. To fight of Death, the men must fight alongside death
Conclusion