Religious Imagery

Thesis Statement

Juxtaposition between soldiers pre-war devotion to God and post-war disillusionment

Elton’s quote

“every year a new crop of bodies sown across what had once been the pleasant fields of flanders”

‘Unforgiving guns sowing death where once golden wheat had grown’ pg 373

Religious Imagery in Elton’s Quote

Ecclesiastes 11:6 “Sow your seed in the morning”

“New crop” - war subverts the meaning of a new life e.g. Jesus’ resurrection

Owen’s quote

“his hanging face like a devils sick of sin” - Dulce

Conclusion

Advocating for recognition of God’s betrayal of his children on Earth and avenge the suffering faced by the soldiers in WW1

RI in Anthem for Doomed Youth

“no prayers nor bells”

“shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes”

Dulce quote and analysis

‘Like a devils sick of sin’

Even a devils who thrives on sin is horrified by war

Imagery of teeth

Last Laugh - ‘Bayonets long teeth grinned’

FC - ‘into the teeth of the German machine guns’

matthew 15:30 ‘and shall cast them into the furnace of fire there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth’

Genesis / Devil Point

Last Laugh - ‘And the gas hissed’

Dulce - ‘like a devils sick of sin’

FC - ‘Cauldron of exploding sulphurous mud and smoke’

Abercrombie’s poetry : send brave men to scream in hell