Eng426 20th century english literature

Retrogression: One of the things the First World War caused was decline in Europe, especially. The developmental achievements that were evident in institutions and economies of European countries declined drastically. This backwardness is described as “Rending the sails of progress …” (Line 5). Further in the poem, Owen paints a clearer picture of the retrogression. He shows, first, how Europe had progressed before the war.
For after Spring had bloomed in early Greece, And Summer blazed her glory out with Rome, An Autumn softly fell, a harvest home,
A slow grand age, and rich with all increase.
But now, for us, wild Winter . . . (lines 9 – 13)


Desolation: After the retrogression and calamities the world experienced, what were left in Europe was ruins. The world, Europe specifically, was desolated. There was a need to start all over, to rebuild all aspects of the continent. This point is made in the last two lines of the poem thus: “… now, for us, wild Winter, and the need / Of sowings for new Spring, and blood for seed”.


Allusion: In the poem, Owen alludes to the progression of European civilisation which historically roots from Greece but became refined in Rome. This historical allusion is made thus: “For after Spring had bloomed in early Greece / And Summer blazed her glory out with Rome,” (Lines 9 and 10).


Metaphor: An extended metaphor is used in the poem. Metaphor is referred to as extended when a comparison or an analogy is sustained through many lines or sections of a poem. The poet sustains references to the decline and death of civilisation, using suggestive words that relate to changes in season. Other metaphors in the poem include:“The foul tornado” (line 3), “the sails of progress” (line 5),“Harvest home” (line 11).


Symbolism: Words that are used as symbols of things outside the textual context include: “Spring” (line 9), “Summer” (line 10), “Autumn” (line 11), and “Winter” (line 13).

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