"Anthem for Doomed Youth" by Wilfred Owen and "Home" by Warsan Shire Comparison

"Anthem for Doomed Youth" by Wilfred Owen and "Home" by Warsan Shire both incorporate literary devices to convey the horrors of war and its profound impact on individuals. In “Anthem for Doomed Youth”, the poet uses alliteration and onomatopoeia in the phrase, "the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle," to create an immersive and vivid portrayal of the battlefield. The repetition of 'r' sounds mimics the sound of rapid gunfire, immersing the reader in the battlefield's chaotic and violent atmosphere. The sound of rifle fire conveyed through alliteration is relentless and impossible to escape. By describing the battlefield noises in such a detailed way, it’s almost as if the soldiers are dominated by the guns, dehumanizing them. By making readers see the brutal reality the soldiers face, they feel empathy for the soldiers. Similarly, in "Home" by Warsan Shire, the line "no one leaves home unless home is the mouth of a shark" includes a metaphor to describe the dreadful nature of war and its impact on refugees. The mouth of a shark is a very dangerous place to be, where every second there’s a chance of it biting down. By comparing it with home, readers can comprehend how war turns someone’s safe haven into a treacherous environment. Readers imagine how the familiarity and comfort of home turn into something as frightening and life-threatening as being consumed by a predator. This line evokes a sense of empathy and distress, as readers realize how the brutality of war causes human suffering, causing people to abandon their homes. Both poems emphasize the universal and devastating effects of war on individuals, whether they are soldiers on the battlefield or refugees caught in the crossfire. 

The two poems also have noticeable differences in themes – “Anthem for Doomed Youth” illustrates the theme of the cruelty of war while the theme of “Home” is the dangers of home during conflict. In “Anthem for Doomed Youth”, many lines are dedicated to depicting the suffering of the soldiers. In particular, the poet used a simile at the start of the poem, describing that the soldiers “die as cattle”. Cattle, a word to describe cows people kill and eat for food, is used to describe the dehumanized deaths of soldiers during war. The word 'cattle' conveys a sense of anonymity and insignificance; just as cattle are herded and slaughtered without individual recognition or ceremony, so too are the soldiers in Owen's portrayal of war. This simile forces readers to confront the brutal reality of war, evoking a sense of sadness and empathy for the soldiers. Readers forget about any notions of heroic death in battle, as they grasp that in war, human lives are insignificant and expendable. Readers feel troubled, as they begin to understand the true extent of the cruelty of war. In contrast, the theme is the dangers of home during war in the poem “Home” by Warsan Shire. The word “home” and descriptions of its dangers are mentioned numerous times throughout the poem. Specifically, the line “no one leaves home unless home chases you” uses personification and the powerful verb 'chases' to illustrate the theme. Being chased most often means that the narrator is facing not just a passive threat but an active, relentless pursuit. This imbues the poem with a sense of urgency and terror, emphasizing the dire circumstances that force refugees to flee from home. Furthermore, this line shows readers that leaving home is a last resort, not a choice, for refugees. Readers feel the desperation of the refugees, as the very place which should provide security and identity for them becomes the source of danger and alienation, thus empathizing with and potentially helping them. "Anthem for Doomed Youth" and "Home" powerfully convey their respective themes —the dehumanization of war and the irony of home as a source of danger.