Question 1: In the first stanza, Owen describes 'war's long, wild, and wandering' nights. What mood does this evoke and how does Owen achieve this?

Answer: The phrase evokes a sense of endless, restless suffering; Owen achieves this through the words 'long' and 'wandering', suggesting aimlessness and fatigue, emphasizing the exhaustion and hopelessness experienced by soldiers.

Question 2: Analyze the line 'But nothing happens.' What is its significance in conveying the poem's themes?

Answer: This line highlights the monotony and inescapable boredom of war, contrasting with the expectation of action, and underscores the psychological toll on soldiers.

Question 1: Find a metaphor in the poem that describes the soldiers' suffering. Explain its effect.

Answer: The metaphor 'merciless iced winds that knive us' describes the wind as 'merciless' and 'knives', personifying the weather as an enemy that inflicts pain, intensifying the sense of suffering.

Question 2: Identify a simile used in the poem and discuss how it enhances the imagery.

Answer: The simile 'like a dull rumour of some other war' compares the soldiers' experiences to a vague, distant message, emphasizing their disconnection and the universality of war's chaos.

Question 1: Discuss how the poem portrays the indifference of nature to human suffering.

Answer: Owen depicts nature as cold and indifferent, with imagery of 'winds that knive us' and 'dawn massing in the east', suggesting nature's relentless and unfeeling forces that continue regardless of human pain.

Question 2: How does Owen convey the soldiers' emotional and physical exhaustion through imagery?

Answer: Owen uses imagery of 'wearied, worn-out' soldiers and 'drip with fatigue', emphasizing their physical exhaustion, while the repeated references to suffering evoke emotional fatigue.

Question 1: Identify two key themes that both poems explore and outline how their treatment of power differs.

Answer: Both poems explore the theme of impermanence of power. 'Ozymandias' depicts the decay of human power through the ruined statue, emphasizing hubris and the passage of time. 'Exposure' shows the powerlessness of soldiers against nature and war's forces, highlighting human vulnerability and the fleeting nature of human control.

Question 1: Analyze the quote: 'But nothing happens.' Discuss the effect of the word 'nothing' and its significance.

Answer: The word 'nothing' emphasizes the stagnation and psychological toll of war, creating a sense of frustration and hopelessness. It also reflects the soldiers' numbness and the endless monotony of their suffering, making the reader empathize with their despair.

Question 2: Examine the phrase: 'merciless iced winds that knive us.' What connotations do 'merciless', 'iced', and 'knive' carry, and how do they contribute to the poem's tone?

Answer: 'Merciless' suggests cruelty, 'iced' evokes coldness and emotional numbness, and 'knive' implies pain and violence. Together, they create a tone of relentless suffering and the brutality of nature and war.

Question 1: Write an essay plan that addresses how Owen's language choices influence the reader's understanding of war's impact.

Answer: Introduction: Owen's use of vivid imagery and language devices paints a powerful picture of war's brutality. Body: Analysis of metaphors like 'merciless iced winds', imagery of exhaustion, and themes of nature's indifference and soldiers' suffering. Conclusion: Owen aims to evoke empathy and awareness of war's devastating effects, emphasizing the futility and human cost.