Question 1: What is the significance of the repeated phrase 'But nothing happens'? How does this reinforce the poem's themes?

Answer: It emphasizes the monotony and helplessness of soldiers in the trenches, highlighting the stalemate and futility of war, which reinforces themes of despair and inaction.

Question 2: Describe how Owen uses imagery related to the weather to reflect the soldiers' emotional state.

Answer: Owen describes the 'wind's that knive us,' and 'the merciless iced winds that knive us,' using harsh weather imagery to mirror the soldiers' suffering and the cruelty of war.

Question 1: Find a metaphor in the poem that describes the soldiers’ experience. Explain how it contributes to the poem’s mood.

Answer: The metaphor 'merciless iced winds that knive us' personifies the wind as a malicious attacker, intensifying the sense of relentless suffering and cold indifference of nature.

Question 2: Identify a simile used in the poem and discuss its impact on the reader.

Answer: The simile 'like a dull rumour of some other war' compares the soldiers' suffering to a distant, almost unreal whisper, emphasizing their sense of detachment and the pervasive nature of war's trauma.

Question 3: Quote explosion: Analyze the line 'But nothing happens.' What is its significance in terms of theme and tone?

Answer: This line emphasizes the stagnation and hopelessness of war, creating a tone of despair. The repetition suggests frustration and the tragic reality of soldiers waiting in vain, highlighting the futility and endless suffering.

Question 1: How does Owen depict the natural environment in the poem? What effect does this have on the reader’s understanding of the soldiers’ experience?

Answer: Owen depicts nature as indifferent and hostile, using images like 'merciless iced winds' and 'dawn' that contrast with soldiers' suffering, emphasizing nature's power and coldness, which heightens the sense of conflict between man and environment.

Question 2: Discuss how the poem presents the theme of conflict—both external and internal.

Answer: Externally, the conflict is between soldiers and the enemy and nature, while internally, the soldiers face despair, fear, and emotional numbness. Owen portrays this through the suffering and the relentless cold as a symbol of internal conflict.

Question 1: Identify a key quote from 'Ozymandias' that illustrates the theme of power. How does it compare to Owen’s depiction of the soldiers' power or lack of power in 'Exposure'?

Answer: In 'Ozymandias', the quote 'My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!' shows the arrogance and temporary nature of power. Compared to 'Exposure', which depicts the soldiers' powerlessness and the futility of war, both poems explore the theme of the transient or illusions of power and human achievement.

Question 1: Essay plan: How does Owen's use of imagery, repetition, and structure reinforce the themes of suffering and despair?

Answer: Owen employs stark imagery like 'merciless iced winds' to evoke coldness and suffering. Repetition of 'but nothing happens' emphasizes stagnation and despair. The poem's structure, with irregular stanzas and caesuras, mirrors the chaos and emotional turbulence experienced by soldiers, collectively reinforcing themes of helplessness and relentless suffering.