Describe the tone of the final line in “Anthem for Doomed Youth.” What specific words help to establish this tone?
The speaker ends with an image of blinds being drawn before dark. That word "slow" reflects the way the poem has been slowing down throughout this second stanza, with this last line being the slowest and quietest of them all. The tone is more of them trying to keep things private.
I disagree.
Anthem for Doomed Youth
BY WILFRED OWEN
What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?
— Only the monstrous anger of the guns.
Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle
Can patter out their hasty orisons.
No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells;
Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,—
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;
And bugles calling for them from sad shires.
What candles may be held to speed them all?
Not in the hands of boys, but in their eyes
Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.
The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;
Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,
And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.
Why do you disagree ? What tone do you think it is ? sad ?
Yes. This is a poem about the tragedy of boys dying in World War I.
So should I write ..
The tone is sad because they can't help the boys dying ?
Yes. Which words help to establish this tone?
What words in the poem suggest sadness? That's part of the question you have to answer.
Ooops. Ms. Sue is on it! :)
Reed -- you can help Ciara better than I can. :-)
This part
"No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells; Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs,—
The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;
And bugles calling for them from sad shires. "
Thank you both !
To analyze the tone of the final line in "Anthem for Doomed Youth," we need to consider the specific words used and their impact on the overall tone. In the final line, Wilfred Owen writes, "And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds."
The word "slow" is particularly significant in establishing the tone. The use of "slow" emphasizes the gradual and deliberate nature of the action described, creating a sense of somberness and solemnity. This word suggests a prolonged process, indicative of a certain reverence or respect for the event being depicted.
Additionally, the word "dusk" conjures up an image of the approaching darkness at the end of the day. This choice of word adds a layer of melancholy to the tone, symbolizing the impending end and foreshadowing the loss and despair experienced by the doomed youth.
Furthermore, the phrase "a drawing-down of blinds" adds to the sense of privacy and intimacy. The act of drawing down blinds is often associated with closing oneself off from the outside world. This word choice hints at a desire to keep the sorrow and tragedy out of public view, reinforcing the tone of solemn privacy.
In summary, the use of the word "slow," along with the imagery of dusk and drawing-down of blinds, create a tone of solemnity, introspection, and an attempt to keep the grieving process private.