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Year 10 - English

Understanding the realities of war in Owen's 'Dulce et Decorum Est'

Poetry anthology (Assessment until summer 2026)

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupis explore 14 of the 18 poems from the Eduqas poetry anthology. Pupils complete two lessons about each poem: one on understanding and one on analysis. Pupils study the poems in a thematically linked order so they can complete comparative and thematic lessons during the unit.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to understand how Owen presents the bleak reality of war.

Key Notes

  • Wilfred Owen was a soldier who fought and died in WWI.
  • There was a huge disparity in the glorified perception of war, versus the bleak reality of it.
  • The poem dismantles and condemns the perception of war being promoted by propaganda.
  • The poem paints a graphic image of soldiers who are caught in a gas attack.
  • Owen used his poetry as a means of exposing the true futility and horror of war.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • Bleak: not hopeful or encouraging
  • To dismantle: to take apart/ to destroy the integrity of something
  • Disparity: a significant difference between two things
  • Propaganda: biased or misleading information used to influence public opinion
  • To glorify: to unjustifiably or wrongfully represent something as admirable

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Students often think that the dying soldier was already dead when he was thrown into the wagon.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

Wilfred Owen was a soldier who fought and died in WWI. There was a huge disparity in the glorified perception of war, versus the bleak reality of it.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'Bleak'

not hopeful or encouraging.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Students often think that the dying soldier was already dead when he was thrown into the wagon. Correction: It is important that students understand that the soldier was still half-alive when he was tossed, dying, into the body wagon. This needs to be understood for students to grasp the brutality of war and the lack of respect soldiers were shown.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 10 English guide library.