Introduction: “Smile, Smile, Smile” by Wilfred Owen
“Smile, Smile, Smile” by Wilfred Owen first appeared in the posthumously published collection Poems in 1920. The poem, a bitter critique of war propaganda, highlights the grim reality faced by soldiers on the front lines, contrasting it with the cheerful and encouraging messages propagated back home. Owen’s stark imagery and use of repetition emphasize the emotional disconnect between the soldiers’ experiences and the public’s perception, contributing to the poem’s haunting and ironic tone. This stark juxtaposition of battlefield horror and forced optimism showcases Owen’s mastery of language and his unwavering commitment to expose the truth of war.
Text: “Smile, Smile, Smile” by Wilfred Owen
Head to limp head, the sunk-eyed wounded scanned
Yesterday’s Mail; the casualties (typed small)
And (large) Vast Booty from our Latest Haul.
Also, they read of Cheap Homes, not yet planned;
“For,” said the paper, “when this war is done
The men’s first instinct will be making homes.
Meanwhile their foremost need is aerodromes,
It being certain war has just begun.
Peace would do wrong to our undying dead,—
The sons we offered might regret they died
If we got nothing lasting in their stead.
We must be solidly indemnified.
Though all be worthy Victory which all bought.
We rulers sitting in this ancient spot
Would wrong our very selves if we forgot
The greatest glory will be theirs who fought,
Who kept this nation in integrity.”
Nation?—The half-limbed readers did not chafe
But smiled at one another curiously
Like secret men who know their secret safe.
(This is the thing they know and never speak,
That England one by one had fled to France
Not many elsewhere now save under France).
Pictures of these broad smiles appear each week,
And people in whose voice real feeling rings
Say: How they smile! They’re happy now, poor things.
Annotations of “Smile, Smile, Smile” by Wilfred Owen
| Line | Annotation |
| Head to limp head, the sunk-eyed wounded scanned | Describes wounded soldiers reading the newspaper, possibly with heads lowered due to fatigue or injury. |
| Yesterday’s Mail; the casualties (typed small) | Refers to casualty lists printed in small type in the newspaper. |
| And (large) Vast Booty from our Latest Haul. | Mentions large headlines about military victories and gains (booty) from recent battles. |
| Also, they read of Cheap Homes, not yet planned; | Newspaper mentions plans for cheap housing after the war, implying a future hope but current lack. |
| “For,” said the paper, “when this war is done | Newspaper predicts housing plans after the war ends. |
| The men’s first instinct will be making homes. | Soldiers’ desire to settle down after the war. |
| Meanwhile their foremost need is aerodromes, | Immediate military need for airfields (aerodromes). |
| It being certain war has just begun. | Suggests the war is far from over despite optimism. |
| Peace would do wrong to our undying dead,— | Peace should honor the sacrifice of soldiers who died. |
| The sons we offered might regret they died | Soldiers might regret their sacrifice if nothing lasting comes from it. |
| If we got nothing lasting in their stead. | If there are no lasting benefits after their deaths. |
| We must be solidly indemnified. | The nation must be compensated or justified for their losses. |
| Though all be worthy Victory which all bought. | Victory should justify the sacrifices made. |
| We rulers sitting in this ancient spot | Leaders in power contemplating the war’s consequences. |
| Would wrong our very selves if we forgot | It would be self-destructive to forget the lessons of war. |
| The greatest glory will be theirs who fought, | Those who fought will achieve the greatest honor. |
| Who kept this nation in integrity.” | They preserved the nation’s integrity through their sacrifice. |
| Nation?—The half-limbed readers did not chafe | Disabled soldiers (half-limbed) reading without resentment. |
| But smiled at one another curiously | They share knowing smiles about a secret truth. |
| Like secret men who know their secret safe. | They keep their true feelings hidden. |
| (This is the thing they know and never speak, | The unspoken understanding among soldiers. |
| That England one by one had fled to France | Many Englishmen are now in France. |
| Not many elsewhere now save under France). | Few Englishmen are elsewhere but under French command. |
| Pictures of these broad smiles appear each week, | Images of smiling soldiers are published regularly. |
| And people in whose voice real feeling rings | Observers comment on the soldiers’ apparent happiness. |
| Say: How they smile! They’re happy now, poor things. | Observers pityingly comment on soldiers’ smiles, suggesting they mask deeper emotions. |
Literary and Poetic Devices in “Smile, Smile, Smile” by Wilfred Owen
| Device | Example(s) | Explanation | Function |
| Alliteration | “sunk-eyed wounded scanned,” “broad smiles” | Repetition of initial consonant sounds. | Creates a musical effect, emphasizes words, and unifies ideas. |
| Anaphora | “Smile, smile, smile“ | Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. | Emphasizes the ironic contrast between the soldiers’ suffering and the forced cheerfulness. |
| Antithesis | “Cheap Homes” vs. “Vast Booty,” “Peace” vs. “war” | Juxtaposition of contrasting ideas. | Highlights the irony and absurdity of war propaganda. |
| Assonance | “sunk-eyed wounded” | Repetition of vowel sounds within words. | Creates internal rhyme and enhances the poem’s musicality. |
| Caesura | “Yesterday’s Mail; the casualties (typed small)” | A pause or break within a line of poetry. | Creates a dramatic pause and emphasizes the information that follows. |
| Consonance | “limp head,” “sunk-eyed wounded” | Repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words. | Creates a sense of unity and emphasis. |
| Enjambment | “The sons we offered might regret they died / If we got nothing lasting in their stead.” | Continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line of poetry to the next. | Creates a sense of flow and avoids artificial breaks in thought. |
| Euphemism | “casualties (typed small)” | Substitution of a mild or indirect expression for one that is considered too harsh or blunt. | Downplays the severity of the soldiers’ deaths and injuries. |
| Hyperbole | “Vast Booty” | Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally. | Emphasizes the focus on material gain over human lives. |
| Irony | The entire poem | A contrast between expectation and reality. | The poem’s central device, exposing the gap between propaganda and the truth of war. |
| Juxtaposition | “Cheap Homes” and “aerodromes” | Placement of two contrasting elements side by side. | Highlights the absurdity of prioritizing war infrastructure over soldiers’ needs. |
| Metaphor | “England one by one had fled to France” | A comparison without using “like” or “as.” | Implies that the English soldiers have been abandoned by their country. |
| Metonymy | “The half-limbed readers” | Substitution of the name of an attribute or adjunct for that of the thing meant. | Refers to the wounded soldiers by their injuries, highlighting the physical cost of war. |
| Oxymoron | “undying dead” | A combination of contradictory or incongruous words. | Creates a paradoxical image that emphasizes the futility of war. |
| Paradox | “The greatest glory will be theirs who fought” | A statement that seems contradictory but may actually be true. | The soldiers’ glory is achieved through suffering and death. |
| Personification | “Peace would do wrong to our undying dead” | Attribution of human characteristics to something nonhuman. | Gives abstract concepts a human dimension, highlighting the emotional stakes of war. |
| Repetition | “Smile, smile, smile” | Repeated use of sounds, words, or ideas for effect and emphasis. | Creates a haunting and ironic tone throughout the poem. |
| Rhetorical question | “Nation?” | A question asked merely for effect with no answer expected. | Expresses doubt and skepticism about the concept of nationhood in the context of war. |
| Simile | “Like secret men who know their secret safe” | A comparison using “like” or “as.” | Suggests the soldiers’ shared understanding of the war’s true nature. |
Themes in “Smile, Smile, Smile” by Wilfred Owen
- The Disillusionment of War: Owen vividly captures the soldiers’ disillusionment with the war through their reading of the newspaper. The “sunk-eyed wounded” scanning the “Yesterday’s Mail” filled with propaganda about “Vast Booty” and “Cheap Homes” reveals the stark contrast between the reality of their suffering and the false promises made by those in power. The soldiers’ smiles, described as “curious,” suggest a shared understanding of the lies they’ve been fed.
- The Manipulation of Propaganda: The poem is a scathing critique of war propaganda, exposing how it manipulates public opinion and conceals the true horrors of war. The lines about “Cheap Homes, not yet planned” and “aerodromes” being the foremost need highlight the government’s prioritization of war efforts over the well-being of its soldiers. The repetition of “Smile, Smile, Smile” serves as a chilling reminder of the insincerity behind the forced optimism propagated by those in power.
- The Loss of Individuality and Agency: The poem suggests that war strips soldiers of their individuality and agency, turning them into mere numbers on a casualty list. The phrase “half-limbed readers” emphasizes their dehumanization and physical sacrifices. The fact that the soldiers “did not chafe” but instead “smiled at one another curiously” implies a sense of resignation and acceptance of their fate.
- The Futility and Absurdity of War: Owen’s poem ultimately questions the very purpose and meaning of war. The lines “Peace would do wrong to our undying dead” and “We must be solidly indemnified” reveal the warped logic and misguided priorities of those in power. The final stanza’s reference to “The greatest glory” belonging to those who fought highlights the irony and absurdity of celebrating a conflict that causes so much suffering and loss. The poem leaves the reader with a profound sense of the futility of war and the tragic consequences it inflicts on both individuals and nations.
Literary Theories and “Smile, Smile, Smile” by Wilfred Owen
- Marxist Literary Theory: From a Marxist perspective, Owen’s poem critiques the societal structures and the exploitation of working-class soldiers during wartime. The references to Cheap Homes, not yet planned and Vast Booty from our Latest Haul underscore the disparity between promises of future rewards and the immediate needs of soldiers. Owen highlights how the ruling class, symbolized by rulers sitting in this ancient spot, manipulates patriotic sentiments to justify war and pacify dissent among soldiers who have sacrificed so much. This theory emphasizes the economic and class dynamics embedded in Owen’s portrayal of war’s impact on individuals and society.
- Feminist Literary Theory: Applying feminist theory to “Smile, Smile, Smile” reveals underlying gender dynamics and the absence of women’s voices in the poem. The focus on male soldiers (the men’s first instinct) and England one by one had fled to France suggests a narrative dominated by male experiences and sacrifices. The poem’s portrayal of soldiers as half-limbed readers underscores their physical and emotional scars, yet the voices and perspectives of women, often affected by war through loss and displacement, remain marginalized. This theory critiques the poem’s depiction of war’s impact solely through a masculine lens, questioning whose stories and voices are privileged in narratives of conflict.
- New Historicism Literary Theory: New Historicism examines “Smile, Smile, Smile” in its historical context, emphasizing how Owen’s portrayal of wartime propaganda and soldierly experiences reflects broader cultural and political tensions of World War I. The references to Peace would do wrong to our undying dead and The sons we offered might regret they died illustrate Owen’s critique of nationalist rhetoric and the manipulation of public sentiment for political ends. By exploring contemporary newspapers (Yesterday’s Mail) and societal attitudes towards war and sacrifice, Owen critiques the official narratives of heroism and national integrity. This theory highlights how Owen’s poem engages with and challenges dominant historical discourses, offering a critical perspective on the consequences of war beyond conventional narratives of valor and victory.
Critical Questions: “Smile, Smile, Smile” by Wilfred Owen
- How does Owen use irony to convey the poem’s message?
- The title, “Smile, Smile, Smile,” is a starkly ironic contrast to the grim reality the poem depicts. The soldiers’ smiles, far from genuine expressions of happiness, are portrayed as a result of manipulation and forced optimism. This irony underscores the poem’s critique of propaganda and the disconnect between the soldiers’ experiences and the public’s perception. The repetition of “Smile” further amplifies this irony, making it a haunting refrain that echoes the soldiers’ silent suffering.
- What is the significance of the newspaper in the poem?
- The newspaper serves as a symbol of the lies and propaganda disseminated by the government to maintain public support for the war. The wounded soldiers reading about “Vast Booty” and “Cheap Homes” highlight the stark contrast between the government’s promises and the soldiers’ grim reality. The newspaper also represents the public’s detachment from the war’s horrors, as they remain oblivious to the true cost of the conflict.
- How does Owen portray the soldiers in the poem?
- The soldiers are depicted as victims of both physical and psychological trauma. Their “sunk-eyed” and “half-limbed” appearance reflects the physical toll of war, while their curious smiles suggest a shared understanding of the lies they’ve been fed. Owen portrays them as dehumanized and objectified, reduced to mere statistics in the “casualties (typed small)” section of the newspaper. Yet, their silent camaraderie and knowing glances hint at a deeper understanding of the war’s futility and absurdity.
- What is the overall message or theme of the poem?
- The poem’s central theme is the disillusionment and betrayal experienced by soldiers in the face of war propaganda. Owen exposes the hypocrisy and manipulation behind the cheerful facade presented to the public, revealing the true cost of war in terms of human suffering and loss. The poem also questions the concept of nationalism and the blind obedience demanded of soldiers, suggesting that the true victims of war are often those who are most deeply invested in its supposed glory.
Topics, Essays Questions and Thesis Statements about “Smile, Smile, Smile” by Wilfred Owen
| Topic | Essay Question | Thesis Statement |
| 1. Representation of War’s Impact on Soldiers | How does Wilfred Owen depict the emotional and psychological toll of war on soldiers in “Smile, Smile, Smile”? | In “Smile, Smile, Smile,” Wilfred Owen portrays soldiers as disillusioned and marginalized by societal expectations, revealing the profound emotional and psychological scars left by war. |
| 2. Critique of Propaganda and Nationalism | Discuss Owen’s critique of wartime propaganda and nationalism in “Smile, Smile, Smile.” | “Smile, Smile, Smile” critiques wartime propaganda by exposing how it manipulates public sentiment and undermines the true human cost of war, challenging notions of heroism and national identity. |
| 3. Gender Dynamics and War | How does Owen address gender dynamics and the absence of female voices in “Smile, Smile, Smile”? | Owen’s portrayal in “Smile, Smile, Smile” underscores the gendered experiences of war, highlighting the absence of female perspectives and critiquing the societal roles imposed on men during wartime. |
| 4. Historical Context and Cultural Critique | Analyze “Smile, Smile, Smile” within its historical context, exploring Owen’s cultural critique of World War I society. | “Smile, Smile, Smile” reflects Wilfred Owen’s critical examination of World War I society, exposing the hypocrisy and disillusionment amidst patriotic fervor and national sacrifice. |
Literary Works Similar to “Smile, Smile, Smile” by Wilfred Owen
- “Anthem for Doomed Youth” by Wilfred Owen – A poignant portrayal of the horrors of war and its impact on young soldiers.
- “Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen – Exposes the brutal reality of warfare, challenging the romanticized notion of dying for one’s country.
- “The Soldier” by Rupert Brooke – A contrasting poem that idealizes death in service of one’s nation, reflecting the patriotic fervor of the time.
- “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae – Uses vivid imagery to commemorate fallen soldiers and reflects on the enduring presence of war.
- “The Next War” by Wilfred Owen – Anticipates the futility and continuation of conflict, questioning the lessons learned from past sacrifices.
Suggested Readings: “Smile, Smile, Smile” by Wilfred Owen
Books:
- Owen, Wilfred. The Complete Poems and Fragments. Edited by Jon Stallworthy, Chatto & Windus, 1983.
- Web Links:
- GradeSaver: Analysis and commentary on the poem: https://www.gradesaver.com/wilfred-owen-poems/e-text/smile-smile-smile
- Poetry Foundation: Biography of Wilfred Owen and additional resources: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/wilfred-owen
Representative Quotations from about “Smile, Smile, Smile” by Wilfred Owen
| Quotation | Context | Theoretical Perspective |
| “Head to limp head, the sunk-eyed wounded scanned / Yesterday’s Mail…” | The opening lines establish the setting: wounded soldiers reading the newspaper. | Realism: Owen’s graphic depiction of the wounded soldiers contrasts sharply with the idealized images of war often presented in propaganda. |
| “Vast Booty from our Latest Haul. / Also, they read of Cheap Homes, not yet planned…” | The newspaper juxtaposes reports of war spoils with promises of postwar prosperity, highlighting the government’s manipulation of information. | Marxism: This reveals the economic motives behind war and the exploitation of soldiers for the benefit of the ruling class. |
| “Peace would do wrong to our undying dead,— / The sons we offered might regret they died / If we got nothing lasting in their stead.” | The poem critiques the idea that continued warfare is necessary to honor the sacrifices of fallen soldiers. | Pacifism: Owen challenges the glorification of war and suggests that peace is the true way to honor the dead. |
| “Nation?—The half-limbed readers did not chafe / But smiled at one another curiously / Like secret men who know their secret safe.” | The soldiers’ smiles are not expressions of joy but of shared understanding and resignation in the face of the war’s absurdity. | Psychoanalytic Theory: The smiles could be interpreted as a defense mechanism against the trauma of war, a way to cope with the unspeakable horrors they have witnessed. |
| “Pictures of these broad smiles appear each week, / And people in whose voice real feeling rings / Say: How they smile! They’re happy now, poor things.” | The final lines emphasize the disconnect between the soldiers’ experiences and the public’s perception, fueled by propaganda. | Media Studies: Owen critiques the role of media in shaping public opinion and perpetuating the myth of a glorious war. |