“The Next War” by Wilfred Owen: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “The Next War” by Wilfred Owen

“The Next War” by Wilfred Owen, first published in 1920 in the collection “Poems”  explores the disillusionment and fatalism that characterized the First World War. Owen uses stark imagery and a cynical tone to depict death as a familiar and almost friendly figure. The poem’s central idea is that war is a senseless cycle of violence and suffering, and that humans have become so accustomed to it that they even find camaraderie with death itself.

Text: “The Next War” by Wilfred Owen

War’s a joke for me and you,
        While we know such dreams are true.
          Siegfried Sassoon
                    ~~~~~~

Out there, we’ve walked quite friendly up to Death, —
Sat down and eaten with him, cool and bland, —
Pardoned his spilling mess-tins in our hand.
We’ve sniffed the green thick odour of his breath, —
Our eyes wept, but our courage didn’t writhe.
He’s spat at us with bullets and he’s coughed
Shrapnel. We chorussed when he sang aloft,
We whistled while he shaved us with his scythe.

Oh, Death was never enemy of ours!
We laughed at him, we leagued with him, old chum.
No soldier’s paid to kick against His powers.
We laughed, — knowing that better men would come,
And greater wars: when each proud fighter brags
He wars on Death, for lives; not men, for flags.

Annotations: “The Next War” by Wilfred Owen

Line	Text	Annotation
1	War’s a joke for me and you,	A cynical statement suggesting that war is a trivial matter for soldiers.
2	While we know such dreams are true.	Acknowledging the grim reality of war despite the superficial attitude.
3	Siegfried Sassoon	A dedication to Sassoon, a fellow war poet who shared similar anti-war sentiments.
4	Out there, we’ve walked quite friendly up to Death, —	Suggests a casual and almost friendly relationship with death on the battlefield.
5	Sat down and eaten with him, cool and bland, —	Implies a shared experience, suggesting that death is a familiar and accepted part of their lives.
6	Pardoned his spilling mess-tins in our hand.	A humorous but disturbing image of soldiers tolerating death’s carelessness.
7	We’ve sniffed the green thick odour of his breath, —	A vivid description of the closeness to death, emphasizing its physical presence.
8	Our eyes wept, but our courage didn’t writhe.	Suggests that despite fear and sorrow, soldiers maintain their resilience.
9	He’s spat at us with bullets and he’s coughed	A graphic depiction of death’s violence.
10	Shrapnel. We chorussed when he sang aloft,	Implies a morbid acceptance of death’s destructive power, even finding a perverse joy in it.
11	We whistled while he shaved us with his scythe.	A chilling image of soldiers facing death with a nonchalant attitude.
12	Oh, Death was never enemy of ours!	A paradoxical statement suggesting that soldiers have become accustomed to and even embraced death.
13	We laughed at him, we leagued with him, old chum.	Implies a camaraderie with death, as if it were a familiar companion.
14	No soldier’s paid to kick against His powers.	Suggests that soldiers are resigned to their fate and do not actively resist death.
15	We laughed, — knowing that better men would come,	A cynical view that future generations will face similar horrors.
16	And greater wars: when each proud fighter brags	A prediction of future conflicts, emphasizing the futility of war.
17	He wars on Death, for lives; not men, for flags.	A critique of war, suggesting that soldiers fight for their own survival rather than for any noble cause.

Literary And Poetic Devices: “The Next War” by Wilfred Owen

Literary Device	Definition	Example from “The Next War”	Function/Explanation
Alliteration	The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.	“We’ve walked quite friendly up to Death.”	Creates rhythm and emphasizes the connection between words, highlighting the soldiers’ nonchalant approach to death.
Allusion	A reference to another work of literature, person, or event.	The mention of “Death” personified could be an allusion to the Grim Reaper.	Adds depth by connecting the poem to broader cultural or historical references.
Assonance	The repetition of vowel sounds within words.	“Our eyes wept, but our courage didn’t writhe.”	Enhances the musical quality of the poem and emphasizes particular emotions or images.
Consonance	The repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words.	“We laughed, — knowing that better men would come.”	Provides a sense of unity and cohesion, reinforcing the poem’s themes.
Diction	The choice of words and style of expression.	Words like “chum” and “laughed” convey a casual, almost friendly tone toward death.	Reveals the poet’s attitude and helps shape the tone of the poem.
End-stopping	A line of poetry that ends with a period or definite punctuation mark.	“No soldier’s paid to kick against His powers.”	Creates a pause, giving emphasis to the final word or phrase.
Enjambment	The continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line.	“Oh, Death was never enemy of ours!”	Creates a sense of urgency or fluidity, mimicking the ongoing nature of war.
Hyperbole	Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.	“He’s spat at us with bullets and he’s coughed / Shrapnel.”	Conveys the intensity of the soldiers’ experiences by exaggerating the personification of death.
Imagery	Descriptive language that appeals to the senses.	“We’ve sniffed the green thick odour of his breath.”	Creates a vivid picture in the reader’s mind, enhancing the emotional impact.
Irony	A contrast between expectations and reality.	“War’s a joke for me and you.”	Highlights the absurdity of war by juxtaposing its horror with casual language.
Juxtaposition	Placing two elements close together for contrasting effect.	The contrast between “laughed” and the grim realities of war.	Emphasizes the paradoxical relationship between the soldiers and death.
Metaphor	A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.	“We whistled while he shaved us with his scythe.”	Compares death to a barber, emphasizing the routine and mundane nature of mortality in war.
Oxymoron	A figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear together.	“Friendly up to Death.”	Highlights the unnatural camaraderie between soldiers and death.
Paradox	A statement that contradicts itself but still seems true somehow.	“Oh, Death was never enemy of ours!”	Challenges the reader’s understanding of war and death, showing how the soldiers have come to accept and even embrace death.
Personification	Attributing human characteristics to non-human entities.	“Death” is portrayed as a person who can walk, eat, and speak.	Makes death a relatable, almost tangible presence, highlighting its omnipresence in war.
Refrain	A repeated line or set of lines in a poem or song.	“We laughed.”	Reinforces the soldiers’ defiant attitude towards death.
Rhyme	The correspondence of sound between words, especially at the ends of lines.	“brags” and “flags.”	Creates a musical quality, linking ideas together and enhancing the poem’s structure.
Simile	A comparison using “like” or “as.”	“Shrapnel. We chorussed when he sang aloft.”	Compares the sound of shrapnel to singing, illustrating the soldiers’ perverse normalization of violence.
Symbolism	The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.	“Scythe” symbolizes death.	Adds deeper meaning to the text, allowing the reader to infer themes of mortality and fate.
Tone	The general attitude of a piece of writing.	The tone is ironic and detached, as the soldiers mockingly accept death as a companion.	Influences how the reader perceives the subject matter, in this case, the normalization of death in war.

Themes: “The Next War” by Wilfred Owen

• Desensitization to Death: Owen’s poem offers a stark portrayal of soldiers’ casual and almost intimate relationship with death. They “eat with him,” “sniff the green thick odor of his breath,” and “whistle while he shaved us with his scythe.” These images suggest a profound desensitization to the horrors of war, as soldiers have become so accustomed to death that they can even find humor or camaraderie in its presence. This desensitization is a consequence of the prolonged exposure to violence and the constant threat of death on the battlefield. It is a coping mechanism that allows soldiers to endure the unimaginable horrors of war, but it also comes at a significant psychological cost.
• The Futility of War: The poem emphasizes the senselessness of war through its cynical tone and bleak imagery. The soldiers’ acceptance of death, their willingness to “kick against His powers,” and their belief that “better men would come” highlight the cyclical nature of conflict and the futility of human efforts to overcome it. Owen suggests that war is a self-perpetuating cycle, with each generation destined to repeat the mistakes of the past. The poem’s message is one of despair and hopelessness, as it suggests that there is no end to the suffering and loss caused by war.
• The Psychological Impact of War: Owen explores the devastating psychological toll of war on soldiers. The soldiers’ “eyes wept” but their “courage didn’t writhe,” suggesting a suppression of emotions and a forced resilience in the face of trauma. The poem implies that the experience of war can lead to a detachment from reality, a numbing of human empathy, and a loss of faith in humanity. Soldiers may struggle to reconcile the horrors they have witnessed with their own sense of morality and humanity.
• The Critique of War: Despite the soldiers’ apparent acceptance of death, the poem ultimately critiques war. The cynical tone and the suggestion of future, even greater wars imply a condemnation of the senseless cycle of violence. Owen’s poem serves as a powerful indictment of war, exposing its futility, its psychological costs, and its devastating impact on human life. By portraying the horrors of war with unflinching honesty, Owen challenges the romantic and heroic narratives often associated with conflict and urges readers to question the value of war and the sacrifices it demands.

Literary Theories and “The Next War” by Wilfred Owen

Literary Theory	Explanation	Application to “The Next War”	References from the Poem
Marxist Theory	Analyzes literature in the context of class struggles, power dynamics, and economic factors.	“The Next War” can be viewed through a Marxist lens as it critiques the way war is waged by the ruling classes, with the working-class soldiers serving as pawns. The poem reflects the exploitation of soldiers who are sent to die for causes determined by those in power.	“No soldier’s paid to kick against His powers.” This line suggests the inevitability of death for soldiers, highlighting their powerlessness in the face of war dictated by those in authority.
Psychoanalytic Theory	Focuses on the unconscious mind, desires, fears, and motivations of characters or the poet.	The poem can be analyzed using psychoanalytic theory to explore the soldiers’ coping mechanisms in facing death. The casual and almost friendly tone towards death may reflect a defense mechanism to manage their fear and trauma.	“Oh, Death was never enemy of ours!” This line indicates the soldiers’ psychological adaptation to war by personifying and befriending death, allowing them to mentally process the horrors they face.
Feminist Theory	Examines literature through the lens of gender roles, power relations, and the representation of women.	Although “The Next War” primarily focuses on the male soldiers’ experiences, it can be analyzed from a feminist perspective by examining the absence of women and the portrayal of war as a hyper-masculine activity. The poem reflects a world where war and death are intertwined with male camaraderie and heroism, with little consideration of the impact on women.	The poem’s absence of female perspectives and its focus on male soldiers (“We laughed at him, we leagued with him, old chum.”) highlights the traditional association of war with masculinity, where women are marginalized or excluded.

Critical Questions about “The Next War” by Wilfred Owen

Literary Works Similar to “The Next War” by Wilfred Owen

1. “Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen: Similarity: Both poems depict the harsh realities of war, challenging the glorification of combat and exposing the brutal experiences of soldiers.
2. “Anthem for Doomed Youth” by Wilfred Owen: Similarity: Like “The Next War,” this poem uses vivid imagery and somber tone to mourn the loss of young soldiers, emphasizing the senselessness of war.
3. “Exposure” by Wilfred Owen: Similarity: Both works explore the physical and psychological toll of war on soldiers, with a focus on the environment’s hostility and the inevitability of death.
4. “The Soldier” by Rupert Brooke: Similarity: Although more idealistic, “The Soldier” shares thematic elements with “The Next War,” as both address the notion of sacrifice and death in war, albeit with contrasting tones.
5. “The Charge of the Light Brigade” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson: Similarity: This poem, like “The Next War,” highlights the futility and horror of war, particularly through the depiction of brave but doomed soldiers following orders that lead to their deaths.

Suggested Readings: “The Next War” by Wilfred Owen

1. Bartel, Roland. “Teaching Wilfred Owen’s War Poems and the Bible.” The English Journal, vol. 61, no. 1, 1972, pp. 36–42. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/812892. Accessed 28 Aug. 2024.
2. Brophy, James D. “The War Poetry of Wilfred Owen and Osbert Sitwell: An Instructive Contrast.” Modern Language Studies, vol. 1, no. 2, 1971, pp. 22–29. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/3194256. Accessed 28 Aug. 2024.
3. Slawek, Tadeusz. “‘Dark Pits of War’: Wilfred Owen’s Poetry and the Hermeneutics of War.” Boundary 2, vol. 14, no. 1/2, 1985, pp. 309–31. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/303527. Accessed 28 Aug. 2024.
4. FEIN, RICHARD. “Modern War Poetry.” Southwest Review, vol. 47, no. 4, 1962, pp. 279–88. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/43467426. Accessed 28 Aug. 2024.
5. LOGAN, WILLIAM. “World War II Poetry, Reloaded.” Southwest Review, vol. 98, no. 4, 2013, pp. 540–65. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/43473328. Accessed 28 Aug. 2024.
6. Norgate, Paul. “Wilfred Owen and the Soldier Poets.” The Review of English Studies, vol. 40, no. 160, 1989, pp. 516–30. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/517098. Accessed 28 Aug. 2024.

Representative Quotations of “The Next War” by Wilfred Owen

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Perspective
“Out there, we’ve walked quite friendly up to Death,”	The poem opens with soldiers personifying Death as a companion rather than an enemy.	Psychoanalytic Theory – The soldiers’ acceptance of Death as a familiar presence can be seen as a coping mechanism for the trauma of war.
“We’ve sniffed the green thick odour of his breath,”	Describes the soldiers’ sensory experiences of war, particularly the noxious atmosphere caused by death.	Marxist Theory – This reflects the grim reality faced by soldiers, often from lower classes, forced to endure the horrors of war.
“Oh, Death was never enemy of ours!”	The soldiers express a camaraderie with Death, suggesting they have come to terms with its inevitability.	Psychoanalytic Theory – The denial of Death as an enemy indicates a psychological adaptation to constant danger.
“We laughed at him, we leagued with him, old chum.”	Highlights the soldiers’ ironic and defiant attitude toward Death, treating it as an old friend.	Irony – This line uses irony to underscore the absurdity of war and the soldiers’ forced familiarity with death.
“No soldier’s paid to kick against His powers.”	Suggests the futility of resisting Death, as soldiers have no power to change their fate in war.	Marxist Theory – Reflects the powerlessness of soldiers within the hierarchical structures of war.
“We whistled while he shaved us with his scythe.”	Compares Death to a barber, casually endangering soldiers’ lives during war.	Symbolism – The scythe symbolizes Death, and the casual tone reflects the normalization of danger in war.
“He’s spat at us with bullets and he’s coughed Shrapnel.”	Personifies Death as actively participating in the violence of war, emphasizing its omnipresence.	Personification – Death is given human actions, making it a tangible force the soldiers confront daily.
“We chorussed when he sang aloft,”	Depicts the soldiers’ eerie participation in the sounds of war, as if joining in Death’s song.	Psychoanalytic Theory – The soldiers’ behavior reflects a deep psychological association with Death as a constant companion.
“He wars on Death, for lives; not men, for flags.”	Contrasts the soldiers’ fight against Death with the broader, often meaningless, causes of war.	Feminist Theory – This line could be interpreted as critiquing the male-dominated glorification of war, focusing on life rather than nationalist symbols.
“Knowing that better men would come, And greater wars:”	Acknowledges the cyclical nature of war, with future generations destined to face the same horrors.	Marxist Theory – Suggests the endless cycle of exploitation, where future generations of the working class will be subjected to the same fate.