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Imagery

Imagery is used to represent items, ideologies, or activities using figurative texts. It assists the reader to create a mental picture in their minds of what the poem is talking about. Latin mass requiem texts are musical items performed to commemorate the deceased. They usually have long introductions signifying the evidence of large-scale works. The orchestra usually produce sounds similar to gunshots signifying the loss of lives in the war. The death of these soldiers is described a ‘dying like cattle,’ suggesting some similarity with how cattle are slain for meat and other products. They also request ‘perpetual light’ to shine on them, showing that they do not truly die, but are sent to an eternal kingdom.

Mankind is said to be consumed in ashes, yet ‘death will be stunned when he arises.’ This statement supports the notion of life after death as is believed by the church. As these verses are sung, the meter shifts to asymmetrical, bringing in a mood of panic and doubt. It prevents the music from being monotonous and sounding redundant. As this verse ends, Wilfred Owen’s work is incorporated into the piece (Robertson 8).

Wilfred Owen was a renowned poet who wrote his best works after world war I. His subject matter focused mostly on the horrors of combat. Focusing on guns and trenches, he was considered patriotic and influenced many other great poets. He likens the lives of soldiers to candles dimming in the eyes of the world. Owen also describes the biblical personality of Abraham who was on his way to slay his son, until an angel appeared and stopped him at the last moment. However, he defers from the biblical account claiming ‘the old man would not so.’ It depicts how Europe would not consider peace as an option, instead, they preferred killing each other. Here, Owen expresses bitterness to the leaders’ decisions to send their kin to be slaughtered. The line is repeated to emphasize the gravity of the situation.

In the next section, the mood changes to a joyful and delighted one. It is because the section departs from the themes of war and death momentarily. They opt to celebrate life instead. They incorporate the story of Jesus who even though suffered and died, rose from the dead to conquer death for eternity. It accepts the triumph over death and this gives the priests pride.

The Latin requiem text was not only performed at the mass but also at the burial services of these fallen soldiers. It starts with a solemn mood, speaking of eternal death rather than life after death. This section talks of the end of the world, which has already been experienced by these soldiers. The expression that ‘heaven and earth will be shaken’ depicts the possibility of another war emerging and more death being caused by a future calamity. The apocalyptic tone grows louder until it peaks. The service is ended with another of Owen’s famous works ‘A Strange Meeting.’ It details a meeting with an opposition soldier, but the war is over. The mourning and hopelessness are also over. He claims ‘I am the one you killed’ to show the bitterness has ended and it is time to move on. He finishes the work with the words ‘let us sleep now.’ It means that there is no more warfare. It symbolizes the end of the burial and a moment for the soldiers to rest in peace (Robertson 12).

Works Cited

Robertson, Alec. Requiem: music of mourning and consolation. Cassell, 1967.