‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ workbook
Task 1
Below is a list of words from the poem.
Match each word with its correct meaning to help you to understand the poem more easily.
Word
Meaning of the word
ardent
a Latin saying which means ‘It is sweet and
honourable to die for your country’
hags
a word used to describe a person who loves
their country
fatigue
to twist or roll around in pain or agony
cud
unpleasant or ugly old women
writhing
a word used to describe a candle about to be
extinguished
floundering
to be enthusiastic, keen or eager
guttering
partially digested food which is chewed
twice
patriotic
tiredness which makes a person feel weak
and exhausted
Dulce et decorum est
Pro patria mori
to struggle to move or stay upright,
especially in water or mud
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‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ workbook
Task 2
Read the poem carefully. Then answer the following questions in full sentences.
1. From the first stanza only, select all the words the poet uses to convey the
exhaustion of the soldiers and explain what effect they have.
2. The poet uses a simile, comparing the young soldiers to ‘old beggars under sacks.’
Explain what the poet wants readers to understand about the soldiers.
3. Look closely at the second stanza. Using your own words, explain clearly what
happens.
4. Which words does the poet use to describe how the soldier dies and what effect do
these have?
5. Look closely at the last stanza. Explain how the gas affects the soldier.
6. What is the poet’s viewpoint or argument at the end of the poem?
7. Make a list of 8–12 significant events or striking images from the poem.
Task 3
Using the pictures below match the names of the shots to the correct image. Write the
name of each shot under the image.
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Point of view: a shot used to show a person’s perspective
Very wide angle: good for showing setting and backdrops
Over the shoulder: used when conversations are taking place
Close up: good for conveying people’s facial expressions
Extreme close up: useful for focusing on important details
Wide angle: shows a whole person in clear detail
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‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ workbook
Examples of camera shots
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Task 4
Filming the events of the poem
Imagine that you are going to film the action of the poem. You must break down the action
of the poem into 8-12 ‘shots’. There is an example completed to help you.
Shot number
Type of camera shot
What I will draw
Dialogue or sound
effects
Example
Wide angle
Soldiers bent over,
walking with difficulty
Explosions, coughing
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
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8
9
10
11
12
Task 5
Now you are ready to sketch a storyboard for the poem. Remember to draw it using the
angle of your shots.
Task 6
Write a brief summary of the poem in your own words. You should include some analysis of
the language. Use the sentence stems to help organise your ideas in writing.

‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ by Wilfred Owen, is an account of …

The soldiers are victims of a chlorine gas attack. One soldier …

The soldier begins to die, slowly and painfully, because … words like ‘obscene’
and ‘vile’ help to highlight the soldiers’ agony…

Wilfred Owen despised the war. His argument at the end of the poem is …
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