"Futility" is a poem written by Wilfred Owen, one of the most renowned poets of World War I. The poem was written in May 1918 and published as no. 153 in The Complete Poems and Fragments. The poem is well known for its departure from Owen's famous style of including disturbing and graphic images in his work; the poem instead has a more soothing, somewhat light-hearted feel to it in comparison. A previous secretary of the Wilfred Owen Association argues that the bitterness in Owen's other poems "gives place to the pity that characterizes his finest work".[1] "Futility" details an event where a group of soldiers attempts to revive an unconscious soldier by moving him into the warm sunlight on a snowy meadow. However, the "kind old sun" cannot help the soldier – he has died.
Move him into the sun— Gently its touch awoke him once, At home, whispering of fields unsown. Always it woke him, even in France, Until this morning and this snow. If anything might rouse him now The kind old sun will know.
Think how it wakes the seeds— Woke, once, the clays of a cold star. Are limbs so dear-achieved, are sides Full-nerved,—still warm,—too hard to stir? Was it for this the clay grew tall? —O what made fatuous sunbeams toil To break earth's sleep at all?[2]
The titular theme of the poem is claimed to be common to many World War I and World War II war poets and to apply not only to war, but human institutions (including religion) and human existence itself.[3] Noting the "religious" nature of the poem's questioning, academics C.B.Cox and A.E. Dyson claim that "Futility" is a "poetic equivalent...to the famous Tomb in Westminster Abbey".[4]
Depictions in popular cultureedit
In 1982, singer Virginia Astley set "Futility" to music she had composed; the track was included on an NME compilation cassette in October 1982 (credited as The Ravishing Beauties) and on Virginia Astley's 1983 album Promise Nothing. The poem is among those set in the War Requiem of Benjamin Britten.
Referencesedit
^Simcox, Kenneth (2000). "Futility (a critical essay)". Wilfred Owen Association. Retrieved 19 November 2012. ( † a note on the author )
^Baker AA (2007). "The Theme of 'Futility' in War Poetry" (PDF). Nebula. 4 (3): 125–140.
^Cox CB, Dyson AE (1963). Modern Poetry:Studies in Practical Criticism. London: Edward Arnold. p. 52.
External linksedit
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Poems by Wilfred Owen/Futility
Owen, Wilfred. "Futility (the original manuscript)". The First World War Poetry Digital Archive. University of Oxford.
February 13, 2024
futility, poem, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, futility, poem, news, newspapers, books, scholar, js. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Futility poem news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message Futility is a poem written by Wilfred Owen one of the most renowned poets of World War I The poem was written in May 1918 and published as no 153 in The Complete Poems and Fragments The poem is well known for its departure from Owen s famous style of including disturbing and graphic images in his work the poem instead has a more soothing somewhat light hearted feel to it in comparison A previous secretary of the Wilfred Owen Association argues that the bitterness in Owen s other poems gives place to the pity that characterizes his finest work 1 Futility details an event where a group of soldiers attempts to revive an unconscious soldier by moving him into the warm sunlight on a snowy meadow However the kind old sun cannot help the soldier he has died Move him into the sun Gently its touch awoke him once At home whispering of fields unsown Always it woke him even in France Until this morning and this snow If anything might rouse him now The kind old sun will know Think how it wakes the seeds Woke once the clays of a cold star Are limbs so dear achieved are sides Full nerved still warm too hard to stir Was it for this the clay grew tall O what made fatuous sunbeams toil To break earth s sleep at all 2 The titular theme of the poem is claimed to be common to many World War I and World War II war poets and to apply not only to war but human institutions including religion and human existence itself 3 Noting the religious nature of the poem s questioning academics C B Cox and A E Dyson claim that Futility is a poetic equivalent to the famous Tomb in Westminster Abbey 4 Depictions in popular culture editIn 1982 singer Virginia Astley set Futility to music she had composed the track was included on an NME compilation cassette in October 1982 credited as The Ravishing Beauties and on Virginia Astley s 1983 album Promise Nothing The poem is among those set in the War Requiem of Benjamin Britten References edit Simcox Kenneth 2000 Futility a critical essay Wilfred Owen Association Retrieved 19 November 2012 a note on the author Owen Wilfred 1920 Poems London Chatto amp Windus p 25 OCLC 562356585 Baker AA 2007 The Theme of Futility in War Poetry PDF Nebula 4 3 125 140 Cox CB Dyson AE 1963 Modern Poetry Studies in Practical Criticism London Edward Arnold p 52 External links edit nbsp Wikisource has original text related to this article Poems by Wilfred Owen Futility Owen Wilfred Futility the original manuscript The First World War Poetry Digital Archive University of Oxford Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Futility poem amp oldid 1176373247, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
