Assess “Strange Meeting” as an anti-war poem.

Wilfred Owen’s Strange Meeting is widely regarded as one of the most powerful anti-war poems in English literature. Written during World War I, the poem vividly depicts the horror, futility, and deep sorrow associated with war. Unlike traditional war poetry that glorifies heroism, Strange Meeting exposes the grim realities of battle and the psychological toll it takes on soldiers.

Narrative and Structure

The poem follows a dreamlike encounter between the speaker—likely a soldier—and the ghost of an enemy he had killed. This surreal meeting takes place in a desolate, hellish underworld, emphasizing the inescapable suffering caused by war. The structure of the poem, written in iambic pentameter with pararhymes (half-rhymes), creates an unsettling tone, reinforcing the unease and melancholy of war’s aftermath.

Themes That Support Its Anti-War Message

1. The Futility of War
   The poem conveys the pointlessness of war through the voice of the dead soldier, who laments that his potential has been wasted. He states that he had hoped to bring wisdom and progress, but war robbed him of that chance. The lines:
   “The pity of war, the pity war distilled”
   highlight Owen’s belief that war only breeds suffering, not honor or victory.
2. Shared Humanity
   Owen erases the traditional notion of enemies by showing that both sides in war are victims. The dead soldier reveals that he and the speaker are not truly enemies but rather brothers in suffering, emphasizing the tragedy of war. His words,
   “I am the enemy you killed, my friend”
   break down the barriers of nationality and reveal the ultimate truth: all soldiers endure the same pain and loss, regardless of which side they fight for.
3. The Horror of War
   Unlike patriotic war poetry that speaks of glory, Strange Meeting describes war in nightmarish terms. The underworld setting, the images of groaning souls, and the disfigured faces of the dead create a haunting vision of war’s consequences. The poem’s imagery strips war of its heroism and replaces it with horror.
4. Unfulfilled Dreams and Lost Potential
   The soldier in the afterlife speaks of his unfulfilled ambitions, mirroring the fate of many young men who died in World War I. Owen portrays war as a force that destroys youth, creativity, and the future, rather than securing peace.

Symbolism and Literary Devices

• Hell as War’s Aftermath: The setting resembles the underworld, symbolizing that war itself is a kind of hell on earth.
• Pararhyme (Half-Rhyme): The use of imperfect rhymes like “moan/mourn” and “hall/hell” creates discomfort, mirroring the unease of war’s devastation.
• Personification: The phrase “courage was mine, and I had mystery” gives war an ironic, bitter voice, showing how soldiers were misled into believing in noble sacrifice.

Conclusion

Strange Meeting is one of Wilfred Owen’s most compelling anti-war poems. By using haunting imagery, a dreamlike narrative, and deeply emotional dialogue, Owen challenges the glorification of war and highlights its tragic, senseless destruction. His focus on shared suffering, wasted potential, and the horrors of battle makes this poem a timeless critique of war and its devastating consequences.