Futility
By Wilfred Owen
Move him into the sun, Gently its touch awoke him once, At home, whispering of fields half-sown.
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, nervous, 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?
Summary of Futility
- Popularity of “Futility”: “Futility” is a poignant poem by Wilfred Owen, a British soldier and one of the leading voices of World War I poetry. Composed in May 1918 and later published posthumously, the poem stands as a stark and moving exploration of death, loss, and the seeming meaninglessness of war. It is particularly notable for its understated grief and questioning tone.
- “Futility” As a Representative of Life and Death: The poem depicts the scene of a soldier who has died, and a speaker gently attempting to rouse him with sunlight. The poem contrasts the life‑giving power of the sun, which once reliably awakened the soldier, with its current inability to revive him. This contrast forces a painful reflection on the fragility of life and the futility of existence in the face of death. The speaker questions the purpose of life and growth – “Was it for this the clay grew tall?” – suggesting a sense of bewilderment and despair.
- Major Themes in “Futility”: The central themes of “Futility” revolve around death, the experience of soldiers, and a broader questioning of the meaning of life. Owen does not focus on the glory of battle but rather on the stark reality of death and the seeming senselessness of war. The poem explores the contrast between the natural world’s life‑giving forces and the destructive power of conflict, ultimately leaving the reader with a sense of profound sadness and questioning.
Analysis of Poetic Devices in “Futility”
Wilfred Owen masterfully employs a range of literary and poetic devices to convey the poem’s profound emotional impact. These techniques contribute to the poem’s overall meaning and enhance its aesthetic qualities.
- Assonance: Assonance, the repetition of vowel sounds, creates a musical quality and links words together. For instance, the repetition of the short i sound in “Move him into the sun” draws attention to these words and emphasizes the gentle action.
- Alliteration: The use of alliteration, the repetition of initial consonant sounds, is subtle but effective. Notice the repetition of the f sound in “fields half-sown,” creating a soft and whispering effect that mirrors the imagery.
- Consonance: Consonance, the repetition of consonant sounds within words, can create a sense of cohesion and musicality. The repetition of the s sound in “Woke once the clays of a cold star” and the m and s sounds in “O what made fatuous sunbeams toil” subtly reinforces the poem’s imagery and mood.
- Enjambment: Enjambment, the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next without a pause, creates a sense of fluidity and momentum. For example, the lines “O what made fatuous sunbeams toil, To break earth’s sleep at all” flow seamlessly into one another, mirroring the continuous cycle of life and death.
- Imagery: Owen’s use of vivid imagery is central to the poem’s effectiveness. The imagery of “whispering fields half-sown” evokes a sense of peace and tranquility, which is then contrasted with the harsh reality of war. The imagery of warmth and cold – “full, nervous, still warm” versus “this snow” – underscores the soldier’s transition from life to death.
- Metaphor: The poem relies heavily on extended metaphors of life, growth, and the natural world. The sun represents life‑giving energy, the seeds symbolize potential, and the clay symbolizes the origins of life. These metaphors invite the reader to contemplate the larger meaning of existence.
- Personification: Owen personifies natural elements, such as the “fields whispering,” giving them human qualities. This technique emphasizes the connection between nature and life, and suggests that even nature grieves the loss of the soldier.
- Rhetorical Question: The poem poses rhetorical questions, such as “Was it for this the clay grew tall?” and “O what made fatuous sunbeams toil, To break earth’s sleep at all?” These questions are not meant to be answered but rather to provoke thought and express the speaker’s sense of bewilderment and despair.
- Symbolism: Several elements in the poem carry symbolic weight. Clay symbolizes the origin of life and humanity. Warmth represents life and vitality, while cold signifies death. These symbols add layers of meaning to the poem and invite deeper interpretation.
Deeper Dive into Poetic Techniques
Beyond the literary devices, several poetic techniques contribute to the overall impact of “Futility.”
- Diction and Tone: Owen’s diction is carefully chosen to create a melancholic and questioning tone. The language is relatively simple yet evocative, avoiding overly dramatic or sentimental expressions. This understated approach enhances the poem’s emotional power.
- Rhyme Scheme: The poem largely follows a loose rhyme scheme, but it is not rigid. This irregularity mimics the chaotic nature of war and the breakdown of order.
- Stanza Structure: The two stanzas of the poem create a sense of division and contrast. The first stanza focuses on the attempt to revive the soldier, while the second stanza contemplates the meaninglessness of life and death.
Quotations for Reflection
The following lines from “Futility” are particularly resonant and can be used to prompt thoughtful discussion about life, death, and the human condition.
Was it for this the clay grew tall, O what made fatuous sunbeams toil, To break earth’s sleep at all?
These lines encapsulate the central theme of the poem—the questioning of purpose and meaning in the face of senseless death. They invite us to contemplate the fragility of life and the profound sadness of loss.