Exposure by Wilfred Owen

• “Merciless iced east winds that knife us”

  • Personification of nature attacking them
  • “knife us” pararhyme of “nervous”- the soldiers are perpetually anticipated reflects the uneasiness the soldiers felt- emphasises their weariness
  • on adrenaline, most of war is spent waiting for soldiers
  • sinilance creates a sinister tone, nature is their enemies, sound of silence, hushed waiting for battle
• “But nothing happens“ 


  Repetition emphasises that the soldiers are constantly waiting, but nothing happens
• “Mad gusts”


  The soldiers are being driven mad by the winds, agitated