In Wilfred Owen's “Dulce Et Decorum Est” the form imitates a Shakespearean sonnet. For example, the twelve-line stanza in the back half with the rhyme scheme ABABCDCDEFEF is similar to a Shakespearean sonnet. This clever use of form complements the content of the poem: the content of the poem opposes the glorification of war, and the form of the poem corresponds to this topic. This cohesion furthers the poem's argument, and is exemplified throughout the poem. In the first stanza, the cohesion of content and form is best demonstrated by the following lines: “Bent double, like old beggars under sacks / Knees, coughing like witches, we cursed in the mud” (1-2). These lines illustrate the aforementioned break with tradition: traditionally, soldiers are not referred to as beggars. These lines also suggest the rhythm of the poem. The meter is another blow to conventional poetry and the “war is glorious” tradition. The rhythm of the poem is similar to that of soldiers staggering back from the front with deliberate but faltering steps. This tone is obtained from the nominal...