Wilfred Owen

Wilfred Owen

Wilfred Owen, who was a poet and soldier, was born in 1893 to a middle-class family in the North of England. His parents were Thomas and Susan Owen, who lived in a comfortable house owned by his grandfather. He was the eldest of four children. His grandfather was a wealthy person and helped them financially. However, two years after Owen’s birth, he expired and this adversely affected their family. As a result, Owen's parents had to move into a rented house. They were so impoverished that they were unable to afford to send him to a public school. Hence, while being at home, Owen began to read and write poetry as a child. But, later he went to school and shortly after leaving school in 1911, Owen passed the matriculation exam for the University of London. Meanwhile, he also started reading the Bible daily. His mother was highly interested in religion and sometimes this might have motivated him for reading it. He had a strong relationship with his mother, which lasted throughout his life.
In the mean time, he went looking for a job and in 1911; he found a job as a lay reader to help a clergyman until 1913. But, unfortunately, he was taken ill in 1913 and lost his job. After that, he began to work as a private teacher, who taught English and French. He gave it up due to the inadequacy of professional training in the teaching field and migrated to France looking for a job. He worked there till the outbreak of war. In 1915, he returned to his homeland and joined the army as a soldier. In 1916, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant.
While in the battle field, he suffered from shell-shock and was later hospitalized. During his stay at hospital, Owen published his work in the hospital journal as well. In September, he returned to the front line, where he won the Military Cross for bravery. He was preparing his first collection of poems when he met with his tragic death. Only one week before the end of war, while attempting to traverse a canal, he was shot in the head by an enemy rifle and was killed on the spot in 1918. His first collection, introduced appeared two years after his untimely death. Owen's most famous poems are Dulce et Decorum Est and Anthem for Doomed Youth.
Disabled

27.06.2010