Why is this poem called "Anthem for Doomed Youth?"?

ANTHEM FOR DOOMED YOUTH


What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?


Only the monstrous anger of the guns.


Only the stuttering rifles' rapid rattle


Can patter out their hasty orisons.


No mockeries now for them; no prayers nor bells;


Nor any voice of mourning save the choirs, –


The shrill, demented choirs of wailing shells;


And bugles calling for them from sad shires.


What candles may be held to speed them all?


Not in the hands of boys but in their eyes


Shall shine the holy glimmers of goodbyes.


The pallor of girls' brows shall be their pall;


Their flowers the tenderness of patient minds,


And each slow dusk a drawing-down of blinds.

Why is this poem called "Anthem for Doomed Youth?"?
The title, ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’, gives the first impression of the poem. An ‘anthem’, is a song of praise, perhaps sacred, so we get the impression that the poem might be about something religious or joyous. However, the anthem is for ‘Doomed Youth’ which is obviously negative. The title basically summarizes what the poem is; a mixture of thoughts related to patriotism, religion, death, irony, and cynicism.





Try these links:


http://www.1914-18.co.uk/owen/anthem.htm





http://asms.k12.ar.us/classes/humanities...


scroll down to about the middle and the poem is explained here.





http://www.ciao.co.uk/Strange_Meeting_Wi...


scroll down to find a review of the poem.





Good luck with it.
Reply:Anthem for the doomed youth





http://www.lancs.ac.uk/fass/projects/sty...





http://www.eliteskills.com/analysis_poet...
Reply:Hope your not getting us to do your homework for you ;).





This is a poem by Wilfred Owen, a famous World War 1 poet.


It is about young men dying in battle and the lack of fanfare that comes with it.