USE OF IMAGERY HIGHLIGHTED EMOTIONS THEMES ADDITIONAL
CONTEXT/ANALYSIS
MAUS The animal imagery allows
readers to explore serious
themes from a distance,
highlighting the absurdity of
racial classification and the
inhumanity of the Holocaust.
WHO’S FOR THE Uses sports and games as Enthusiasm: “Who wants a turn to
GAME metaphors for war, painting it himself in the show?”
as an exciting adventure rather Patriotism: “Your country is up to her
than a grim reality. neck in a fight,
“Who’s for the game, the And she’s looking and calling for you.”
biggest that’s played” Idealism: “Who knows it won’t be a
“Who’ll toe the line for the picnic – not much- /
signal to ‘Go!’?” Yet eagerly shoulders a gun?”
DULCE ET Horror: “His hanging face, like a devil’s This poem contrasts starkly
DECORUM EST sick of sin;” with pro-war propaganda,
Disillusionment: “The old Lie: Dulce et showing the trauma and
decorum est / Pro patria mori. suffering of soldiers. It criticizes
the "old lie" of honorable
sacrifice.
THE OWL Imagery of a dark, silent owl in The owl’s presence suggests
the night serves as a symbol of the inescapability of death,
death and foreboding portraying it as a silent
“Salted and sobered, too, by observer rather than an active
the bird’s voice” force.
IN FLANDERS Grief: We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset Sacrifice,
FIELDS glow, / Loved and were loved, and now remembrance, the
we lie, / In Flanders fields. continuation of life
Remembrance: “If ye break faith with after death
us who die / We shall not sleep,”
Hope: “To you from failing hands we
throw /The torch; be yours to hold it
high."