The Origins of Inspiration

Wilfred Owen may not have single-handedly change the entire perspective of the world, but his poems and ideas definitely created an impact. The connection may seem farfetched but if you look closer Owen being one of the originals might have even influenced people like Bob Dylan. Dylan’s Song “Blowin’ in the Wind” has a similar message to Owens “Dulce et Decorum Est”. Dylan never fought in the Vietnam War but understood the tragedies of it. In verse 3 line 3 he writes “yes and how many deaths will it take ‘till he knows that too many people have died” (Dylan 11).  Owen gives a more graphic and vivid image in his poem but his message is against the war and its atrocities. The fact that Owen wrote his poem way before Dylan, shows a possibility that Dylan was inspired by Owen even if it was indirect.