Talk:Futility (poem)

Copyright
This page consists only of a poem. If it does date from WWI, it is likely still copyrighted. Irbisgreif (talk) 20:29, 6 September 2009 (UTC)

Wilfred Owen was killed in the last days of WWI. The author has been dead for more than 90 years. I believe that this means that the poem is now in the public domain. Other poems by Wilfred own are quoted verbatim on wikipedia and wiki source. This is one of only 5 published in the author's lifetime. --Timtak (talk) 20:57, 6 September 2009 (UTC)
 * I have a seperate concern. Is there any need for this article beyond listing the poem? It's not a CSD issue, but it's something to think about. Irbisgreif (talk) 20:49, 6 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Well, I'd say it is noteworthy. Reivwd by Bateson, and Kenneth Simcox, chairman of the Wilfred Owen society, and one of only 5 poems publish in Owen's lifetime...it has bo be more noteworthy than a lot of the popular music singles that are listed on Wikipedia.--Timtak (talk) 20:57, 6 September 2009 (UTC)
 * It would be useful to include some of the analysis of the poem in this article. Otherwise, as Irbisgreif asks, why is a separate entry needed? Why not, for example, include the poem in Wilfred Owen? --CronopioFlotante (talk) 22:24, 6 September 2009 (UTC)
 * Thank you. I have added some analysis of the poem.--Timtak (talk) 04:37, 14 September 2012 (UTC)

Notability
This artice does not currently meet the notability guidelines. Not all poems by major poets are notable. I am not saying this one isn't, but the article must show that it has been the topic of outside research and make a claim to notability. Mrathel (talk) 04:32, 18 December 2009 (UTC)
 * In an attempt to justify notability I have referenced a paper which claims that the theme of Futulity is common too many WW1 and WW2 poets and modern poetry in general -- if so making this poem prototypical of a genre -- and another paper which claims that this poem is the poetical equivalent of a famous monument.--Timtak (talk) 04:39, 14 September 2012 (UTC)

Dead?
I don't know if this is the entire poem or just a part of it - I assume the former - but nothing in the text here hints anything about the soldier actually being dead. Please quote me the line where it says or suggests that. It only talks about moving him into the sunlight which may wake him "if anything will at all" and then talks about how the sun has power to raise seeds from the earth. My interpretation is that the soldier is near death, either sick or frozen or just knocked unconscious from a shellburst, and they are trying to revive him, with a good chance that he may die. It seems to suggest that the sun "always woke him before" in France as well, but that may be when he was well and normally waking.

Idumea47b (talk) 17:55, 6 January 2020 (UTC)


 * The title of the poem is "Futility." Do you get it now? 76.167.151.163 (talk) 07:27, 21 February 2023 (UTC)

"Somewhat light-hearted"?
The source of the "somewhat light-hearted" characterization isn't clear, but wherever it comes from, it's absurd. There is nothing remotely light-hearted in this great, wrenching poem. It may not contain graphic imagery, but it's as bitter as they come. (Is there a bitterer line in all of English poetry than "Was it for this the clay grew tall"?) If anyone needs an "interpretation" of the poem, I'd strongly suggest listening to Britten's setting of it in his War Requiem. Britten understood what Owen was saying. 76.167.151.163 (talk) 07:39, 21 February 2023 (UTC)