Stafford and Owen on War in Poetry

"Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind." - John Fitzgerald Kennedy. William Stafford and Wilfred Owen are two poets who would undoubtedly concur with this statement. Both poets are objectors to war. However, the way each one conveys his message is different. The tone, descriptions, and literary devices used in each work are rather opposite. The main reason for this is the author's life experiences. Stafford did not participate in war combat, though he firmly opposed it. Owen, however, was an active member of the military, having served in World War I. The surrou…