Date of Birth: March 18, 1893
Zodiac Sign: Pisces
Date of Death: November 4, 1918
Biography
Wilfred Owen was a renowned English soldier and poet, best known for his poignant war poetry on the horrors of trenches and gas warfare during World War I. Born in 1893 in Oswestry, Shropshire, Owen was educated at the Birkenhead Institute and, later, Shrewsbury Technical School. His early interest in poetry was influenced by writers like John Keats and Percy Bysshe Shelley. After a period spent teaching in France, Owen enlisted in the British Army in 1915. His experiences on the front lines profoundly influenced his poetry. Works like “Dulce et Decorum Est” and “Anthem for Doomed Youth” remain some of the most powerful and widely read poems of the war, capturing the tragic futility and brutality of combat. Tragically, Owen was killed in action on November 4, 1918, just one week before the Armistice. Despite his short life, his work has left an enduring legacy in English literature.
5 Interesting Facts about Wilfred Owen
1. Wilfred Owen was awarded the Military Cross for bravery at the front.
2. He was diagnosed with shell shock and spent time recuperating at Craiglockhart War Hospital.
3. Owen was mentored by fellow war poet Siegfried Sassoon, who had a significant influence on his work.
4. His poetry was largely published posthumously, gaining significant recognition after his death.
5. Owen’s parents received the news of his death on Armistice Day, November 11, 1918.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Wilfred Owen
1. “My subject is War, and the pity of War. The Poetry is in the pity.”
2. “All a poet can do today is warn.”
3. “The old Lie: Dulce et decorum est Pro patria mori.”
4. “Ambition may be defined as the willingness to receive any number of hits on the nose.”
5. “Futility, indeed, is the only source of idealism.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Wilfred Owen did not achieve significant wealth during his lifetime. His estate and the rights to his works gained more value posthumously.
Children
Wilfred Owen did not have any children.
Relevant Links
1. [Wilfred Owen Association](http://www.wilfredowen.org.uk/
2. [Poetry Foundation: Wilfred Owen](https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/wilfred-owen
3. [BBC History: Wilfred Owen](https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/owen_wilfred.shtml
4. [The War Poet Association](http://www.warpoets.org/poets/wilfred-owen/
5. [Academy of American Poets: Wilfred Owen](https://poets.org/poet/wilfred-owen