Greater Love

Fiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 1918

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Related Poems

“Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen (1920)

Perhaps the most famous of all of Owen’s poems—and one of the most powerful poems of World War I—this searing indictment of jingoism takes a famous pro-war statement of the Roman poet Horace (“It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country”) and instead presents it as a cruel lie that leads to the waste of youthful idealism and potential. Like “Greater Love”, it was published posthumously in 1920.

“Futility” by Wilfred Owen (1920)

Another poem from the posthumous 1920 collection Poems, "Futility" forms an excellent thematic trio alongside “Greater Love” and “Dulce et Decorum Est.” In this poem, Owen works with another contrast, pairing the warmth of the sun, a reassuring symbol of daytime and peace, with a young soldier’s dead body, which remains indifferent to the sun’s rays. As with “Greater Love” and “Dulce et Decorum Est,” this poem reflects Owen’s deep moral outrage at the mass loss of life caused by World War I.

“Attack” by Siegfried Sassoon (1918)

A poem by Owen’s friend and contemporary in both poetry and arms, “Attack” describes the horrors of trench warfare, revealing the poet’s despair at the violence and destruction he witnessed on the battlefield. Sassoon is another leading poet from the WWI, and as such his work serves as an important companion to Owen’s own.

Further Literary Resources

WildfredOwen.org by the Wilfred Owen Association

A website hosted by an organization dedicated to preserving Wilfred Owen’s legacy and work, featuring a wealth of biographical and literary information, as well as some photographs of Owen and his family members.

“Wilfred Owen: 1893-1918” by the Poetry Foundation

The Poetry Foundation has authoritative biographical information on Wilfred Owen, as well as the full texts of many of his most famous poems. Some of the poems also feature audio recordings for readers who wish to hear the poem read aloud.

“The Poetry of World War I” by the Poetry Foundation (2014)

An excellent overview, presented in chronological order, of some of the most famous poems written during each year of the war. This is an excellent place to start for any reader wishing to understand Owen’s literary context and to gain more exposure to the works of other major World War I poets for comparison.

Listen to Poem

Richard Burton reads “Greater Love” by Wilfred Owen

A beautiful and dramatic reading of “Greater Love” by the famous actor Richard Burton, a noted bibliophile whose rich voice was used in many audiobooks for works of famous literature. Burton’s reading is clear, passionate, and full of pathos.

Richard Burton reads “Dulce et Decorum Est” by Wilfred Owen

Another reading by Richard Burton, this time of Owen’s “Dulce et Decorum Est,” accompanied by music for heightened emotional effect. An excellent companion piece for readers who enjoyed hearing Burton’s rendition of “Greater Love.”