Double Vision: Antipoetry, Paradox, Irony

In the poem “The Parable of the Old Man and the Young” by Wilfred Omen is based off a bible story also known as a parable. A parable is a story that teaches a lesson. The part of the poem that was ironic and stuck out the most was the last part that said, “But the old man would not do so, but slew his son, and half the seed of Europe, one by one.” If you look at the real parable Abraham does not kill his son but listens to the angel and offers up the ram. It was contrary to what was not suppose to happen. The change in the story at the end showed Owen’s point of view based on what was happening during his time period. Its also ironic how he wrote a poem based on a biblical parable where a person that was obedient to God would just go against what God said and do his own thing. I would have never thought of that ending but throughout the poem Owen was setting up the scene with a twist at the end.