Shell shock
A psychological condition affecting WW1 soldiers, characterised by anxiety, tremor, sensory disturbance, and psychological trauma from combat exposure. Originally termed 'shell shock'; now recognised as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Real World
Wilfred Owen was treated for shell shock at Craiglockhart War Hospital in 1917, where his experiences directly shaped poems like 'Dulce et Decorum Est', giving his trauma clinical and literary specificity.
Exam Focus
Avoid describing shell shock symptoms only — explain how the poet's form or syntax mirrors psychological fragmentation for higher marks.
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