Final answer:
Owen uses personification, vivid imagery, and repetition to reinforce the mood of despair and hopelessness in the poem 'Futility.'
Step-by-step explanation:
Owen uses various literary techniques in his poem 'Futility' to reinforce the mood. One of these techniques is personification, where he gives human qualities to inanimate objects. For example, in the line 'Was it for this the clay grew tall?', the clay is personified as growing tall.
This reinforces the sense of hopelessness and despair in the poem.
Another technique Owen uses is vivid and detailed imagery. He describes the sun as 'kind', 'old', and 'cold', which creates a mood of sadness and melancholy. The use of the word 'cold' suggests a lack of warmth and life, adding to the overall mood of the poem.
Lastly, Owen employs repetition to reinforce the mood. The repeated phrase 'Move him into the sun' emphasizes the futility and desperation of the speaker's attempts to revive the fallen soldier. This repetition contributes to the sense of despair and helplessness in the poem.