Free Essay

Socilogy

In:

Submitted By raahul
Words 567
Pages 3
‘Dawn at Puri’ is an imagist poem (a poem consisting of a number of vivid, sharply etched, but not necessarily interrelated images). The Panorama of Puri (in Orissa- a land of ‘forbidding myth), artistically portrayed with vivid images and symbols, becomes evocative. Puri is the name of a famous town in Orissa, which is considered sacred because of the temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath, the presiding deity of Orissa. This temple is said to date that to 318 A.D. It is particularly famous for the chariot festival of Jagannath; an annual ritual conducted for the glory of this deity and is attended by a large number of pilgrims. ‘Endless crow noises’; a reference to the endless cawing of the crows, a visual as well as an auditory image. ‘A skull on the holy sands’: This is a startling imagery created with the juxtaposition of the abstract with the concrete, where the abstract ‘holy’ and the concrete ‘skull’ are grouped together. It is believed that the deity of Puri was carved out of a tree trunk that was washed ashore and this fact is alluded to in his poem ‘Losses’. Hoping for some kind of redemption for this wayward world, the speaker in the poem muses: “Perhaps the piece of driftwood/ washed up on the beach/ heals the sand and the water”. Puri is regarded as a sacred site and it is the wish of every pious Hindu to be cremated there to enable them to attain salvation.
‘It’s empty country towards hunger’: a reference to the poverty to the people of Orissa including the sight of the skull lying on the sea-beach symbolizes the utter destitution of the people. ‘White-clad widowed women’: reference to widows wearing white saris and the phrase that points to their predicament as well as the rigidity of Hindu customs and rituals. ‘Past the centers of their lives’: having spent the middle years of their lives and passing their prime. ‘Their austere eyes stare like those caught in a net’: the misery resulting in utter hopelessness is clearly visible on their faces for there is an expression of solemnity in the eyes of the widows in which no worldly desire is perceptible and are full of desire like the eyes of creatures trapped in a net.
‘Dawn’s shining strands of faith’: A person having a firm belief in religion never losses hope, so in spite of their circumstances, the only thing that sustains the widows is their religious faith and the hope born of it. The reference to dawn is to be noted. It refers to a new beginning in nature and thereby, to a new start in mankind and civilization. The tone of quiet acceptance, with a latent awareness of suffering, perhaps indicates a very Indian sensibility. ‘The frail early light’: the dim light of the dawn is a reference to the title of the poem which must be noted. ‘Leprous’: from leprosy, an infectious disease affecting the skin and nerves and causing deformities. ‘A mass of crouched faces’: a large number of timid persons standing in a group, having no confidence in themselves, preferably referring to the lepers and widows who are not allowed to move freely in the town. ‘And suddenly breaks out of my hide’: suddenly emerges from beneath my skin.

Source: http://www.shvoong.com/books/poetry/2070447-abstract-dawn-puri-jayanta-mahapatra/#ixzz2Euebm2gr

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Socilogy

...Using material from item C and elsewhere assess the strengths and limitations of using qualitative documents as a means for investigating suicide. Those who commit suicide may often leave a suicide note. The suicide note is a type of qualitative document. On the qualitative document it may show or explain the reason why they are committing suicide or what has happened to them. This is the closest researchers will get to receiving information from the actor as they will no longer be with us by the time the suicide note is found. However, the suicide note may be concealed by relatives or friends. In reference to item C, “The loss of someone through suicide often results in strong responses and emotions.” “Many of the friends and relatives will be in a state of shock and grief.” Due to the grief they are now experiencing once finding the suicide note they may destroy it to hide the meaning of their death, or hold onto it before higher authorities such as police of forensics get hold of it as they may find it too personal to expose the actor. Qualitative data such as documents may be hard for a researcher to gain access to. Types of qualitative data such as their medical notes would be confidential, therefore not for a researcher to look at. The medical notes may play a key part in their research for suicide to see whether there were any mental health problems or illnesses which may have made the actor commit suicide. In reference to item C, “Not all people who die by suicide...

Words: 665 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Theories of Socilogy

...Unit 1 Assignment 2 VW December 22, 2014 Sociology There are three theoretical perspectives in Sociology. They include the following: Symbolic Interactionism, Functional Analysis, and Conflict Theory. In this assignment, I will discuss the historical development of each of the theoretical perspectives and their founding sociologists. Symbolic Interactionism is when a society attaches meaning. The theory looks at how an individual defines themselves and others. This theory had two founders: Charles Horton Cooley and George Herbert Mead. Symbols are thought to be the key to our sophistication that separates us from the animal kingdom. A symbol may be a relative or a mentor. Symbols give us direction and defines us and our relationship. Symbols are the essence of being Human. Without this Symbolic culture, we would not have laws, government, and our parents. We would not have boundaries and moral obligations. The idea of Functional Analysis is that society consists of groups that work together to fulfill a given function. The founder is Robert Merton. He did not agree with the organic analogy. He did look at society as a whole that had smaller parts that work together. His references for Functions were beneficial consequences of an individuals actions. In doing so this keeps society in balance. His definition of Dysfunctions are consequences that harm society. He thought functions were either Manifest or Latent. A manifest function is supposed to help a part of the societal...

Words: 487 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

How Does Socilogy Relate to Everyday Life

...One central and important study of sociology is the study of everyday social life. Everyday life and sociology are undoubtedly two distinct terms and situations, but nonetheless, they hold a dialectical relationship. While sociology studies human interaction, everyday life consists of everyday human interaction. Everyday life is permeated by human beings interacting with one another, institutions, ideas, and emotions. Sociology studies the interactions with all of these and shows how mere interaction resulted in things like "ideas" and "institutions". Everyday that you wake up and come into contact with what you do and the people you speak to is sociological. You wake up and interact with objects. Some of these objects you see yourself in such as your clothes, your music, your journal, etc. We would call this the sociology of identification. If you live with your parents and siblings, you wake up and interact with them, by saying good morning and having breakfast with them. Thus, you recognize and participate in the family institution. When you go to school, or church, or your job, you know what's expected of you and you know how to act in the way that is labeled "normal" or "right". Thus, you interact with a set of norms by conforming to them or breaking them(deviancy). The fact that we have an "everyday life" in which there are patterns and streams of ways of living is what sets a very foundation for sociological analysis, and for being a witness in what we do, in order...

Words: 283 - Pages: 2