Premium Essay

The Poem

In:

Submitted By Adellee
Words 694
Pages 3
The poem, “Caribbean Journal” written by Cecil Gray, centers on the theme of poverty and homelessness. The author draws an invisible line to separate two classes of persons, the homeless and the affluent. He posits rhetorical devices such as symbolism, imagery and personification to illustrate these points. He also weaves them within the construct of five stanzas supported by seventeen lines. The journal entry has three characters. Namely: the boy – the victim of poverty, the affluent persons within society and the poet himself. The poet succinctly divides these characters are we are able to visually make references from the lines drawn.

The poet’s use of symbolism effectively illustrates the lifestyle differences between the rich and the poor. Those who are poor are maligned to the outside looking in while those who are rich are able to enjoy the finer things in life. We see this expressed in line one as quoted “He stands outside the fencing looking in”. The reference to the chain link concretizes the symbol of separation and purports the statement of inevitability. The rich will always be rich and the poor will always be poor. In essence there is not only an economic barrier but a physical barrier as well. Additionally, words such as “curse” line thirteen, “hearse”, line sixteen and “bullet” line seventeen effectively symbolizes or represents the fatalistic outcome of poverty. There is no life in poverty. Similarly, words such as “ diving“, “swimming”, line four and “picnicking” line seven, symbolizes fun and frolic for those who are able to afford a leisurely lifestyle. Note how the poet is able to show the sharp contrast with these symbolic words.

The use of imagery is replete within the poem as the visual descriptions reveal the boy’s appearance in contrast to those on the other side. The use of “torn pants” in line seven aptly describes the

Similar Documents

Free Essay

William Shakespear

...1590’s, to the fashion for sonnets, he moved closer to the cultural and literary dominance of the court’s taste—to the fashionable modes of Ovid, Petrarch, and Neoplatonism—and to the need for patronage. Although the power of the sonnets goes far beyond their sociocultural roots, Shakespeare nevertheless adopts the culturally inferior role of the petitioner for favor, and there is an undercurrent of social and economic powerlessness in the sonnets, especially when a rival poet seems likely to supplant the poet. In short, Shakespeare’s nondramatic poems grow out of and articulate the strains of the 1590’s, when, like many ambitious writers and intellectuals on the fringe of the court, Shakespeare clearly needed to find a language in which to speak—and that was, necessarily, given to him by the court. What he achieved within this shared framework, however, goes far beyond any other collection of poems in the age. Shakespeare’s occasional poems are unquestionably minor, interesting primarily because he wrote them; his sonnets, on the other hand, constitute perhaps the language’s greatest collection of lyrics. They are love lyrics, and...

Words: 4547 - Pages: 19

Free Essay

Literature Through Time

...Literature Through Time Literature depicts the morals of time it shift and morphs into less power in the divine and more faith in man. Stories began being written by monks and the clergy which in time turned into regular men with stores that focused on more secular matters. English literature fills up the gap between wars, between societal change, you can see time progressing, you can see our values and morals changing, you can see history passing by. In the beginning there was Bede, a philosopher, speaker of many languages, a man who looked around him and saw a world in peril that only God could save, a man full of faith. Time passes and we see Shakespeare, a genius, a man with a queen, a man who rallied against the common, Shakespeare was a man with deep loves and a strong voice. “The Story of Caedmon”, was written during a time when Christian religious dogma was primarily hagiography, “the telling of the life of virtuous men and women that represents what it means to be a good Christian.” These stories are used as a form of reflections on one’s life as to make it better in the future. Religious dogma needed to be made more accessible to the congregation which was widely illiterate, so the stories were written with easy points and then acted out so that the congregation would not only be awake and attentive, but so that these stories of morality and faith would really sink in. “Caedmon” is probably the earliest extant of Old English poetry, Bede tells about Caedmon, an...

Words: 1137 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Rizal: Hidden Beneath the Surface

...Nikki Vanessa V. Novales July 20, 2012 # 2012-42443 PI 10 E2-6R Rizal: Hidden Beneath The Surface A Reaction Paper On “Bayaning 3rd World” “Who is Rizal?” If you ask this question to any Filipino, they will most likely say, “He is our national hero” Or “He’s the person stamped on our 1-peso coin”. But is that all he really is? The movie “Bayaning 3rd World” is about two film makers trying to make a movie about Rizal. They found out, however, that this would not be an easy task, for their subject is a very complicated man. Rather than focusing on a single issue about Rizal, they decided to make a detective story about Rizal being the country’s national hero. They tackled several issues but focused mainly on Rizal’s retraction and Josephine Bracken. The movie was meant to be educational, but unlike most documentaries, “Bayaning 3rd World” is definitely not boring. The documentary was presented in a comical way, so that viewers of all ages would be able to understand it and grasp its meaning. I was confused at first because I didn’t know what the “Retraction Controversy” was and the two film makers started having these long conversations about it without explaining it to the viewers. But when I found out what it was all about, following the flow of the story became easy. Another controversy that arose was about Josephine Bracken, on whether she and Rizal were married or not. It was implied that if they were indeed married, then Rizal retracted...

Words: 993 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Poem

...between her teeth, And in her eyes the memory Of a mother’s pride. . . .She had bathed him And rubbed him down with bare palms. She took from their bundle of possessions A broken comb and combed The rust-colored hair left on his skull And then—humming in her eyes—began carefully to part it. In their former life this was perhaps A little daily act of no consequence Before his breakfast and school; now she did it Like putting flowers on a tiny grave. Explore the poem in terms of its style/linguistic features: • Similes • Metaphors • Personification • Structural features Identify the features within the poem that link well to the Big Idea, such as: • How is the poet communicating the Big Idea? Red. • How does the poem relate to the Big Idea? Gray. • Is the society represented in the poem a just one? Mint. • Is there an example of undue suffering in the poem? Brown. • How does it compare to the other situations you have explored? Think about your mind maps from earlier…. Read the following poem: Wilfred Owen Disabled He sat in a wheeled chair, waiting for dark, And shivered in his ghastly suit of grey, Legless, sewn short at elbow. Through the park Voices of boys rang saddening like a hymn, Voices of play and pleasure after day, Till gathering sleep had mothered them from him. About this time Town used to swing so gay When glow-lamps budded in the light-blue trees And girls glanced lovelier as the air grew dim, — In the old times, before he...

Words: 848 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Poem

...The poem I chose to write about is called “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” Written by Robert Frost. The poem is from the point of view of an old man who has been riding through the woods and stops. It is the middle of the night and he is watching the snow fall as we can plainly see from the lines “He will not see me standing here/to watch the woods fill up with snow” and “between the woods and frozen lake/ the darkest evening of the year.” To me it seems that the idea of this poem is stopping and enjoying little things in life, even things like a snowy wood in the middle of the night. Something so simple could be very beautiful if you take the time to notice it. The poem also seems to give the idea that we can enjoy little things in life but not forget our important obligations. This idea is expressed in the lines “But I have promises to keep/ and miles to go before I sleep/ miles to go before I sleep.” I can’t say I can personally relate to this poem. I do however agree with the idea of it. I think it’s very important to take breaks in life. If someone works to hard and takes everything too seriously they will miss out on little things in life. I enjoy nature and being outside so this poem relates to me in that way. I can easily see myself stopping just like the man in the poem to watch the silent woods for a moment. Things like those woods that can keep a person sane. In this poem Robert Frost uses a very effective rhyme scheme to keep a smooth rhythm. He...

Words: 490 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Poem

...mountain-slide of magic dollars and cents to cancel knowledge of the stomach's pain; eyes learning what will later reach his brain. In time they'll be afraid to hear his curse at god's unholy Sunday-school arrangement, put him inside wire-mesh or worse, and sunbathe in the same sun on his hearse or perish if his bullet gets them first. [Cecil Gray] In a single word or short phrase, state what you consider to be the most dominant subject or idea that the poem communicates In a single sentence, state the theme or statement that the poem makes (implies) about the subject you selected. Identify and list three effective techniques or devices that help to convey this statement. For each device you identified, write a brief statement (one sentence) explaining its effectiveness (what it contributes to the poem, its function). Taking into consideration your responses thus far, formulate a working thesis you could use to guide your analysis of this poem. Using between 80 and 100 words, present the introductory paragraph (which of course must include your thesis) of the critical analysis essay you would...

Words: 263 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Poem

...Poem Name: Institution: POEM Alienation of the black persons was evident in United States in the past. This is because black race was considered to be a slave society. Moreover, because of alienation, society determined what an individual did, the places he or she visited, as well as the facilities an individual used. The poem Mr. Z talks about an African American person whose acts can only be executed by a white man. According to the poem, Mr. Z and his wife struggles to fit in the white society. In the poem, there is a conflict between the speaker and the imagery, which mirrors the struggle of Mr. Z’s life. In the poem, imagery is used to outline how Mr. Z as well as his wife were struggling to run away from their black race. The usage of imagery by the poet is a convenient way to justify his accusation on dissatisfactions of Mr. Z. In the first stanza, the poet stipulates, “Taught early that his mother’s skin was a sign of error” (Holman 1). This line insinuates that Mr. Z from the very beginning he was told that being black was unacceptable. The author underlines the word ‘honor’ to insinuate that he does not concur with act of being perfect because one is a white person. This bogus message made him suffer throughout his life. Throughout his life, Mr. Z always wanted to behave and act like a white man. This was to avoid criticism from the society he was living in...

Words: 841 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Poems

...How does the writer use language to get across the theme of the poem? Old Age Gets Up Stirs its ashes and embers, its burnt sticks An eye powdered over, half melted and solid again Ponders Ideas that collapse At the first touch of attention The light at the window, so square and so same So full-strong as ever, the window frame A scaffold in space, for eyes to lean on Supporting the body, shaped to its old work Making small movements in gray air Numbed from the blurred accident Of having lived, the fatal, real injury Under the amnesia Something tries to save itself-searches For defenses-but words evade Like flies with their own notions Old age slowly gets dressed Heavily dosed with death's night Sits on the bed's edge Pulls its pieces together Loosely tucks in its shirt Essay The topic of the poem is ‘Old Age’ as we can see from the title. The first half is sensory impressions and metaphors which get across how it must feel to be old, and the second half follows the title: old age ‘Gets Up’, as if it’s getting up from its chair. This is the personification of Old Age, though, not a specific old person. It is the generalization of an important aspect of human experience. Structure (how structure builds the theme) * | * | * | | * Nettoyer | * | * disque | * | * dur | * Mac | * | * | * | | * macpaw.com | ...

Words: 1051 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Poem

...Music Of Mongolia The music of Mongolia should not only be listened, but also to be studied for it has a unique history of discovering and creating their music. The purpose of this research is to be aware of how Mongolians use their music and what is it symbolizing. Most of the traditional music was use in haunting but somehow, it symbolizes a special matter for communication and spiritualization. It is also been used as a medicine for animals especially in horse. However, love is also a popular theme of Mongolian music. It lasted a long time and loved by the Mongolians. Despite the wars and battles of the Mongolians, what is the history of their music? Is it influenced by the conquerors that surmount them or their tradition stay still? Mongolian music is an integral for Mongolia and Inner Mongolia. These had been used in haunting and communicating with their gods. Music is embedded in the nomadic lifestyle of Mongolia. Various form of Mongolian music is a wide collection. The lyrics of the song refer to the natural landscape and the beauty of their land. Their song is often sung to animals when they are travelling throughout the country side in the horseback and while herding animals. Traditional songs of Mongolian focus on all the subjects that are important in their nomad life such as horse, which is their noble animal. Their music is characterized by throat singing, epic songs, traditional short folk songs and traditional long songs. Epic song is about the stories of the...

Words: 912 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Poem

...Smiling is infectious Smiling is infectious You catch it like the flu When someone smiled at me today I started smiling too I walked around the corner And someone saw me grin When he smiled I realised I had passed it on to him I thought about the smile And then realised its worth A single smile like mine Could travel round the earth So if you feel a smile begin Don't leave it undetected Start an epidemic And get the world infected. Reason to Smile How can one smile such sweet smiles,  When one is so saddened by sorrows for miles,  How can I smile the same smiles,  When life brings me nothing but tears,  I wondered for so long,  What reason you had to smile that long,  To keep smiling though troubles come,  And still remain sweet and silently overcome,  It's such a mystery to me,  Your smiles from heaven with glee,  I adore and yet envy thee,  But I'd rather you smile those at me,  I feel happy when I see you smile,  Even if I'm sad and lonely,  Your smiles bring me somewhere,  I don't even know where,  But it was you,  You gave me the reason to smile,  To smile with no reason,  To smile for a smile,  I guess life is just like that,  We need not a reason to smile,  For a smile is the reason itself,  To rejoice and open-heartedly give thanks,  I learned to smile because of you,  Because your smiles bring me joy when blue,  It proves how well and powerful,  A simple sweet smile can become so beautiful,  Smile for the sake...

Words: 1930 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Poems

...contemporary biographical information and examples of literary output have survived. His story is related in the Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum ("Ecclesiastical History of the English People") by Bede who wrote, "there was in the Monastery of this Abbess a certain brother particularly remarkable for the Grace of God, who was wont to make religious verses, so that whatever was interpreted to him out of scripture, he soon after put the same into poetical expressions of much sweetness and humility in English, which was his native language. By his verse the minds of many were often excited to despise the world, and to aspire to heaven." Cædmon's only known surviving work is Cædmon's Hymn, the nine-line alliterative vernacular praise poem in...

Words: 3749 - Pages: 15

Free Essay

Poem

...| |Thursday, January 16th | |In class we’ll read the poem, “My Papa’s Waltz” by Roethke (274), practice textual analysis, and work on an | | | |outline. | | | |Homework: Pg. 276, questions 14-16, and “making an argument” 4; | | | |Read the poem, “Those Winter Sundays” by Hayden (13) and answer | | | |questions 1-6. | | | | | |Tuesday, January 21st | |In class we’ll re-read the poem, “Those Winter Sundays” by Hayden, look at an earlier draft, practice textual | | | |analysis, and work on an outline. | | | |Homework: choose one line from either poem that connects the most | |...

Words: 1547 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Poems

...Explore the ways different poets respond to the experiences of relationship in their poems. The poem "Nettles" by Vernon Scannel is about the narrator showing his thoughts and feelings when his son fell in a bed of nettles. The poem shows us that their relationship was strong and that they were close. The poet uses a metaphors to share his thoughts and feelings. An example of a metaphor is when the poet compares the nettles to be "green spears." The words "green spears" makes me think the nettle are like weapons that are razor-sharp. The use of colour imagery here with the "green" isn't used for pain. The colour green links with environment in this instance it is nature that has hurt his son. Another example of a metaphor is when he compares the nettles like soldiers dying in a army " fallen dead". This suggests that he is angry and upset because the nettles hurt his son. Also this suggests that he wants revenge by killing the nettles. Moreover, it suggests that he has killed the nettles and the nettles are thrashed! The poet describes the nettles like "nettle bed". The word "bed" suggests that the bed is comfy. The word bed is usually associated with soft, relaxing and warm. The word "nettle" is associate with sharp. The words " nettle bed" suggest that the poet son has fallen into a nettle bed and hurt himself Moreover, another example of a metaphor is when he compares the nettles like soldiers because in the text it says "fallen dead." This suggests that...

Words: 2455 - Pages: 10

Free Essay

Poems

...their unfaithful lovers than happiness. I’m not really surprise. Woman always find something to complain about when they don’t get what they want. There is difficulty in labeling the trobairitz as either amateurs or professionals. The distinction between these two roles was complicated in the medieval era, since professionals were generally lower class, and amateurs had as much time as professionals to devote to their craft. The poem written by the Contessa de Dia is a canso. When discussing troubadour and trobairitz poetry, it is important to realize that they were a piece of entertainment .These poems were largely of political or moral nature. The troubadour would sing or recite poetry while playing harp during the Medieval Period the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. These poems were about more than sex they were about intimacy. The poets would sing of longing, chivalry, a gentleness that we express even now when we speak of the art of love. I really like the poetry even the poems that sing of infidelity or wanting what is forbidden. With each poem or story you can envision what is felt. Troubadours and...

Words: 385 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Poem

...beamingnotes.com Optimized 16 minutes ago View original Refresh Menu Search Submit Our Casuarina Tree Analysis by Toru Dutt By Ishaan on July 29, 2013 5 SHARES 4 COMMENTS Analysis of Our Casuarina Tree by Toru Dutt Our Casuarina Tree is a poem by Toru Dutt which is about the Casuarina tree that grew in the poetess’ courtyard and her memories associated with it. Summary The poetess writes this in reminiscence of the Casuarina tree that grew in the courtyard of her childhood home. The poem opens with a description of the tree, tall enough to make it seem like it touches the stars, strong enough to continue growing despite scars on its trunk and despite all this it provides support to a creeper. And yet she gives it the air of a Gentleman when she describes how the tree is forever adorned with flowers and birds and bees. Thus we see the tree in her childhood was not only as a paragon of strength, but gentle and loved by the birds and bees. अब मीठे मना मत क जये सु एक गलास पानी म ल यह... को !हर बह म रोज २ पाउं घटाती ँय क म रात को सफ़ एक लास पीती ँ ड् स She goes on to tell us about the mornings in her childhood when she would wake up to the sight of the Casuarina Tree. Come summer or winter, her morning would remain incomplete without the sight of the Casuarina tree, often with a baboon sitting on its crest. She then paints a serene picture of the morning with the kokilas singing, the cows on the pasture and the water lilies in the spring. However, the figure of the Casuarina...

Words: 1019 - Pages: 5