Fissured perception in Beachy Head Beachy Head, Charlotte Smith’s swan song of a poem, was published in 1807. Differing opinions on the poem’s seeming incompleteness betray an underlying fissured element- an element at once tangible and intangible, parting its way through the substratum of 19th century notions on gender, poetics, aesthetics, history and science. Smith intended Beachy Head to be the “local subject” (Fry 31) on which she would rivet her Fancy and her theme. However, like an unrestrained coil spiraling outwards, the poem is anything but fixed. There is liquidity, apropos to the setting by the Sussex shoreline, which creates a flux between temporal, spatial and factual elements, thereby strengthening the schismatic politics …show more content…
This geological marvel bursts unto the scene and unto the vision of any who approaches the mainland, in a manner akin to the ‘Big Bang’ of cosmological evolution. It is arresting, a sight that can scarce escape the notice of anyone in the vicinity. Such an invocation plays the dual role of establishing Smith’s authoritative voice- her imprint on the poem, her mimicry of a predominantly masculine epic poetic form- and of attributing an elevation to her muse (the Beachy Head). Traditionally female, the attachment of regality [“Imperial lord of the high southern coast” (11)] to the muse would constitute a dramatic ‘talk back’ to the existing power structures between the sexes. Furthermore, the rigidity of perceiving sexed objects is considerably fractured through such reversals. Thus in the very first lines, burgeoning cracks begin to appear at the foundation of gendered convictions which were prevalent during Smith’s time. Crickenberger says, in Wandering Around in Beachy Head, that the looming promontory is “not a place to be built up stone on top of stone in the mind of the reader, but a colossal force to be reckoned with all at once—like the imagination of the poet herself” (3). Imagination is rooted in a feminine source and let loose at will by Smith- a self-sanctioning of
He describes the Devon as a form of pureness where they could have fun all summer just as boyhood is filtered from the pollutants of the real world where adolescents have freedom to enjoy the purity of life and chase passions and goals. Knowles also writes how the Devon’s course is determined by hills and parts of the landscape unlike the Naguamsett whose course is controlled by “unimaginable factors” similar
Michelle Cliff’s short story Down the Shore conspicuously deals with a particularly personal and specific, deeply psychological experience, in order to ultimately sub-textually create a metaphor regarding a wider issue of highly social nature. More specifically, the development of the inter-dependent themes of trauma, exploitation, as well as female vulnerability, which all in the case in question pertain to one single character, also latently extend over to the wider social issue of colonialism and its entailing negative repercussions, in this case as it applies to the Caribbean and the British Empire. The story’s explicit personal factor is developed through the literary techniques of repetition, symbolism, metaphor, as well as slightly warped albeit telling references to a distinct emotional state, while its implicit social factor is suggested via the techniques of allusion, so as to ultimately create a generally greater, undergirding metaphor.
Nikky Finney's book Head Off and Split is a work of art in every sense. It combines both historical elements and personal elements. She shines the light on our countries habit of oppressing and enslaving African Americans. She masterfully weaves together the history of the time and her own memories in an unabashed way that lays bare the wrongdoings of our country. Forcing the reader to see part of our history that is often glossed and skimmed over in conventional textbooks.
John Brehm does not mean a geographical body of water, but rather that the way people are unsure about faith and the level of believing, as though one is drifting on water without the reassurance of firm ground beneath his or her feet. The comparison made is people’s faith to a full body of water. In realism world, a sea is a wide and deep body of water as far as the eye can see. The author in this poem intends to give a reader a clear image of people’s faith which is like an unending body of water which is always full. John Brehm also goes further to use the
The poem “History Lesson” written by Natasha Trethewey has a unique form of style and rhythm that causes the reader to rely more on their comprehension of the story than the presented facts. Specifically, in the beginning of the poem the writer describes herself standing, with her hands on her hips in a flowered bikini while her grandmother, beaming, takes a photograph of her. In the middle of the poem she states that the beach has recently been opened to people like her and her grandmother. Finally, at the very end of the poem she says “Forty years since the photograph where she stood on a narrow plot of sand marked colored, smiling, her hands on the flowered hips of a cotton meal-sack dress.” The writer formatted this poem in a way where she did not put the information together in order to create ambiguity.
In the first stanza, Harwood tells about a memory that was told to her by someone else. It was a memory of her father taking her to the beach. The uncertain tone in the first half of the first stanza and the definite tone in the second half of the stanza emphasises the importance of the emotions she felt at the time of the event rather what happened. The imagery of the beach is portrayed as fearful - ‘sea’s edge’ can represent the danger of life and mystery
The poem, Useless Boys,is one that portrays a feeling of indignation, rebellion and finally, understanding by two boys who grew up with bitter views of their fathers’ onerous jobs. The narrator believes that the only reason his father stays at his job is for the money. In his naivety the son does not realize that at times living selfishly is the way things have to be. Sometimes commitments are made in a self-sacrificial and cowardly manner. No matter how “wrecking” his father’s career, he stays in order to provide for his family.
Contrasting images are used between the beginning and end of the poem. At first, the speaker is described as standing on a “wide strip of the Mississippi beach,” (Trethewey l. 2) while her grandmother is standing on a “narrow plot of sand.” It symbolizes the freedom the speaker now compared to the confinement and limited opportunities her grandmother experienced. Natasha Trethewey uses mood, symbolism, and
The usage of imagery evocative of power and prestige at the start of the poem sets the initial focus to the outer shell of the crab,
He could imagine his deception of this town “nestled in a paper landscape,” (Collins 534). This image of the speaker shows the first sign of his delusional ideas of the people in his town. Collins create a connection between the speaker’s teacher teaching life and retired life in lines five and six of the poem. These connections are “ chalk dust flurrying down in winter, nights dark as a blackboard,” which compares images that the readers can picture.
In the poem “Ego-Tripping” by Nikki Giovanni, she normalizes her worth by continuing to royalist herself as a black woman who is essential to mankind. Giovanni creates a vision throughout the poem, which leaves a thought in mind of how woman should look at themselves with much confidence as Giovanni does. “Ego Tripping” was written by Yolande Cornelia “Nikki” Giovanni, Jr. who was born in Knoxville, Tennessee on June 7, 1943. G9iovanni is a writer, poet, activist, and educator whose work was influenced during the Black Power Movements and the Civil Rights Movement. The poem was released in 2002.
In his essay “Here,” Philip Larkin uses many literary devices to convey the speaker’s attitude toward the places he describes. Larkin utilizes imagery and strong diction to depict these feelings of both a large city and the isolated beach surrounding it. In the beginning of the passage, the speaker describes a large town that he passes through while on a train. The people in the town intrigue him, but he is not impressed by the inner-city life.
When you are in love you naturally have the desire of wanting to do things, anything, for the other person to make them happy. And usually, you do. But, for some people, the perpetuity of having things done for them is not as appealing as it once was. And now you are feeling useless because the person you love does not want what you have to offer anymore.
“Bishop’s carefully judged use of language aids the reader to uncover the intensity of feeling in her poetry.” Elizabeth Bishop’s superb use of language in her introspective poetry allows the reader to grasp a better understand of feeling in her poetry. Bishop’s concentration of minor details led to her being referred to as a “miniaturist”, however this allows her to paint vivid imagery, immersing the reader in her chosen scenario. Through descriptive detail, use of metaphor, simile, and many other excellently executed stylistic devices, the reader can almost feel the emotion being conveyed. Bishop clearly demonstrates her innate talent to communicate environments at ease.
rugged coastline, and this invigorating walk links two of the most attractive coastal villages found on its shores. Before leaving Runswick Bay, take a few moments to appreciate the outstanding views. The entire length of Runswick Bay’s beautiful sandy beach stretches out below, and in the distance, the inviting headland of Kettleness beckons. In the lower part of the village, which we explore more intimately in walk four, clusters of gleaming, red-roofed cottages huddle together on the steep hillside, linked by a maze of narrow pedestrian alleyways. From the car park, we follow the road into Hinderwell, which apparently takes its name from ‘Hild’s well’, a holy well in the grounds of St Hilda’s Church.