If you read the poem from a couple weeks back, you may already know the poem For The Union Dead by Robert Lowell, for you slackers out there, here is a link:
http://robertlowellandco.blogspot.com/2009/05/for-union-dead.html
Once you've read that, come back, and read the most kick-a*s analytical essay ever written:
The poem, For The Union Dead, begins in a scene from Lowell’s more idyllic youth, with his nose pressed against the glass of the South Boston Aquarium, his hand itching to pop the bubbles, rising from the noses of the ‘cowed, compliant fish’.
In this way, we are given an idea of what Boston was like during his youth, a friendlier, fresh place to live. Lowell brings the reader back to the present with a jolt. The idyllic childhood image is juxtaposed against the new Boston. “My hand draws back. I often sigh still for the dark downward and vegetating kingdom of the fish and reptile.” In this quote Lowell muses about the closing, and subsequent degeneration of the Aquarium, from his childhood, where it was a friendly place to go, when in his mature years it has been forgotten in favour of urbanisation. The Aquarium is also a symbol of change all over the world, after the Second World War the world was in upheaval and global change was taking place, in the same way that the Aquarium is changing and falling apart. The new Boston is urban, galvanized with scaffolding holding up a building against the excavations for a car park going on underneath it, but with only a plank of wood holding up the statue dedicated to Colonel Shaw, one of the great heroes of the American Civil War.
Shaw led his infantry against the Confederacy, and gave his life fighting for what he thought was right, an end to slavery, and equality for Black Americans. Even though he made the ultimate sacrifice, his memorial isn’t valued very highly anymore and the progress of Society and the urbanisation of Boston must go ahead unabated “The Aquarium is gone. Everywhere, giant finned cars nose forward like fish; a savage servility slides by on grease.” This quote is so emotive because of the almost harsh language it uses, ‘savage servility’ and ‘Aquarium is gone’. In the same way even though war was highly glorified at the time, it has been commercialised, and become an almost shameful topic.
“On Boylston Street, a commercial photograph shows Hiroshima boiling over a Mosler Safe, the "Rock of Ages" that survived the blast.” This quote show the shameless, greedy way in which large companies have exploited the horrible end to the war, and used it to sell their product to people. And, despite Colonel Shaw’s best efforts even racism prevails: “When I crouch to my television set, the drained faces of Negro school-children rise like balloons.” Lowell refers to the end of educational segregation in the South, when a number of African American students fought to enter schools with their white peers. I believe this quote is so effective because of the way it invokes emotions for the “Negro” children who are still experiencing repression despite what their fore-fathers and Colonel Shaw gave their life for.
Lowell ensnares the reader in his nostalgic vision of the past and suddenly returns them to a brutal present. In this poem, Lowell makes a statement about his views on urbanisation, racism and commercialisation. What makes this poem so strikingly is the effective use of emotive language and use of emotions that this poem brings out in the reader; this is a great demonstration of Lowell’s ability to use such emotions in this way.
I know, awesome, right?
I bet you're wondering how I wrote this masterpiece, and I have one snippet of advice for you, read over what my fellow "author" has written, it is often a great help.
Thanks for reading,
Sam.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Poetry Analysis 101 – Linking Sentences
Ok, so you’ve written your brilliant poetry analysis and you’ve wrapped it all up with a neat little conclusion? But unfortunately your analysis doesn’t seem to flow from one topic to the other? Did you remember to link your paragraphs together in the form of a linking sentence?
A linking sentence is basically just introducing your next topic while concluding your last topic. It helps if the two topics share some form of common ground. For example you have written two paragraphs; one about the use of vivid imagery in the form of water and the other about rhythmic changes in the poem. A linking sentence could go something like this. The emotive language relating to water in this poem is compounded by the consistent rhythmic changes when discussing it. The rhythm changes from the broken and harsh speaking rhythm to a flowing harmonious rhythm when mentioning water…
They do not, however, have to be connected for this to work. You can always link two paragraphs by merely mentioning the next paragraph in the closing sentences of your current paragraph. For example you could be discussing how rhyming is used within the poem and about to discuss the negative portrayal of a certain character, it could go something like this. As well as the systematic patterns of rhyming words, the poems effectiveness is also helped by the negative portrayal of “______”...
Remember, linking sentences are a very important part of writing a professional sounding poetry analysis.
A linking sentence is basically just introducing your next topic while concluding your last topic. It helps if the two topics share some form of common ground. For example you have written two paragraphs; one about the use of vivid imagery in the form of water and the other about rhythmic changes in the poem. A linking sentence could go something like this. The emotive language relating to water in this poem is compounded by the consistent rhythmic changes when discussing it. The rhythm changes from the broken and harsh speaking rhythm to a flowing harmonious rhythm when mentioning water…
They do not, however, have to be connected for this to work. You can always link two paragraphs by merely mentioning the next paragraph in the closing sentences of your current paragraph. For example you could be discussing how rhyming is used within the poem and about to discuss the negative portrayal of a certain character, it could go something like this. As well as the systematic patterns of rhyming words, the poems effectiveness is also helped by the negative portrayal of “______”...
Remember, linking sentences are a very important part of writing a professional sounding poetry analysis.
Conclusion, The Final Frontier - Memories of West St and Lepke VII
This post is part of my poetry analysis on Robert Lowell's Memories of West Street and Lepke, the poem and original post can be found at: http://robertlowellandco.blogspot.com/2009/05/like-arrr-this-poems-about-like-jail.html
The poems effectiveness lies in Lowell’s ability to evoke an emotive response from the reader. This emotive response is aided by his change of rhythm and prose style writing when describing characters. This helps these aspects of the poem draw the desired ‘thoughtful’ response. The repetition of a theme (in this case fire) reminds the reader of the past verses and how they all fit together to create a meaning that may not be apparent when first read.
Overall it leaves the reader thinking that Lowell, while slightly cynical about his life, is grateful that he has it and while he is almost apologetic about his negligence towards his former morals he feels some redemption and forgiveness in the form of his daughter.
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As you can see, I have condensed, six body paragraphs into a small paragraph of it's own. I have linked my many objective and subjective responses together and used those responses to comment on the peoms effectiveness. I have brought forward no new ideas and have not used quotes.
The poems effectiveness lies in Lowell’s ability to evoke an emotive response from the reader. This emotive response is aided by his change of rhythm and prose style writing when describing characters. This helps these aspects of the poem draw the desired ‘thoughtful’ response. The repetition of a theme (in this case fire) reminds the reader of the past verses and how they all fit together to create a meaning that may not be apparent when first read.
Overall it leaves the reader thinking that Lowell, while slightly cynical about his life, is grateful that he has it and while he is almost apologetic about his negligence towards his former morals he feels some redemption and forgiveness in the form of his daughter.
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As you can see, I have condensed, six body paragraphs into a small paragraph of it's own. I have linked my many objective and subjective responses together and used those responses to comment on the peoms effectiveness. I have brought forward no new ideas and have not used quotes.
Lepke and Lowell, Seperated at Birth? - Memories of West St and Lepke VI
This post is part of my poetry analysis on Robert Lowell's Memories of West Street and Lepke, the poem and original post can be found at: http://robertlowellandco.blogspot.com/2009/05/like-arrr-this-poems-about-like-jail.html
Lowell portrays Czar Lepke as almost his equivalent in the poem but at the same time his polar opposite. They both have had a time of rebellion (albeit Lepke’s was more violent and worse that Lowell’s) and both were forced to remove themselves from their once comfortable lifestyles and into the tough environment of prison. They were then both placed in this over-calm state. Lepke being lobotomized physically (“Drifting in a sheepish calm”) but Lowell being almost mentally lobotomized by the times (“these are the tranquilised fifties”)
Finally they both found an escape from this state; Lowell through his daughter, this is made apparent by the line “Like the sun she rises” which suggests that she is essential to him and his survival. Lepke also finds an escape; through the electric chair (“ Where no agonizing reappraisal jarred his concentration on the electric chair, hanging like an oasis in his air, of lost connections…”).
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I have included this particular paragraph in my analysis because I feel that Lowell identifies with this particular character. The language he uses throughout the early verses and while describing Czar Lepke is very similar and hints at almost some kind of empathy, as if he knows how Lepke feels to some extent. I have backed up this opinoin with many quotes and their interpretations. You may notice I have not included a linking sentence as this is my final paragraph.
Lowell portrays Czar Lepke as almost his equivalent in the poem but at the same time his polar opposite. They both have had a time of rebellion (albeit Lepke’s was more violent and worse that Lowell’s) and both were forced to remove themselves from their once comfortable lifestyles and into the tough environment of prison. They were then both placed in this over-calm state. Lepke being lobotomized physically (“Drifting in a sheepish calm”) but Lowell being almost mentally lobotomized by the times (“these are the tranquilised fifties”)
Finally they both found an escape from this state; Lowell through his daughter, this is made apparent by the line “Like the sun she rises” which suggests that she is essential to him and his survival. Lepke also finds an escape; through the electric chair (“ Where no agonizing reappraisal jarred his concentration on the electric chair, hanging like an oasis in his air, of lost connections…”).
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I have included this particular paragraph in my analysis because I feel that Lowell identifies with this particular character. The language he uses throughout the early verses and while describing Czar Lepke is very similar and hints at almost some kind of empathy, as if he knows how Lepke feels to some extent. I have backed up this opinoin with many quotes and their interpretations. You may notice I have not included a linking sentence as this is my final paragraph.
Monday, May 18, 2009
It's a Rainbow of Colours Man, It's Burning My Eyes - Memories of West St and Lepke V
This post is part of my poetry analysis on Robert Lowell's Memories of West Street and Lepke, the poem and original post can be found at: http://robertlowellandco.blogspot.com/2009/05/like-arrr-this-poems-about-like-jail.html
He uses these references throughout the poem to describe characters and give the reader a feel of their personality. For example he uses the term “Jaundice yellow” to describe Abramowitz, portraying him as sickly, frail and weak. In turn, he used “chocolate brown” to describe the pimps’ suits. What comes to mind when we think of chocolate? Luxury and excess much like what the pimps had in prison. Finally he describes his daughter in “flame flamingo infants-wear” portraying her as bright and bubbly.
He not only uses these terms to describe people he met but also to describe himself. The main use of vivid imagery in the poem is the repeated references to fire. The words “I was a fire-breathing catholic C.O” help signify his fiery passion to the reader. He uses another reference to fire later in the poem, while in prison he references soot (“through sooty clothesline entanglements”). This soot represents the dissipation or ‘burning out’ of his passion, this soot is what is left over. Fire is once again mentioned in the poem right back at the start in the description of his daughter (“Like the sun she rises in her flame flamingo infants-wear”). These lines not only portray her as bright and bubbly but as his renewed passion in life, the phoenix that rose from the soot and ash. This does however come at a price; he seems utterly dispassionate about everything else much like the lobotomized Czar Lepke. This is why his daughter is so important in this poem; she becomes an outlet for his passion in these ‘tranquilised times’, something Lepke did not have.
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This paragraph is used in much the same way as the one about the frequent use of juxtapostion. If a poet uses a particular example of vivid imagery or emotive language it is important to include it. The use of colours and of the element of fire has a deeper meaning that to help the reader visualise the scene at hand. In this paragraph I needed more direct quotations than ever because you cannot simply explain vivid imagery it has to be shown. Finally, I have used the last few sentances to link my paragraph to the next one.
He uses these references throughout the poem to describe characters and give the reader a feel of their personality. For example he uses the term “Jaundice yellow” to describe Abramowitz, portraying him as sickly, frail and weak. In turn, he used “chocolate brown” to describe the pimps’ suits. What comes to mind when we think of chocolate? Luxury and excess much like what the pimps had in prison. Finally he describes his daughter in “flame flamingo infants-wear” portraying her as bright and bubbly.
He not only uses these terms to describe people he met but also to describe himself. The main use of vivid imagery in the poem is the repeated references to fire. The words “I was a fire-breathing catholic C.O” help signify his fiery passion to the reader. He uses another reference to fire later in the poem, while in prison he references soot (“through sooty clothesline entanglements”). This soot represents the dissipation or ‘burning out’ of his passion, this soot is what is left over. Fire is once again mentioned in the poem right back at the start in the description of his daughter (“Like the sun she rises in her flame flamingo infants-wear”). These lines not only portray her as bright and bubbly but as his renewed passion in life, the phoenix that rose from the soot and ash. This does however come at a price; he seems utterly dispassionate about everything else much like the lobotomized Czar Lepke. This is why his daughter is so important in this poem; she becomes an outlet for his passion in these ‘tranquilised times’, something Lepke did not have.
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This paragraph is used in much the same way as the one about the frequent use of juxtapostion. If a poet uses a particular example of vivid imagery or emotive language it is important to include it. The use of colours and of the element of fire has a deeper meaning that to help the reader visualise the scene at hand. In this paragraph I needed more direct quotations than ever because you cannot simply explain vivid imagery it has to be shown. Finally, I have used the last few sentances to link my paragraph to the next one.
Lay Us Down a Sick Beat Bro - Memories of West St and Lepke IV
This post is part of my poetry analysis on Robert Lowell's Memories of West Street and Lepke, the poem and original post can be found at: http://robertlowellandco.blogspot.com/2009/05/like-arrr-this-poems-about-like-jail.html
Lowell begins his poem with a very harmonious and flowing rhythm which helped to create the calm and relaxed mood but this all changed when he began writing about his time in jail. He uses the line “Ought I regret my seedtime?” as a pivot point between these two rhythmic styles; there seems to be a gap mid-phrase when read. The rhythm that follows is both harsher and somewhat broken. For example the words “Given a year” seem like only a fragment of a line.
He also breaks rhythm in this section; when describing people he writes in an almost prose style. For example rhythm is broken when describing Czar Lepke’s cell (“or dawdling of to his little segregated cell full of things forbidden to the common man: a portable radio, a dresser, two toy American flags tied together with a ribbon of Easter Palm”). He does this to create an even greater feel of realism which you can easily get from prose style writing as opposed to flowing poetry. He also helps create this vivid and realistic picture by placing a variety of references to colour and other certain elements.
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Rhythm and Rhyme are both brilliant contributers to a poems effectiveness and any aspects of it that do so should be included. In this instance there is a stark contrast between two sections of the poem and the rhythm is broken occaisionally in favour of prose style writing. Emotive words can be used when talking about rhythm and rhyme to accompany the objective facts given but you need to back them up with quote. As always I have ended the paragraph with a linking sentence.
Lowell begins his poem with a very harmonious and flowing rhythm which helped to create the calm and relaxed mood but this all changed when he began writing about his time in jail. He uses the line “Ought I regret my seedtime?” as a pivot point between these two rhythmic styles; there seems to be a gap mid-phrase when read. The rhythm that follows is both harsher and somewhat broken. For example the words “Given a year” seem like only a fragment of a line.
He also breaks rhythm in this section; when describing people he writes in an almost prose style. For example rhythm is broken when describing Czar Lepke’s cell (“or dawdling of to his little segregated cell full of things forbidden to the common man: a portable radio, a dresser, two toy American flags tied together with a ribbon of Easter Palm”). He does this to create an even greater feel of realism which you can easily get from prose style writing as opposed to flowing poetry. He also helps create this vivid and realistic picture by placing a variety of references to colour and other certain elements.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rhythm and Rhyme are both brilliant contributers to a poems effectiveness and any aspects of it that do so should be included. In this instance there is a stark contrast between two sections of the poem and the rhythm is broken occaisionally in favour of prose style writing. Emotive words can be used when talking about rhythm and rhyme to accompany the objective facts given but you need to back them up with quote. As always I have ended the paragraph with a linking sentence.
Juxtapose This! - Memories of West Street and Lepke III
This post is part of my poetry analysis on Robert Lowell's Memories of West Street and Lepke, the poem and original post can be found at: http://robertlowellandco.blogspot.com/2009/05/like-arrr-this-poems-about-like-jail.html
Juxtaposition is the act of putting two contrasting words, phrases, characters or ideas together in the aim of making a contrast. Lowell does this by juxtaposing himself against a common criminal (“A Negro boy with curlicues of marijuana in his hair”) to accent how by being a conscientious objector (C.O) had brought him down to the level of a common criminal and the fact that this is what he wanted, casting away the easy life he once had.
In fact the entire poem juxtaposes his life now with his life in prison, aided by the melancholy, wistful air and his musing which seems to scream ‘what if?’. He mentions that the entire exercise yard in prison was only as large as his school soccer court and how disrespected he is in jail compared to the respect he had in his former life and his life after prison.
He emphasised this contrast by adding several other juxtapositions in the poem. The line “I yammered metaphysics” does not accurately portray prison life at all but that is where he is. That line also serves a secondary function; it tells the reader that Lowell feels he has an equal companion in prison that he can ‘yammer’ with. He also juxtaposes Ambramowitz (“Fly weight pacifist”) with the ‘Hollywood pimps’ Bioff and Brown (“Hairy, muscular, suburban”). Czar Lepke’s lobotomized state is contrasted against his former power when Lowell mentions the special items in his cell. The electric chair is also described as an escape for Czar (“Hanging like an oasis in his air”). These juxtapositions are made even more obvious by the rhythmic changes in the poem.
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This paragraph in the analysis is used to point out the frequent use of juxtapostion in the poem. It is important to point out (in an analysis) a particular technique if it is used numerous times throughout the poem and if it alters it's effectiveness. Once again, backing up your opinion with evidence in the form of direct quotations is invaluable and if the technique is somewhat obscure it is best to explain it. Finally, I have again used my last sentance as a link to my next paragraph.
Juxtaposition is the act of putting two contrasting words, phrases, characters or ideas together in the aim of making a contrast. Lowell does this by juxtaposing himself against a common criminal (“A Negro boy with curlicues of marijuana in his hair”) to accent how by being a conscientious objector (C.O) had brought him down to the level of a common criminal and the fact that this is what he wanted, casting away the easy life he once had.
In fact the entire poem juxtaposes his life now with his life in prison, aided by the melancholy, wistful air and his musing which seems to scream ‘what if?’. He mentions that the entire exercise yard in prison was only as large as his school soccer court and how disrespected he is in jail compared to the respect he had in his former life and his life after prison.
He emphasised this contrast by adding several other juxtapositions in the poem. The line “I yammered metaphysics” does not accurately portray prison life at all but that is where he is. That line also serves a secondary function; it tells the reader that Lowell feels he has an equal companion in prison that he can ‘yammer’ with. He also juxtaposes Ambramowitz (“Fly weight pacifist”) with the ‘Hollywood pimps’ Bioff and Brown (“Hairy, muscular, suburban”). Czar Lepke’s lobotomized state is contrasted against his former power when Lowell mentions the special items in his cell. The electric chair is also described as an escape for Czar (“Hanging like an oasis in his air”). These juxtapositions are made even more obvious by the rhythmic changes in the poem.
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This paragraph in the analysis is used to point out the frequent use of juxtapostion in the poem. It is important to point out (in an analysis) a particular technique if it is used numerous times throughout the poem and if it alters it's effectiveness. Once again, backing up your opinion with evidence in the form of direct quotations is invaluable and if the technique is somewhat obscure it is best to explain it. Finally, I have again used my last sentance as a link to my next paragraph.
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