Many parallels can be drawn between Rita Dove’s “Persephone, Falling” and “Demeter, Waiting”. For instance, the titles of the two poems are very similar. Persephone is falling into the underworld and Demeter is waiting for her return. While the two poems are separate pieces, there seems to be a subtle dialogue between the two. “Persephone, Falling” illustrates the horror that was the abduction of Persephone, while “Demeter, Waiting” depicts Demeter’s motherly instinct of dread when her child is taken from her. The two poems can be seen as reflections of each other, not only in content, but in syntax as well. “Persephone, Falling” is an indefinable sonnet; it contains an octave followed by a sestet. “Demeter, Waiting” is also an indefinable sonnet, but consists of a sestet followed by an octave. This represents how Demeter’s whole perspective was completely altered and explains how she made such rash decisions in response to Persephone’s abduction. “Demeter, Waiting” begins with the word ‘no’ and ends with the word ‘yes’. This shows Demeter’s shift in attitude over the course of the poem. She is obviously outraged at the situation. This anger is illustrated through the use of profanity and violent diction. Demeter states that she “will wail and thrash// until the whole goddamned golden panorama freezes”(12-13). This could represent her supernatural powers coming into play: her control of the seasons. Since she is so heartbroken over Persephone’s absence, Demeter “drag[s] [her] grief through a winter...refus[ing]// any meadow that recycles itself into// hope”(8-11). She is beyond the point of hope, and has accepted defeat, yet she will still wait for Persephone. The poem then ends with the word ‘yes’ to show her transition towards a more hopeful attitude, as opposed to her sorrowful feeling in the beginning of the poem revealed by the first word, ‘no’.
I agree with your comment about the parallels between these two poems. Also the use of sonnet in such a chaotic and sorrowful poem is striking to me. It emphasizes the motif of a mother and child relationship that is present in many of her poems. The allusion to the Greek myth makes a connection with a mother and child relationship no matter what century the poem is read in.
That's an interesting analysis about the use of sonnet that I had not previously considered. I agree with you that these poems are easy to make a connection to because of the common theme and the timelessness of it.
The most prominent thing about this poem is the use of a sonnet, This format juxtaposes with the chaotic and violent nature of the poem, “Primer”. The use of sonnet can also be seen as a use of irony because the description of a schoolyard scuffle is not formal enough for a sonnet. The poem describes a girl that is bullied and feels as though she cannot stand up for herself. Instead her mom has to stand up for her. The first part of the poem is ironic because she is bullied for being skinny by “three skinny sisters”. Most schoolyard bullies make fun of something to make for their own insecurities and is shown in the irony of her bullying. The irony of her “five-foot-zero mother” driving in her Cadillac to “shake them down for size” . She is mortified that her mother has to fight her battles and is relatable for many preteens who wish they could grow up stand up for themselves. The poem ends with the line “I’d shown them all: I would grow up”, this line is one of the main reasons why I chose this poem. Teenagers especially, hurry to want to leave their parents and go off to college. The cycle of wanting to be independent then when you are finally independent realizing all the things you miss about home is what this poem almost warns about. Irony is constantly used throughout the poem and emphasizes the irony of the final line. Dove is warning against the want to grow up and instead wants adolescents to enjoy their time living with their parents because it’s fleeting.
While reading this poem, something that intrigued me from the beginning was the meaning of the title “Wiederkehr.” So, after I was done reading the poem I looked it up and was surprised that it meant recurrence or repetition. I thought this had a major effect of the meaning. The lines 9 and 10 reads “and thought he saw how still I sat to hold the rain untouched inside me.” I think this line releases the manipulation idea that is put forth in this poem. I think repetition and the manipulation of love go hand in hand. It goes along with the idea of love versus lust. This is highlighted in lines 4 through 7 when the speaker describes physical traits as a the main point of her affection. She is losing herself in the physical elements and is indulging in the spiral of manipulation. Something that also can be related to Wiederkehr or repetition, is the connotations of rain. The idea of rain renewing everything it touched is controlled by the manipulation of lust in this poem. Also rain can be thought along with sadness. So in the line 10, the speaker says that the rain was untouched. I think that shows that the girl is not feeling her true emotions, her mind is clouded by the manipulation.
Wiederkehr by Rita Dove is a sonnet entitled with a translation meaning ‘repetition’. This poem illustrates the relationship between Hades and Persephone and his lust for her. The title itself refers to the repeated visits Persephone is forced to make in the original myth. At the beginning of the poem, Dove talks about how happy Persephone makes Hades feel, and how he merely hopes to “smell/rain;” (Line 9) This seems to mean he hopes for rain because during the fall/winter it rains, and with the coming of rain marks the coming of Persephone. The line “his eyes caressed.” (Line 7) however, seems to be a more sexual statement. At the end of the poem, Persephone is able to leave, and so she did. She still had to return, though, again referring to the title of the poem due to the repetition. This poem depicts how Hades manipulated Persephone since she was never able to fully escape his grasp. It also is representative of her dislike of Hades.
I agree with your analysis of Dove’s “Wiederkehr”. When I first read the lines about Hades hoping to smell rain, I thought of it as rain being something temporary. It may rain and rain for days on end, but it always stops at some point. I thought of rain as symbolizing impermanence. The rain comes and goes, but he wants to smell it, because when there is rain, Persephone is with him. However, I agree with your analysis more, with relation to the seasons and the agreement about Persephone’s time in the underworld in the original myth. The motif of rain is repeated later in the poem when Dove writes “I sat to hold the rain untouched / inside me”, however I believe this time it has a different connotation. This second mentioning of rain is to show how Persephone wants to cry. I also agree with your statement about the line “his eyes caressed” having a sexual context. The first few lines show Hades’ lust for Persephone; they show that “he only wanted [her] for happiness”.
In the poem, Sonnet in Primary Colors Dove uses allusion to paint an image about Frida Kahlo’s life. One of the literary devices used is bird imagery in order to convey the Frida Kahlo allusion. “With one black wing perched over her eye”(1-2), “wing” is a symbol for eyebrow because Frida was known for her thick eyebrows that can be seen in her self-portraits. Another use of bird imagery is, “Lovely Frida, erect among parrots”(3-4). This is used to describe Frida as someone who was unique and different from most people. A lot of her work is colorful and the image of parrots plays to the theme of her artwork. This poem uses imagery to paint the picture of Frida Kahlo’s life just like she would paint herself. “Wildflowers entwining her plaster corset,”(5) is an example of this imagery that Dove used. Frida Kahlo was in a bus crash and injured her spine because of this she had to wear a plastic cast that held her spine in place. The use of “wildflowers” surrounding her plastic corset romanticizes the sterile and rigid plastic corset. “Lenin and Marx and Stalin arrayed at the footstead,”(9) is another use of imagery that adds to the allusion. Frida was a member of the Mexican Communist Party and is known for supporting Stalin. Frida’s political views made her unique and the image of three Communist leaders at the end of her bed adds to the unique tone of the poem. Another literary device that adds to allusion of Frida Kahlo’s life is the irony of the title “Sonnet in Primary Colors”. There are only thirteen lines in the poem making it an imperfect sonnet, despite the fact that the poem has “Sonnet” in the title. The life of Frida Kahlo was odd and unlike many women at the time, as a dedication to her Dove did not make it a complete sonnet. This does not discount the legacy of Frida Kahlo, but instead adds to it because she is known for creating things that are outside of the box and the title compliments this.
I agree with your analysis of “Sonnet in Primary Colors”. I especially liked your analysis of why Dove titled this poem “Sonnet in Primary Colors” but only used 13 lines. I agree with your reasoning on why she did this. Another reason why Dove purposely wrote only 13 lines yet titled it as a sonnet could be because Frida Kahlo’s life was cut short due to health reasons. She lived to be only 47 and in her later years, her deteriorating health didn’t stop her from continuing active political participation. Since she seemed nowhere near ready to stop living, her poor health cut her life short which is represented by the “sonnet” being cut short at just 13 lines. However, some people believe that Kahlo overdosed; many believe this was a suicide attempt. I agree with your statement that Kahlo’s life was odd and unlike many other women of her time. I believe that this is reflected in some of Dove’s other works, as she has written poems about influential women: Frida Kahlo, Billie Holiday and Rosa Parks.
I agree with your analysis and find it to be interesting how the title didn't exactly match up with the structure of the poem. I also appreciate the insight you offered as to explain the bird imagery. It's interesting how many different aspects of Kahlo's life can be related to birds, and how many different messages were able to be communicated within one poem. You rock Tay. Ily BIBB
Rita Dove’s poem “Canary” beautifully describes African American singer Billie Holiday’s voice as having “as many shadows as lights”(2). This contrast of light and shadow represents the constant roller coaster that Holiday’s life was, especially pertaining to her perpetual substance abuse and addiction. The juxtaposition of “a mournful candelabra against a sleek piano” (3) creates the impression of a hard, coarse addiction contrasted with the sleek, lavish life of a musician. The “gardenia” Dove writes of in line 4 describes Holiday’s signature flower and how she may have used it to cover her imperfections. This first stanza serves mainly as imagery which describes Holiday’s voice and gives some insight into her background and addiction. The second stanza extended the context of her addiction with substance abuse related fiction such as “cooking” (5) and “magic spoon, magic needle” (6). The final line of the poem, “If you can't be free, be a mystery” (11) alludes to the severe discrimination Holiday faced because she was African American. Since many African Americans dealt with racial prejudice against them (including Holiday), they could not be free, and Dove’s solution to this was to keep to yourself and remain a mystery, so as to escape the discrimination. The title “Canary” can allude to many things, including caged birds, songbirds and canaries in coal mines. The image of a caged bird could represent the severe discrimination African Americans faces before the civil rights era, and how they were severely oppressed and trapped much like a caged bird. The title may also allude to a songbird, related to Holiday’s career as an artist. Another connotation the title “Canary” may have is how canaries were brought down into coal mines to indicate when there were toxic gases in the mine. Once the canary died (the fumes affected the canary before humans), the miners knew it was unsafe, and began making the trip back up to the surface. In a way, the mine canaries could be a symbol for the discrimination of African Americans. Miners’ lives not being at risk because the canaries’ lives were sacrificed symbolizes how white people were in power at the expense of African American’s civil and human rights.
Catherine of Alexandria was a saint who had a vision at the age of 18 to convert to Christianity. She opposed Maxentius, who eventually imprisoned her and then sentenced her to death. In the third and fourth lines, the poem states “no wonder sainthood/ came as a voice” (Dove) This is referring to St. Catherine’s vision. It is widely known that St. Catherine was a virgin and it can be assumed that this was a choice due to her devotion to Christ. The poem also mentions that “what went on/ each night was fit/ for nobody’s ears/ but Jesus’.” This hints toward the fact that whatever was happening in St. Catherine’s bed was unholy and unacceptable to society due to her high ranking in the religious world. The parts of the poem which refer to Jesus’ breath of a lily and a ring of milk can be interpreted as sexual innuendoes. Jesus’ breath of a lily refers to smelling of a flower, or vagina. In literature, flowers often allude to vaginas. In the other mentioned part, “a ring of milk,” Dove alludes to vaginal discharge as a result of sexual relations. She is attempting to communicate St. Catherine of Alexandria’s fantasies with Jesus, and names it “a kept promise,” since she was a devout Christian virgin, and since her fantasies included Christ himself. The first two lines have to do with the limited access to freedom and knowledge of women of that time period. This is the reason which lead St. Catherine to know of nothing more than a voice in her own head, or in this case, bed. During Jesus’ life, he was persecuted for his religious beliefs, and this is also why Dove mentions “His spiraling/ pain.” St. Catherine is able to relate to Jesus and his dedication and devotion to his beliefs, which makes him attractive to her in more than a religious aspect.
I think this poem was really interesting because I saw it as Dove commenting on double standards in society about women's sexuality. Despite the fact that this was about a woman in medieval times I think it also alludes to the double standards that occur today. Catherine of Alexandria grew up in a society where the point of women were to have children and be mothers. Although it is a little off-putting that she included Jesus in her fantasy, to many girls this was the only man they were allowed to talk to. I think your analysis of the allusions and innuendos was very accurate to the overall meaning of the poem.
In the poem “Abduction” Dove outlines the abduction of Solomon Northrup, a free black man, who is forced into slavery. “Abduction” is an allusion to the true story of Solomon Northrup whose life is outlined in the memoir 12 Years a Slave. There is a lot of allusion to the true story of Solomon’s abduction such as, “Free papers in my pocket, violin/under arm, my new friends Brown and Hamilton by my side”(4-5). Solomon was free, thus increasing the gravity of his eventual capture and a violinist. The people he met, Brown and Hamilton, told him that they were in the entertainment business and wanted him to join their circus, so took him to Washington D.C., where slavery was legal, making it easier for his capture. He was then drugged by his companions, “Then the wine, like a pink lake, tipped”(11). Wine is usually associated with joy and merriment, but instead Solomon was drugged, displaying the irony of him viewing the wine as joy. The tone of the poem changes as it goes on as seen through imagery and syntax. The poem begins with a happy and optimistic scene of Washington D.C. as Solomon believes he is getting work, “The bells, the cannons, the houses black with crepe, /all for the the great Harrison”(1-2). By the last sentence the tone of the poem has completely changed from joyous to dark and void of hope, “I woke and found myself alone, in the darkness and in chains”(14). The stanzas of “Abduction” are organized so that each stanza has one less line than the previous stanza and has fifteen lines, making it an imperfect sonnet. This syntax represents the loss of hope as each event leading up to Solomon’s capture occurs. The situation is spiraled out of control and eventually he found himself alone in a dungeon, chained.
I agree with your analysis of “Abduction”. Your perspective on the syntax and stanza structure of the poem was very thought provoking. I agree with your analysis that it shows the loss of hope throughout Solomon’s transition back into the cycle of slavery; I hadn’t thought of it that way until I read your analysis of the poem. I also hadn’t previously considered the irony of the wine and celebration which caused Solomon’s abduction. I specifically remember the scene from the movie, Twelve Years a Slave, when Solomon, Hamilton and Brown were eating and drinking the night away in celebration of Solomon finding work. The juxtaposition between that scene and the following scene where Solomon was chained to the wall in a cell is similar in the poem to the difference in each stanza, getting shorter and less hopeful. This transition can also be seen through the change in tone, as you mentioned.
In Dove’s poem “Rosa”, she recounts the story of Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat to a white person on a Montgomery public bus. The simple act of staying seated became an iconic beacon of empowerment among African Americans during the Civil Rights era. Dove’s poem “Rosa” greatly understates the importance of Rosa Parks’ actions. The poem is vague enough that the reader needs background knowledge on the historical context of the situation in order to understand some of the details Dove used. For example, in line 9, the “camera flash” alludes to the iconic picture of Rosa Parks sitting at the front of the bus, refusing to stand up. The significance of the title just being “Rosa” as opposed to her full name, Rosa Parks, is to show how this poem is a personal retelling of her story. The use of her first name only shows the familiarity for Parks; this is also seen in the detail of the poem. While it is vague, there are lots of seemingly unnecessary details which in fact, add to the overall tone of the poem. The tone created was very serene yet powerful: an allegory for Parks’ peaceful yet powerful protest. This tone is especially strong in the line, “Doing nothing was the doing” (7). By doing nothing (remaining seated), she was doing everything for the Civil Rights cause.
The first stanza reiterates how Parks was in the wrong place at the right time. This is counterintuitive to the common phrases, “being in the wrong place at the wrong time” or “being in the right place at the right time”. The paradoxical theme continues in line 3, when Dove describes Montgomery as “so wrong it was ready”. The “trim name” referred to in line 4 alludes to Rosa Parks’ short, simple name. Dove uses synecdoche in the line, “its dream of a bench”. Dove is exhibiting how Parks dreams of a “bench” which represents a place for African Americans to have equal opportunity, starting with public transit. The sentence “Her sensible coat” shows how Parks was a humble, sensible woman, which may seem illogical because she did protest and hold her ground on a very pressing issue of a time. The third stanza emphasizes the importance of her simple action. It also includes some tangible details about the iconic picture mentioned previously. There are also some examples of alliteration in the third stanza with the words “clean”(8), “carved” (9) and “camera” (9). The final stanza describes the simple action of someone picking up Parks’ purse, which is a seemingly unrelated detail, but is in fact important. The final line shows how, despite the shocking amount of discrimination and prejudice in the south in the 1950s, there was still dignity in the world.
“The Abduction” by Rita Dove contains 15 lines and five stanzas, each stanza decreasing by one line as the poem progresses. The poem represents the story of Solomon Northup, a black man born free in Saratoga Springs, New York, who was lured by a business offer to Washington D.C.. He was manipulated by two men and poisoned and beaten until he blacked out. When he awoke, he had been sold as a slave. The story, as Dove tells it, describes Northup’s life in progression. Beginning with his success and liberty before his abduction. The second stanza conveys Solomon’s thoughts about the business men and their proposal and the third illustrates what Northup had felt when he was poisoned. The fourth stanza tells of his unconsciousness while the fifth and final line and stanza illustrates his surroundings as a slave when he had awoken. Each stanza decreases in length to show Northup’s diminishing hope and faith in life. This poem is not a sonnet, unlike many of Dove’s other poems and I believe it may be to convey to the reader that this story should be considered exceptionally and specially. The structure of the poem also identifies with itself. There are five stanzas, with the first stanza including five lines and the fifth stanza including one line. The poem itself is backwards, just as is the story of Solomon Northup. The structure illustrates the backward working of slavery in America. A man born free, makes his way backward into the horrors of slavery. This poem also works backward from a lively mood to a dark, simple, and depressing one.
Rita Dove’s poem “Parsley” shows two different perspectives of the killing which resulted from the Parsley Massacre of 1937. The two parts of the poem showcase the two different perspectives. The first part of the poem, titled “The Cane Fields” is told from the perspective of the Haitian workers who worked in the cane fields. The Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo “El General” (the general) chose to kill Haitians if they could not pronounce the Spanish word for parsley, “perejil”. In the first part of the poem, the lines about a “parrot imitating spring” and “out of the swamp, the cane appears” were repeated every 5 or so lines. The parrot imitating spring can represent multiple things. The parrot can represent a wealthy person’s pet, as a bird is not the typical house pet. The parrot imitating spring can also represent the color green, as spring is often associated with rebirth, growth and green. This connection to the color green can also return to the idea that the parrot represents wealth. This bird diction is also a repetition of Dove’s line in “Sonnet in Primary Colors” about Frida Kahlo being erect among parrots. The first stanza tells of the horrors endured in the massacre. The cane “haunted [the workers]” (Dove 4), showing how their work was practically slavery. There is another allusion to slavery in a later line when Dove recounts of the “lash[ing]”(16) rain. The word lash and other violent sounding diction alludes to whips or other forms of abuse which slave owners would use upon their slaves. The tone of the first portion of the poem is somber, as if the Haitian workers had accepted their fate and lost hope. They have accepted that the rich win, and the poor lose. The second part of the poem, titled “The Palace” shows the perspective of Trujillo, the general. The title “The Palace” gives an immediate sense of superiority and wealth to the general. The general is reminded of his mother’s death, which occurred in the palace while baking candies for Day of the Dead, a holiday celebrated in many Spanish-speaking countries. This is an example of situational irony; the general’s mother dies while celebrating Day of the Dead. When reminded of his mother’s death, Trujillo feels the need to kill in order to deal with his grief. “As he paces he wonders // Who can I kill today.”(31-32) This very serious quote shows the dark thoughts which he is plotting. Dove also used a period at the end of the question as opposed to a question mark. She did this to show that in the general’s mind, there was no question. He was going to kill and no one was going to stop him. Dove mentions that “Ever since the morning that his mother collapsed in the kitchen while baking skull shaped candies...the general has hated sweets”(37-41). This newfound hatred for sweets after his mother’s death serves as synecdoche for the general’s overarching resentment for people. In turn, this may have caused his drastic measures pertaining to the dehumanization of the Haitians. The Spanish words for “my mother, my love in death” are used, but all the R’s are replaced with L’s to imitate/mock the Haitians inability to roll their R’s. Dove even goes so far as to state that “Even a parrot can roll an R!”(60-61). This further contributes to the dehumanization of the Haitians, alluding that parrots are more intelligent than the Haitians. The mention of parsley representing the birth of a son shows why the general chose that word. His father presumptively wore a sprig of parsley once he was born, which reminds the general of his mother. When thinking of his mother, the general can’t help but think of her death and how much her death changed him and his outlook. The word parsley has become so important to him that he uses it as his “weapon” for killing thousands of Haitians.
Your analyzation of the symbols in the poem and analyzation of the specific lines really helped me understand the poem as a whole. I really agreed with your comment about the parrot, I had not previously viewed it as a symbol of wealth and only associated it with freedom. Also your connection to "Sonnet in Primary Colors" was something I had not thought about. Dove's focus on political figures, especially in Latin America is something really striking to me. I think because she was the poet laureate she wants to make a political statement and speak out against injustices in history. I think the use of free verse in the second part adds irony to the whole poem. "The Palace", as you said, created a superior tone, but the type of verse is informal and not reflective of the image Trujillo was trying to create. Overall your blog did a really good job of analyzing "Parsley" by showing the effect of symbols and allusion.
“Parsley” describes the violence and atrocities that occurred in the Dominican Republic under the rule of president Rafael Trujillo. Under the rule of Trujillo, the Parsley Massacre occurred in which tens of thousands of black Haitians were killed. The Haitians were asked to pronounce the word “perejil”, meaning parsley, and if they could not roll their R’s were then killed. “Parsley” contrasts the thoughts of the Haitians and Trujillo by exposing his regime and teaching a political lesson to the reader. The poem is broken up into two parts, with contrasting syntax, imagery, and points of view. The first part, The Cane Fields, describes what occurs in the fields where people are killed for not being able to pronounce “perejil”. It is broken up into stanzas, each with three sentences(excluding the final stanza), causing it to have a concrete and set rhythm in which the poem is read. There is also a repetition of the phrases, “out of the swamp the cane appears”(3) and “parrot imitating spring”(6) at the end of each stanza. The repetition of these phrases alludes the reader to believe that there is a rhyme scheme and represents the sorrowful repetition in the lives of the Haitians as they watch their brothers and sisters be executed at the hands of a malevolent dictator. In the first part of the poem the imagery is chilling and reflective of the Haitian people’s emotions. “The children gnaw their teeth to arrowheads”(11) this imagery is scary and reflective of the emotions and thoughts of citizens during this time. Chilling imagery is present throughout the first part, “He laughs, teeth shining out of the swamp”(14/15), this has the effect on the reader by instilling fear and causing empathy. In the second part, The Palace, the poem switches from having a set format to free verse. Free verse is used to the effect of illustrating the deranged and inhumane thoughts Trujillo has. Contrasted to first person in The Cane Fields, The Palace is written in third person and describes Trujillo’s thoughts. The empathy previously felt in the first part causes hatred for the dictator through the continuation of malevolent and chilling imagery expressed through the thoughts of Trujillo, “As he paces he wonders/ Who can I kill today”(30/31). The poem ends with the final declaration of Trujillo’s plans, “He will/ order many, this time, to be killed/ for a single, beautiful word”(70-72). The final line is broken up into another stanza, this has the effect of placing emphasis on the word parsley and the irony that a pure and simple word has been bloodied by a malicious dictator.
I agree with your analysis of Dove's poem "Parsley". I thought it was particularly interesting how you mentioned that the repetition of the lines “parrot imitating spring” and “out of the swamp the cane appeared” could lead the reader to believe there is a rhyme scheme. I hadn’t thought of that before, because those two lines are repeated every 5 lines when each stanza is only 3 lines, which makes them seem randomly scattered, when in fact they are intentionally placed evenly throughout the poem for effect. I also hadn’t considered the change in verse between the two parts. When first reading the poem, I thought of the transition as more of a change in tone and perspective. However, I agree with your reasoning behind why the change to free verse represents the transition towards Trujillo’s violent and inhumane thoughts. I also had a conflicting opinion with you about the feeling of empathy. I believe that the second part helps us to empathize with Trujillo. Although the reader is aware of the horrible things he has done, we are also being shown a side to him which we hadn’t previously seen. We are seeing him at his most human: when he is grieving over his mother’s death. However, this empathy can be confusing for the reader. Why may we feel sorry for the person who committed such heinous acts? Shouldn’t we just feel sorry for those who were killed by this terrible man?
In the poem “Fox” Dove illustrates the story of an independent woman who contrary to societal beliefs is content with herself and her material wealth. The poem is split up into two stanzas each with ten lines, the strict form adds conformity into the poem. There are also no more than four words in each line which makes the message of the poem straight to the point, due to the lack of complex diction. The strict use of form adds irony to a poem that’s message is about nonconformity. “Fox” describes a woman who is content and happy with the things she owns. A woman who is content and not dependent on material wealth is not embraced by society, making her more than any man could handle. The title “Fox” is reflective of the character described in the poem, she is headstrong and slinky, similar to a fox. The title also relates to the overall theme of dancing in American Smooth since foxtrot is a certain type of dance. There is little usage of imagery or literary devices in this poem, the lack of literary devices is used to the effect of relaying a message and story that is straight to the point. “Fox” is a rebellion against society’s view of woman so there is no flowery language to constrain into those values. There is a repetition of the word “she” throughout the poem, “She knew what she was”(1-2). The woman described does not shy away from herself and instead makes herself known by the repetition of pronouns. “Fox” is a rebellion against societal views of an ideal woman who craves attention and material items, this poem speaks out against misogyny and is an anthem for independent women.
Your analysis of the poem “Fox” is very interesting. I agree that the content of the poem is about the “she” in the poem not conforming to the societal norms of her time. I hadn’t previously thought of the uniform structure of the poem as a symbol for conformity; I thought of it more as relating to the rhythm of dance, since the themes in American Smooth are based on Dove’s interest in ballroom dancing. I also agree with your analogy between the woman and a fox. Foxes are crafty and headstrong, as you put it, and these are both characteristics of the independent woman referred to in the poem. As you mentioned, the poem “Fox” doesn’t contain any flowery diction which is so common in poetry. Poetry is usually seen as a delicate, light, intricate form of expression, however this poem shows how a strong woman can defy the expectations society has for her while still maintaining a poetic structure.
In “Quick”, Rita Dove uses detailed imagery and color diction to create the image of a fox in the reader’s mind. There is a baby fox and a mother fox, and the mother is described to have a “flamboyant afterthought” (10-11), which is referring to her tail. The baby fox is described as having “vacant eyes” (4), evoking a sense of pity the reader has for the fox. The mother fox is a metaphor for strong, independent women. This theme is also seen in Dove’s “Fox”, where the fox represents the woman’s nonconformity to societal standards.
The poem is broken into 8 couplets and a single line of varying lengths and there is no apparent rhyme scheme. The short choppy stanzas are almost snapshots of the scene which is happening: two foxes in a culvert being spotted in headlights. However, the thoughts seem to run onto the next line. This is a form of enjambment. Although each line is not a complete thought, the first half of the couplets are. In the second half of the poem, the stanzas shorten and there is often no end stop to many of the second lines of each couplet. This contributes to the fleeting disappearance of the foxes which occurs in the second half of the poem. The imagery of the fox depicted in “Quick” reminded me of two of Dove’s other poems from American Smooth: “Fox” and “Fox Trot Fridays”. The recurring symbol of a fox represents a woman’s power and control over her life, and how one can often defy societal norms. The use of italicized text as dialogue is also seen in “Ta Ta Cha Cha” and “Parsley”.
Rita Dove’s poem which stuck with me the most in this section was “The House Slave”. This poem is told from the perspective of a house slave. A house slave was a slave who would live in the house with the master and his family. Their duties included cooking, cleaning, serving meals and caring for the children of the house. House slaves were often treated better than slaves who worked in the fields. In this poem, the house slave is observing the slave quarters and the field slaves’ working conditions. The poem is split into five 3 line stanzas. The first stanza opens with the image of a horn being lifted, presumable to wake the slaves up in the morning. The description of the “dew-lit grass”(1) and the mention of young “children bundled into aprons”(3) seems tranquil, however this is just the beginning. The second stanza transitions into how the house slave can see the field slaves already beginning to be “driven into the vague before-dawn”(5), meaning they are already beginning to work. The second stanza also speaks of a “mistress sleep[ing] like an ivory toothpick”(6). The words “mistress” and “ivory” lead the reader to believe that the woman the house slave is speaking of is the master’s wife. Ivory is typically associated with the color white, and a slave owner’s wife would always be a white woman. The third stanza references a person called “Massa”. At first glance, I thought this could have been a name, but the context of Massa “dream[ing] of asses, rum and slave-funk”(7) led me to believe that Massa was the slave master, just pronounced in a different dialect. This made sense in the context because a master would want asses (donkeys), rum and “slave-funk”. This stanza also includes the mention of “whip curls across the backs of the laggards”(9). The agonizing pain which slaves had to endure was often because of an unreasonable expectation or demand. The fourth stanza tells of the house slave’s sister, who was working in the fields. The fact that the house slave can hear their sister’s cries in pain from being punished evokes empathy in the reader. Amongst all these views of the field slaves’ morning routine, the speaker lies in their cot, “shivering in the early heat”(12). This oxymoron shows how despite the early heat, the house slave still shivers. Dove uses this to juxtapose the cold, dark horrors the field slaves endure to the warm, comfortable life that can be achieved while living inside the house. The fifth stanza describes the fields which “unfold to whiteness”(13), alluding to the cotton plant which was a staple among plantations. The simple mention of the fields “unfolding” before them alludes to their immense and seemingly never-ending size. Dove also describes how the slaves “spill like bees among the fat flowers”(14). This simile compares the slaves to bees who are spilling out among fields of flourishing flowers. The bees represent the slaves while the flowers represent the cotton or other plants which they had to pick. It was not uncommon for slaves to have a minimum amount of cotton they were required to pick in order to not be punished. The comparison to bees, who are often associated with constant work and being busy, emphasizes their sense of urgency when beginning their work day. The final line of the poem includes more insight into the setting of the poem, informing the reader that “it is not yet daylight”(15). This last line emphasizes how all of what occurred earlier in the poem has already happened, yet the day hasn’t even started. Although so much is going on, there is still so much more time in the day for more pain.
Continued: The structure of this poem is very uniform, yet most lines end with enjambment. This running over of thoughts into the next line (and sometimes, even the next stanza) demonstrates the rushed process of waking up in the morning and immediately being forced into working. Each stanza provides a snapshot into the lives of the slaves. The effect of the poem being broken up into multiple stanzas shows how every small aspect of the slaves’ lives didn’t go unnoticed by the house slave. Despite the house slave being separated from the rest of the slaves, they still never forgot about their family and the hardships which they endured everyday.
Your analyzation of the poem is really detailed, so detailed to the fact that you wrote an entire explication. The structure of the poem alluding to a rushed tone is not something that I had considered. I think you did a good job of describing the literary devices, but did not address Dove's overall reason for writing the poem. What do all the devices have to say about a house slave? Is Dove empathizing with slaves or just illustrating a picture about their lives? I think your blog was good I just would liked to know more about the main message of the poem. You are basically a wizard when it comes to finding literary devices, keep it up Q.
“‘The Situation is Intolerable’” is a poem that uses allusion to the American Revolution to describe the atrocities occurring during the Civil Rights movement. The allusion is used to support the idea that things, such as in the Revolutionary War and Civil Rights movement, are so bad that there is nothing left to lose, therefore freedom should be fought for. Patriotic imagery paints the allusion of the Civil Rights movement, “Each dovegray pleated trouser leg/ a righteous sword advancing/ onto the field of battle”(4-6). Trouser leg refers to the pants the patriots would wear as they went into battle. The imagery is used to set the scene of the Revolutionary War and compare the Civil Rights movement to a battle that occurred without fighting. Another use of imagery is, “tiny, missionary stars-/on high, serene studding/the inky brow of heaven”(12-14). Stars refers to the American flag, a symbol of patriotism and freedom. Dove uses Patriotic imagery to attempt to instill the values that America’s founding fathers had when they built the United States. Dove also uses first person and questions to address the audience directly. Questions are used to the effect of involving the reader in such a way that feels personal and making them feel the emotion of the Civil Rights Movement. One such question is, “Intolerable: that civilized word./Aren’t we civilized, too?”(1-2). Punctuation is used to make the reader dwell on the question that involves the reader in order to make a connection with the movement. This poem reminded me of the Benjamin Franklin quote, “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety”. Dove urges the audience to be mad at the atrocities occurring and not be passive in the blatant stripping of rights. The use of allusion to the American Revolution connects the emotions of the Civil Rights movement to the reader through imagery and questions.
Many parallels can be drawn between Rita Dove’s “Persephone, Falling” and “Demeter, Waiting”. For instance, the titles of the two poems are very similar. Persephone is falling into the underworld and Demeter is waiting for her return. While the two poems are separate pieces, there seems to be a subtle dialogue between the two. “Persephone, Falling” illustrates the horror that was the abduction of Persephone, while “Demeter, Waiting” depicts Demeter’s motherly instinct of dread when her child is taken from her. The two poems can be seen as reflections of each other, not only in content, but in syntax as well. “Persephone, Falling” is an indefinable sonnet; it contains an octave followed by a sestet. “Demeter, Waiting” is also an indefinable sonnet, but consists of a sestet followed by an octave. This represents how Demeter’s whole perspective was completely altered and explains how she made such rash decisions in response to Persephone’s abduction. “Demeter, Waiting” begins with the word ‘no’ and ends with the word ‘yes’. This shows Demeter’s shift in attitude over the course of the poem. She is obviously outraged at the situation. This anger is illustrated through the use of profanity and violent diction. Demeter states that she “will wail and thrash// until the whole goddamned golden panorama freezes”(12-13). This could represent her supernatural powers coming into play: her control of the seasons. Since she is so heartbroken over Persephone’s absence, Demeter “drag[s] [her] grief through a winter...refus[ing]// any meadow that recycles itself into// hope”(8-11). She is beyond the point of hope, and has accepted defeat, yet she will still wait for Persephone. The poem then ends with the word ‘yes’ to show her transition towards a more hopeful attitude, as opposed to her sorrowful feeling in the beginning of the poem revealed by the first word, ‘no’.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comment about the parallels between these two poems. Also the use of sonnet in such a chaotic and sorrowful poem is striking to me. It emphasizes the motif of a mother and child relationship that is present in many of her poems. The allusion to the Greek myth makes a connection with a mother and child relationship no matter what century the poem is read in.
DeleteThat's an interesting analysis about the use of sonnet that I had not previously considered. I agree with you that these poems are easy to make a connection to because of the common theme and the timelessness of it.
Delete“Primer”
ReplyDeleteThe most prominent thing about this poem is the use of a sonnet, This format juxtaposes with the chaotic and violent nature of the poem, “Primer”. The use of sonnet can also be seen as a use of irony because the description of a schoolyard scuffle is not formal enough for a sonnet. The poem describes a girl that is bullied and feels as though she cannot stand up for herself. Instead her mom has to stand up for her. The first part of the poem is ironic because she is bullied for being skinny by “three skinny sisters”. Most schoolyard bullies make fun of something to make for their own insecurities and is shown in the irony of her bullying. The irony of her “five-foot-zero mother” driving in her Cadillac to “shake them down for size” . She is mortified that her mother has to fight her battles and is relatable for many preteens who wish they could grow up stand up for themselves. The poem ends with the line “I’d shown them all: I would grow up”, this line is one of the main reasons why I chose this poem. Teenagers especially, hurry to want to leave their parents and go off to college. The cycle of wanting to be independent then when you are finally independent realizing all the things you miss about home is what this poem almost warns about. Irony is constantly used throughout the poem and emphasizes the irony of the final line. Dove is warning against the want to grow up and instead wants adolescents to enjoy their time living with their parents because it’s fleeting.
While reading this poem, something that intrigued me from the beginning was the meaning of the title “Wiederkehr.” So, after I was done reading the poem I looked it up and was surprised that it meant recurrence or repetition. I thought this had a major effect of the meaning. The lines 9 and 10 reads “and thought he saw how still I sat to hold the rain untouched inside me.” I think this line releases the manipulation idea that is put forth in this poem. I think repetition and the manipulation of love go hand in hand. It goes along with the idea of love versus lust. This is highlighted in lines 4 through 7 when the speaker describes physical traits as a the main point of her affection. She is losing herself in the physical elements and is indulging in the spiral of manipulation. Something that also can be related to Wiederkehr or repetition, is the connotations of rain. The idea of rain renewing everything it touched is controlled by the manipulation of lust in this poem. Also rain can be thought along with sadness. So in the line 10, the speaker says that the rain was untouched. I think that shows that the girl is not feeling her true emotions, her mind is clouded by the manipulation.
ReplyDeleteWiederkehr by Rita Dove is a sonnet entitled with a translation meaning ‘repetition’. This poem illustrates the relationship between Hades and Persephone and his lust for her. The title itself refers to the repeated visits Persephone is forced to make in the original myth. At the beginning of the poem, Dove talks about how happy Persephone makes Hades feel, and how he merely hopes to “smell/rain;” (Line 9) This seems to mean he hopes for rain because during the fall/winter it rains, and with the coming of rain marks the coming of Persephone. The line “his eyes caressed.” (Line 7) however, seems to be a more sexual statement. At the end of the poem, Persephone is able to leave, and so she did. She still had to return, though, again referring to the title of the poem due to the repetition. This poem depicts how Hades manipulated Persephone since she was never able to fully escape his grasp. It also is representative of her dislike of Hades.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your analysis of Dove’s “Wiederkehr”. When I first read the lines about Hades hoping to smell rain, I thought of it as rain being something temporary. It may rain and rain for days on end, but it always stops at some point. I thought of rain as symbolizing impermanence. The rain comes and goes, but he wants to smell it, because when there is rain, Persephone is with him. However, I agree with your analysis more, with relation to the seasons and the agreement about Persephone’s time in the underworld in the original myth. The motif of rain is repeated later in the poem when Dove writes “I sat to hold the rain untouched / inside me”, however I believe this time it has a different connotation. This second mentioning of rain is to show how Persephone wants to cry. I also agree with your statement about the line “his eyes caressed” having a sexual context. The first few lines show Hades’ lust for Persephone; they show that “he only wanted [her] for happiness”.
DeleteIn the poem, Sonnet in Primary Colors Dove uses allusion to paint an image about Frida Kahlo’s life. One of the literary devices used is bird imagery in order to convey the Frida Kahlo allusion. “With one black wing perched over her eye”(1-2), “wing” is a symbol for eyebrow because Frida was known for her thick eyebrows that can be seen in her self-portraits. Another use of bird imagery is, “Lovely Frida, erect among parrots”(3-4). This is used to describe Frida as someone who was unique and different from most people. A lot of her work is colorful and the image of parrots plays to the theme of her artwork. This poem uses imagery to paint the picture of Frida Kahlo’s life just like she would paint herself. “Wildflowers entwining her plaster corset,”(5) is an example of this imagery that Dove used. Frida Kahlo was in a bus crash and injured her spine because of this she had to wear a plastic cast that held her spine in place. The use of “wildflowers” surrounding her plastic corset romanticizes the sterile and rigid plastic corset. “Lenin and Marx and Stalin arrayed at the footstead,”(9) is another use of imagery that adds to the allusion. Frida was a member of the Mexican Communist Party and is known for supporting Stalin. Frida’s political views made her unique and the image of three Communist leaders at the end of her bed adds to the unique tone of the poem. Another literary device that adds to allusion of Frida Kahlo’s life is the irony of the title “Sonnet in Primary Colors”. There are only thirteen lines in the poem making it an imperfect sonnet, despite the fact that the poem has “Sonnet” in the title. The life of Frida Kahlo was odd and unlike many women at the time, as a dedication to her Dove did not make it a complete sonnet. This does not discount the legacy of Frida Kahlo, but instead adds to it because she is known for creating things that are outside of the box and the title compliments this.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your analysis of “Sonnet in Primary Colors”. I especially liked your analysis of why Dove titled this poem “Sonnet in Primary Colors” but only used 13 lines. I agree with your reasoning on why she did this. Another reason why Dove purposely wrote only 13 lines yet titled it as a sonnet could be because Frida Kahlo’s life was cut short due to health reasons. She lived to be only 47 and in her later years, her deteriorating health didn’t stop her from continuing active political participation. Since she seemed nowhere near ready to stop living, her poor health cut her life short which is represented by the “sonnet” being cut short at just 13 lines. However, some people believe that Kahlo overdosed; many believe this was a suicide attempt. I agree with your statement that Kahlo’s life was odd and unlike many other women of her time. I believe that this is reflected in some of Dove’s other works, as she has written poems about influential women: Frida Kahlo, Billie Holiday and Rosa Parks.
DeleteI agree with your analysis and find it to be interesting how the title didn't exactly match up with the structure of the poem. I also appreciate the insight you offered as to explain the bird imagery. It's interesting how many different aspects of Kahlo's life can be related to birds, and how many different messages were able to be communicated within one poem. You rock Tay. Ily BIBB
DeleteRita Dove’s poem “Canary” beautifully describes African American singer Billie Holiday’s voice as having “as many shadows as lights”(2). This contrast of light and shadow represents the constant roller coaster that Holiday’s life was, especially pertaining to her perpetual substance abuse and addiction. The juxtaposition of “a mournful candelabra against a sleek piano” (3) creates the impression of a hard, coarse addiction contrasted with the sleek, lavish life of a musician. The “gardenia” Dove writes of in line 4 describes Holiday’s signature flower and how she may have used it to cover her imperfections. This first stanza serves mainly as imagery which describes Holiday’s voice and gives some insight into her background and addiction. The second stanza extended the context of her addiction with substance abuse related fiction such as “cooking” (5) and “magic spoon, magic needle” (6). The final line of the poem, “If you can't be free, be a mystery” (11) alludes to the severe discrimination Holiday faced because she was African American. Since many African Americans dealt with racial prejudice against them (including Holiday), they could not be free, and Dove’s solution to this was to keep to yourself and remain a mystery, so as to escape the discrimination. The title “Canary” can allude to many things, including caged birds, songbirds and canaries in coal mines. The image of a caged bird could represent the severe discrimination African Americans faces before the civil rights era, and how they were severely oppressed and trapped much like a caged bird. The title may also allude to a songbird, related to Holiday’s career as an artist. Another connotation the title “Canary” may have is how canaries were brought down into coal mines to indicate when there were toxic gases in the mine. Once the canary died (the fumes affected the canary before humans), the miners knew it was unsafe, and began making the trip back up to the surface. In a way, the mine canaries could be a symbol for the discrimination of African Americans. Miners’ lives not being at risk because the canaries’ lives were sacrificed symbolizes how white people were in power at the expense of African American’s civil and human rights.
ReplyDeleteCatherine of Alexandria was a saint who had a vision at the age of 18 to convert to Christianity. She opposed Maxentius, who eventually imprisoned her and then sentenced her to death. In the third and fourth lines, the poem states “no wonder sainthood/ came as a voice” (Dove) This is referring to St. Catherine’s vision. It is widely known that St. Catherine was a virgin and it can be assumed that this was a choice due to her devotion to Christ. The poem also mentions that “what went on/ each night was fit/ for nobody’s ears/ but Jesus’.” This hints toward the fact that whatever was happening in St. Catherine’s bed was unholy and unacceptable to society due to her high ranking in the religious world. The parts of the poem which refer to Jesus’ breath of a lily and a ring of milk can be interpreted as sexual innuendoes. Jesus’ breath of a lily refers to smelling of a flower, or vagina. In literature, flowers often allude to vaginas. In the other mentioned part, “a ring of milk,” Dove alludes to vaginal discharge as a result of sexual relations. She is attempting to communicate St. Catherine of Alexandria’s fantasies with Jesus, and names it “a kept promise,” since she was a devout Christian virgin, and since her fantasies included Christ himself. The first two lines have to do with the limited access to freedom and knowledge of women of that time period. This is the reason which lead St. Catherine to know of nothing more than a voice in her own head, or in this case, bed. During Jesus’ life, he was persecuted for his religious beliefs, and this is also why Dove mentions “His spiraling/ pain.” St. Catherine is able to relate to Jesus and his dedication and devotion to his beliefs, which makes him attractive to her in more than a religious aspect.
ReplyDeleteI think this poem was really interesting because I saw it as Dove commenting on double standards in society about women's sexuality. Despite the fact that this was about a woman in medieval times I think it also alludes to the double standards that occur today. Catherine of Alexandria grew up in a society where the point of women were to have children and be mothers. Although it is a little off-putting that she included Jesus in her fantasy, to many girls this was the only man they were allowed to talk to. I think your analysis of the allusions and innuendos was very accurate to the overall meaning of the poem.
DeleteIn the poem “Abduction” Dove outlines the abduction of Solomon Northrup, a free black man, who is forced into slavery. “Abduction” is an allusion to the true story of Solomon Northrup whose life is outlined in the memoir 12 Years a Slave. There is a lot of allusion to the true story of Solomon’s abduction such as, “Free papers in my pocket, violin/under arm, my new friends Brown and Hamilton by my side”(4-5). Solomon was free, thus increasing the gravity of his eventual capture and a violinist. The people he met, Brown and Hamilton, told him that they were in the entertainment business and wanted him to join their circus, so took him to Washington D.C., where slavery was legal, making it easier for his capture. He was then drugged by his companions, “Then the wine, like a pink lake, tipped”(11). Wine is usually associated with joy and merriment, but instead Solomon was drugged, displaying the irony of him viewing the wine as joy. The tone of the poem changes as it goes on as seen through imagery and syntax. The poem begins with a happy and optimistic scene of Washington D.C. as Solomon believes he is getting work, “The bells, the cannons, the houses black with crepe, /all for the the great Harrison”(1-2). By the last sentence the tone of the poem has completely changed from joyous to dark and void of hope, “I woke and found myself alone, in the darkness and in chains”(14). The stanzas of “Abduction” are organized so that each stanza has one less line than the previous stanza and has fifteen lines, making it an imperfect sonnet. This syntax represents the loss of hope as each event leading up to Solomon’s capture occurs. The situation is spiraled out of control and eventually he found himself alone in a dungeon, chained.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your analysis of “Abduction”. Your perspective on the syntax and stanza structure of the poem was very thought provoking. I agree with your analysis that it shows the loss of hope throughout Solomon’s transition back into the cycle of slavery; I hadn’t thought of it that way until I read your analysis of the poem. I also hadn’t previously considered the irony of the wine and celebration which caused Solomon’s abduction. I specifically remember the scene from the movie, Twelve Years a Slave, when Solomon, Hamilton and Brown were eating and drinking the night away in celebration of Solomon finding work. The juxtaposition between that scene and the following scene where Solomon was chained to the wall in a cell is similar in the poem to the difference in each stanza, getting shorter and less hopeful. This transition can also be seen through the change in tone, as you mentioned.
DeleteIn Dove’s poem “Rosa”, she recounts the story of Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat to a white person on a Montgomery public bus. The simple act of staying seated became an iconic beacon of empowerment among African Americans during the Civil Rights era. Dove’s poem “Rosa” greatly understates the importance of Rosa Parks’ actions. The poem is vague enough that the reader needs background knowledge on the historical context of the situation in order to understand some of the details Dove used. For example, in line 9, the “camera flash” alludes to the iconic picture of Rosa Parks sitting at the front of the bus, refusing to stand up. The significance of the title just being “Rosa” as opposed to her full name, Rosa Parks, is to show how this poem is a personal retelling of her story. The use of her first name only shows the familiarity for Parks; this is also seen in the detail of the poem. While it is vague, there are lots of seemingly unnecessary details which in fact, add to the overall tone of the poem. The tone created was very serene yet powerful: an allegory for Parks’ peaceful yet powerful protest. This tone is especially strong in the line, “Doing nothing was the doing” (7). By doing nothing (remaining seated), she was doing everything for the Civil Rights cause.
ReplyDeleteThe first stanza reiterates how Parks was in the wrong place at the right time. This is counterintuitive to the common phrases, “being in the wrong place at the wrong time” or “being in the right place at the right time”. The paradoxical theme continues in line 3, when Dove describes Montgomery as “so wrong it was ready”. The “trim name” referred to in line 4 alludes to Rosa Parks’ short, simple name. Dove uses synecdoche in the line, “its dream of a bench”. Dove is exhibiting how Parks dreams of a “bench” which represents a place for African Americans to have equal opportunity, starting with public transit. The sentence “Her sensible coat” shows how Parks was a humble, sensible woman, which may seem illogical because she did protest and hold her ground on a very pressing issue of a time. The third stanza emphasizes the importance of her simple action. It also includes some tangible details about the iconic picture mentioned previously. There are also some examples of alliteration in the third stanza with the words “clean”(8), “carved” (9) and “camera” (9). The final stanza describes the simple action of someone picking up Parks’ purse, which is a seemingly unrelated detail, but is in fact important. The final line shows how, despite the shocking amount of discrimination and prejudice in the south in the 1950s, there was still dignity in the world.
"doing nothing was the doing"
Deleteso good
“The Abduction” by Rita Dove contains 15 lines and five stanzas, each stanza decreasing by one line as the poem progresses. The poem represents the story of Solomon Northup, a black man born free in Saratoga Springs, New York, who was lured by a business offer to Washington D.C.. He was manipulated by two men and poisoned and beaten until he blacked out. When he awoke, he had been sold as a slave. The story, as Dove tells it, describes Northup’s life in progression. Beginning with his success and liberty before his abduction. The second stanza conveys Solomon’s thoughts about the business men and their proposal and the third illustrates what Northup had felt when he was poisoned. The fourth stanza tells of his unconsciousness while the fifth and final line and stanza illustrates his surroundings as a slave when he had awoken. Each stanza decreases in length to show Northup’s diminishing hope and faith in life. This poem is not a sonnet, unlike many of Dove’s other poems and I believe it may be to convey to the reader that this story should be considered exceptionally and specially. The structure of the poem also identifies with itself. There are five stanzas, with the first stanza including five lines and the fifth stanza including one line. The poem itself is backwards, just as is the story of Solomon Northup. The structure illustrates the backward working of slavery in America. A man born free, makes his way backward into the horrors of slavery. This poem also works backward from a lively mood to a dark, simple, and depressing one.
ReplyDeleteRita Dove’s poem “Parsley” shows two different perspectives of the killing which resulted from the Parsley Massacre of 1937. The two parts of the poem showcase the two different perspectives. The first part of the poem, titled “The Cane Fields” is told from the perspective of the Haitian workers who worked in the cane fields. The Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo “El General” (the general) chose to kill Haitians if they could not pronounce the Spanish word for parsley, “perejil”. In the first part of the poem, the lines about a “parrot imitating spring” and “out of the swamp, the cane appears” were repeated every 5 or so lines. The parrot imitating spring can represent multiple things. The parrot can represent a wealthy person’s pet, as a bird is not the typical house pet. The parrot imitating spring can also represent the color green, as spring is often associated with rebirth, growth and green. This connection to the color green can also return to the idea that the parrot represents wealth. This bird diction is also a repetition of Dove’s line in “Sonnet in Primary Colors” about Frida Kahlo being erect among parrots. The first stanza tells of the horrors endured in the massacre. The cane “haunted [the workers]” (Dove 4), showing how their work was practically slavery. There is another allusion to slavery in a later line when Dove recounts of the “lash[ing]”(16) rain. The word lash and other violent sounding diction alludes to whips or other forms of abuse which slave owners would use upon their slaves. The tone of the first portion of the poem is somber, as if the Haitian workers had accepted their fate and lost hope. They have accepted that the rich win, and the poor lose. The second part of the poem, titled “The Palace” shows the perspective of Trujillo, the general. The title “The Palace” gives an immediate sense of superiority and wealth to the general. The general is reminded of his mother’s death, which occurred in the palace while baking candies for Day of the Dead, a holiday celebrated in many Spanish-speaking countries. This is an example of situational irony; the general’s mother dies while celebrating Day of the Dead. When reminded of his mother’s death, Trujillo feels the need to kill in order to deal with his grief. “As he paces he wonders // Who can I kill today.”(31-32) This very serious quote shows the dark thoughts which he is plotting. Dove also used a period at the end of the question as opposed to a question mark. She did this to show that in the general’s mind, there was no question. He was going to kill and no one was going to stop him. Dove mentions that “Ever since the morning that his mother collapsed in the kitchen while baking skull shaped candies...the general has hated sweets”(37-41). This newfound hatred for sweets after his mother’s death serves as synecdoche for the general’s overarching resentment for people. In turn, this may have caused his drastic measures pertaining to the dehumanization of the Haitians. The Spanish words for “my mother, my love in death” are used, but all the R’s are replaced with L’s to imitate/mock the Haitians inability to roll their R’s. Dove even goes so far as to state that “Even a parrot can roll an R!”(60-61). This further contributes to the dehumanization of the Haitians, alluding that parrots are more intelligent than the Haitians. The mention of parsley representing the birth of a son shows why the general chose that word. His father presumptively wore a sprig of parsley once he was born, which reminds the general of his mother. When thinking of his mother, the general can’t help but think of her death and how much her death changed him and his outlook. The word parsley has become so important to him that he uses it as his “weapon” for killing thousands of Haitians.
ReplyDeleteYour analyzation of the symbols in the poem and analyzation of the specific lines really helped me understand the poem as a whole. I really agreed with your comment about the parrot, I had not previously viewed it as a symbol of wealth and only associated it with freedom. Also your connection to "Sonnet in Primary Colors" was something I had not thought about. Dove's focus on political figures, especially in Latin America is something really striking to me. I think because she was the poet laureate she wants to make a political statement and speak out against injustices in history. I think the use of free verse in the second part adds irony to the whole poem. "The Palace", as you said, created a superior tone, but the type of verse is informal and not reflective of the image Trujillo was trying to create. Overall your blog did a really good job of analyzing "Parsley" by showing the effect of symbols and allusion.
Deletethx tay<3
Delete“Parsley” describes the violence and atrocities that occurred in the Dominican Republic under the rule of president Rafael Trujillo. Under the rule of Trujillo, the Parsley Massacre occurred in which tens of thousands of black Haitians were killed. The Haitians were asked to pronounce the word “perejil”, meaning parsley, and if they could not roll their R’s were then killed. “Parsley” contrasts the thoughts of the Haitians and Trujillo by exposing his regime and teaching a political lesson to the reader. The poem is broken up into two parts, with contrasting syntax, imagery, and points of view. The first part, The Cane Fields, describes what occurs in the fields where people are killed for not being able to pronounce “perejil”. It is broken up into stanzas, each with three sentences(excluding the final stanza), causing it to have a concrete and set rhythm in which the poem is read. There is also a repetition of the phrases, “out of the swamp the cane appears”(3) and “parrot imitating spring”(6) at the end of each stanza. The repetition of these phrases alludes the reader to believe that there is a rhyme scheme and represents the sorrowful repetition in the lives of the Haitians as they watch their brothers and sisters be executed at the hands of a malevolent dictator. In the first part of the poem the imagery is chilling and reflective of the Haitian people’s emotions. “The children gnaw their teeth to arrowheads”(11) this imagery is scary and reflective of the emotions and thoughts of citizens during this time. Chilling imagery is present throughout the first part, “He laughs, teeth shining out of the swamp”(14/15), this has the effect on the reader by instilling fear and causing empathy. In the second part, The Palace, the poem switches from having a set format to free verse. Free verse is used to the effect of illustrating the deranged and inhumane thoughts Trujillo has. Contrasted to first person in The Cane Fields, The Palace is written in third person and describes Trujillo’s thoughts. The empathy previously felt in the first part causes hatred for the dictator through the continuation of malevolent and chilling imagery expressed through the thoughts of Trujillo, “As he paces he wonders/ Who can I kill today”(30/31). The poem ends with the final declaration of Trujillo’s plans, “He will/ order many, this time, to be killed/ for a single, beautiful word”(70-72). The final line is broken up into another stanza, this has the effect of placing emphasis on the word parsley and the irony that a pure and simple word has been bloodied by a malicious dictator.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your analysis of Dove's poem "Parsley". I thought it was particularly interesting how you mentioned that the repetition of the lines “parrot imitating spring” and “out of the swamp the cane appeared” could lead the reader to believe there is a rhyme scheme. I hadn’t thought of that before, because those two lines are repeated every 5 lines when each stanza is only 3 lines, which makes them seem randomly scattered, when in fact they are intentionally placed evenly throughout the poem for effect. I also hadn’t considered the change in verse between the two parts. When first reading the poem, I thought of the transition as more of a change in tone and perspective. However, I agree with your reasoning behind why the change to free verse represents the transition towards Trujillo’s violent and inhumane thoughts. I also had a conflicting opinion with you about the feeling of empathy. I believe that the second part helps us to empathize with Trujillo. Although the reader is aware of the horrible things he has done, we are also being shown a side to him which we hadn’t previously seen. We are seeing him at his most human: when he is grieving over his mother’s death. However, this empathy can be confusing for the reader. Why may we feel sorry for the person who committed such heinous acts? Shouldn’t we just feel sorry for those who were killed by this terrible man?
DeleteIn the poem “Fox” Dove illustrates the story of an independent woman who contrary to societal beliefs is content with herself and her material wealth. The poem is split up into two stanzas each with ten lines, the strict form adds conformity into the poem. There are also no more than four words in each line which makes the message of the poem straight to the point, due to the lack of complex diction. The strict use of form adds irony to a poem that’s message is about nonconformity. “Fox” describes a woman who is content and happy with the things she owns. A woman who is content and not dependent on material wealth is not embraced by society, making her more than any man could handle. The title “Fox” is reflective of the character described in the poem, she is headstrong and slinky, similar to a fox. The title also relates to the overall theme of dancing in American Smooth since foxtrot is a certain type of dance. There is little usage of imagery or literary devices in this poem, the lack of literary devices is used to the effect of relaying a message and story that is straight to the point. “Fox” is a rebellion against society’s view of woman so there is no flowery language to constrain into those values. There is a repetition of the word “she” throughout the poem, “She knew what she was”(1-2). The woman described does not shy away from herself and instead makes herself known by the repetition of pronouns. “Fox” is a rebellion against societal views of an ideal woman who craves attention and material items, this poem speaks out against misogyny and is an anthem for independent women.
ReplyDeleteYour analysis of the poem “Fox” is very interesting. I agree that the content of the poem is about the “she” in the poem not conforming to the societal norms of her time. I hadn’t previously thought of the uniform structure of the poem as a symbol for conformity; I thought of it more as relating to the rhythm of dance, since the themes in American Smooth are based on Dove’s interest in ballroom dancing. I also agree with your analogy between the woman and a fox. Foxes are crafty and headstrong, as you put it, and these are both characteristics of the independent woman referred to in the poem. As you mentioned, the poem “Fox” doesn’t contain any flowery diction which is so common in poetry. Poetry is usually seen as a delicate, light, intricate form of expression, however this poem shows how a strong woman can defy the expectations society has for her while still maintaining a poetic structure.
DeleteIn “Quick”, Rita Dove uses detailed imagery and color diction to create the image of a fox in the reader’s mind. There is a baby fox and a mother fox, and the mother is described to have a “flamboyant afterthought” (10-11), which is referring to her tail. The baby fox is described as having “vacant eyes” (4), evoking a sense of pity the reader has for the fox. The mother fox is a metaphor for strong, independent women. This theme is also seen in Dove’s “Fox”, where the fox represents the woman’s nonconformity to societal standards.
ReplyDeleteThe poem is broken into 8 couplets and a single line of varying lengths and there is no apparent rhyme scheme. The short choppy stanzas are almost snapshots of the scene which is happening: two foxes in a culvert being spotted in headlights. However, the thoughts seem to run onto the next line. This is a form of enjambment. Although each line is not a complete thought, the first half of the couplets are. In the second half of the poem, the stanzas shorten and there is often no end stop to many of the second lines of each couplet. This contributes to the fleeting disappearance of the foxes which occurs in the second half of the poem. The imagery of the fox depicted in “Quick” reminded me of two of Dove’s other poems from American Smooth: “Fox” and “Fox Trot Fridays”. The recurring symbol of a fox represents a woman’s power and control over her life, and how one can often defy societal norms. The use of italicized text as dialogue is also seen in “Ta Ta Cha Cha” and “Parsley”.
Rita Dove’s poem which stuck with me the most in this section was “The House Slave”. This poem is told from the perspective of a house slave. A house slave was a slave who would live in the house with the master and his family. Their duties included cooking, cleaning, serving meals and caring for the children of the house. House slaves were often treated better than slaves who worked in the fields. In this poem, the house slave is observing the slave quarters and the field slaves’ working conditions. The poem is split into five 3 line stanzas. The first stanza opens with the image of a horn being lifted, presumable to wake the slaves up in the morning. The description of the “dew-lit grass”(1) and the mention of young “children bundled into aprons”(3) seems tranquil, however this is just the beginning. The second stanza transitions into how the house slave can see the field slaves already beginning to be “driven into the vague before-dawn”(5), meaning they are already beginning to work. The second stanza also speaks of a “mistress sleep[ing] like an ivory toothpick”(6). The words “mistress” and “ivory” lead the reader to believe that the woman the house slave is speaking of is the master’s wife. Ivory is typically associated with the color white, and a slave owner’s wife would always be a white woman. The third stanza references a person called “Massa”. At first glance, I thought this could have been a name, but the context of Massa “dream[ing] of asses, rum and slave-funk”(7) led me to believe that Massa was the slave master, just pronounced in a different dialect. This made sense in the context because a master would want asses (donkeys), rum and “slave-funk”. This stanza also includes the mention of “whip curls across the backs of the laggards”(9). The agonizing pain which slaves had to endure was often because of an unreasonable expectation or demand. The fourth stanza tells of the house slave’s sister, who was working in the fields. The fact that the house slave can hear their sister’s cries in pain from being punished evokes empathy in the reader. Amongst all these views of the field slaves’ morning routine, the speaker lies in their cot, “shivering in the early heat”(12). This oxymoron shows how despite the early heat, the house slave still shivers. Dove uses this to juxtapose the cold, dark horrors the field slaves endure to the warm, comfortable life that can be achieved while living inside the house. The fifth stanza describes the fields which “unfold to whiteness”(13), alluding to the cotton plant which was a staple among plantations. The simple mention of the fields “unfolding” before them alludes to their immense and seemingly never-ending size. Dove also describes how the slaves “spill like bees among the fat flowers”(14). This simile compares the slaves to bees who are spilling out among fields of flourishing flowers. The bees represent the slaves while the flowers represent the cotton or other plants which they had to pick. It was not uncommon for slaves to have a minimum amount of cotton they were required to pick in order to not be punished. The comparison to bees, who are often associated with constant work and being busy, emphasizes their sense of urgency when beginning their work day. The final line of the poem includes more insight into the setting of the poem, informing the reader that “it is not yet daylight”(15). This last line emphasizes how all of what occurred earlier in the poem has already happened, yet the day hasn’t even started. Although so much is going on, there is still so much more time in the day for more pain.
ReplyDeleteContinued: The structure of this poem is very uniform, yet most lines end with enjambment. This running over of thoughts into the next line (and sometimes, even the next stanza) demonstrates the rushed process of waking up in the morning and immediately being forced into working. Each stanza provides a snapshot into the lives of the slaves. The effect of the poem being broken up into multiple stanzas shows how every small aspect of the slaves’ lives didn’t go unnoticed by the house slave. Despite the house slave being separated from the rest of the slaves, they still never forgot about their family and the hardships which they endured everyday.
DeleteYour analyzation of the poem is really detailed, so detailed to the fact that you wrote an entire explication. The structure of the poem alluding to a rushed tone is not something that I had considered. I think you did a good job of describing the literary devices, but did not address Dove's overall reason for writing the poem. What do all the devices have to say about a house slave? Is Dove empathizing with slaves or just illustrating a picture about their lives? I think your blog was good I just would liked to know more about the main message of the poem. You are basically a wizard when it comes to finding literary devices, keep it up Q.
Delete“‘The Situation is Intolerable’” is a poem that uses allusion to the American Revolution to describe the atrocities occurring during the Civil Rights movement. The allusion is used to support the idea that things, such as in the Revolutionary War and Civil Rights movement, are so bad that there is nothing left to lose, therefore freedom should be fought for. Patriotic imagery paints the allusion of the Civil Rights movement, “Each dovegray pleated trouser leg/ a righteous sword advancing/ onto the field of battle”(4-6). Trouser leg refers to the pants the patriots would wear as they went into battle. The imagery is used to set the scene of the Revolutionary War and compare the Civil Rights movement to a battle that occurred without fighting. Another use of imagery is, “tiny, missionary stars-/on high, serene studding/the inky brow of heaven”(12-14). Stars refers to the American flag, a symbol of patriotism and freedom. Dove uses Patriotic imagery to attempt to instill the values that America’s founding fathers had when they built the United States. Dove also uses first person and questions to address the audience directly. Questions are used to the effect of involving the reader in such a way that feels personal and making them feel the emotion of the Civil Rights Movement. One such question is, “Intolerable: that civilized word./Aren’t we civilized, too?”(1-2). Punctuation is used to make the reader dwell on the question that involves the reader in order to make a connection with the movement. This poem reminded me of the Benjamin Franklin quote, “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety”. Dove urges the audience to be mad at the atrocities occurring and not be passive in the blatant stripping of rights. The use of allusion to the American Revolution connects the emotions of the Civil Rights movement to the reader through imagery and questions.
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