ANALYSIS OF NON-AFRICAN POETRY

8.1 THE GOOD MORROW BY JOHN DONNE

ANALYSIS OF THE POEM GOOD MORROW

The good morrow is a conversational poem in style though the listener {the poetic persona’s loved one} is silent and an example of a dramatic monologue. It focuses on the issue of love and “seizing the moment”, as our poetic persona makes us understand the joy of love when it is total and complete. In the poem, the speaker talking to his lover after a blissful night spent together, constantly compares his present to his past. In their moment of togetherness, they are free from the commotion of the world such that their love wraps them up in a web that nothing outside their romantic universe matters again.

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SETTING OF THE POEM GOOD MORROW

The physical place is England and the time setting of the poem is the sixteenth and seventeenth century which saw England at its peak as a military and political powerhouse. It was a period that England suffered Socio Political and religious crisis, faced natural and unnatural disasters as well as an era that saw England undergo various transformations under the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1. The dominant theme in the poetry of that era was the theme of Love—Unreciprocated love. Thus, in this Poetry of John Donne’s, there is the idea of “Carpe diem” to make the most of the, to seize the day, and only trust in the future as little as possible. What this means is that because there were various happenings in England and too many people were dying, it was important for those who were alive, to “seize the day, and enjoy every moment as it comes.

THEMES IN THE POEM GOOD MORROW

1. The enduring power of true love
2. Growth and Maturity
3. Life’s emptiness without true love
4. The beauty and strength of love
5. The futility and vanity of life

POETIC DEVICES IN THE POEM GOOD MORROW

1. Hyperbole
2. Repetition
3. Metaphor
4. Rhetorical Question
5. Assonance

LANGUAGE OF THE POEM GOOD MORROW

The poet adopts the style of conversation in the poem. There’s a speaker addressing his lover who happens to be the listener that doesn’t seem to respond; thus, making it a dramatic monologue {a one-sided conversation}.

8.2 CAGED BIRD BY MAYA ANGELOU

ANALYSIS OF THE POEM CAGED BIRD

In the first stanza, Maya Angelou refers to nature. She describes how “a free bird leaps on the back of the wind.” She describes the bird‟s flight against the orange sky. The free bird has the right “to claim the sky.” The way she describes the “orange sun rays” gives the reader an appreciation for the natural beauty of the sky, and her description of how the bird “dips his wing” helps the reader to appreciate the bird in his natural habitat enjoying his freedom.

Stanza 2 of „Caged Bird’ contrasts sharply with the first. By using the word “but” to begin this stanza, the speaker prepares the reader for this contrast. Then she describes the “bird that stalks his narrow cage.” The tone is immediately and drastically changed from peaceful, satisfied, and joyful to one that is dark, unnerving, and even frustrating. She describes that this caged first “can seldom see through his bars of rage.”

The third stanza reverts back to the free bird, further cementing the difference between the free bird and the caged bird in the readers‟ minds. She writes that a “free bird thinks of another breeze” that he can enjoy the “sighing trees” and be free to find his own food. The tone with which she writes the first and third stanzas so sharply contrasts with the second stanza that readers can feel the difference.

The fourth stanza of „Caged Bird’ continues the parallel between the free bird and the caged bird. The first line serves to starkly contrast the last line in the third stanza. It is dark and daunting. The reality of the life of the caged bird is revealed in this line

In this stanza,That bird “stands on the grave of dreams.” This reveals the author‟s feelings about her own dreams. She has so many dreams that have died because she was never given the freedom to achieve all that her white counterparts could. Discrimination and racism made up her cage, and although she sang, she felt her voice was not heard in the wide world but only by those nearest her cage.

This last stanza focuses on the caged bird yet again. The author implies that even though the caged bird may have never experienced true freedom, deep down, that bird still knows it was created to be free. Although freedom, to the caged bird, is “fearful” because it is “unknown,” he still sings “a fearful trill” because he still longed for freedom.

SETTING OF THE POEM CAGED BIRD

The setting of Maya Angelou’s “Caged Bird” is quite peculiar. The physical setting of the poem cannot be easily identified. The images in the poem  appear  to move from a tree on a river’s shore and a cage. From the poem, it can be deduced that Angelou seeks to creatively explore the society’s attempts to stifle the spirit of the blacks, which in this poem is symbolized as the bird.

THEMES IN THE POEM CAGED BIRD

1. Freedom versus Bondage
2. Discrimination
3. Unfulfilled dreams

STRUCTURE OF THE POEM

‘Caged Bird’ by Maya Angelou is a six-stanza poem that is separated into stanzas that range in length. Angelou chose to write the poem in free verse. This means that there is no single rhyme scheme or metrical pattern that unites all the lines

POETIC DEVICES USED IN THE POEM CAGED BIRD

1. Alliteration: another form of repetition, but one that is solely focused on the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of multiple words. For example, “sun” and “sky” at the end of stanza one and “cage / can” in lines three and four of stanza two.
2. Enjambment: another important literary device that’s also quite common in contemporary poetry. It appears when a poet cuts off a sentence or phrase with a line break before its natural stopping point. For example, the transition between lines one and two of the first stanza and lines three and four of the second stanza.
3. Repetition: is seen throughout the poem but most prominently in the structure of the stanzas and the continual reference to the “free bird” and “caged bird.” One of the best examples is seen in the sixth stanza, in which the poet repeats the entire third stanza.
4. Symbolism: the use of an image to represent something else. In this case, the caged bird symbolizes the confined and oppressed African American community in the United States.
5. Irony: occurs when an outcome is different than expected. For example, it is ironic that the free bird isn’t singing, but the caged bird is.

8.3 THE JOURNEY OF THE MAGI BY T.S ELLIOT

ANALYSIS OF THE POEM THE JOURNEY OF THE MAGI

In the first stanza of the poem, the persona, who happened to one of the wise men, described the journey to Bethlehem. The journey began at the height of the cold season of winter. The worse time of the year it is was a very long and difficult journey, even the camels they journed with felt the painful effects of the wintery weather

Arriving at the destination, finding the place after traveling at night, the magi came to a more friendly environment at dawn. The persona describes the pleasant natural environment at this stage of their journey.

Now brings us back to the present moment. As he reflects on the whole experience, He tells us all doubts in their mind about debate were now cleared. But the best was at the same time of death of their old selves and identity. It was like dying to be born again and having returned to their old place they were “no longer of ease” they felt alienated and uncomfortable among their own people and therefore would gladly embrace another death.

THEMES IN THE POEM THE JOURNEY OF THE MAGI

1. The theme of change
2. The theme of the effects of historical
3. Theme of suffering
4. Theme of death and rebirth

MOOD AND TONE OF THE POEM THE JOURNEY OF TE MAGI

The state of mind in which the poet expresses his thoughts on this point is that of agony, disappointment, despair, disgust, do at their faith and hope Are restored back, This expressed in their statements when the Maggie say they would be happy to embark on the journey once again. In summary, one can simply conclude that their tone is that of disappointment and courage

POETIC DEVICES USED IN THE POEM THE JOURNEY OF THE MAGI

1. Alliteration – In this case some of the example can be cited here:
2. A “winding ways”” (line 4)
3. B “There…….times (line 8)
4. C “Then the …….. (Line 11)”
5. Repetition: in this poem, the word “the” is repeated in the second and fourth lines. The word “journey” is repeated in the third line. Others include: “time”, “Birth”, “death”, there is no doubt that repetition lays emphasis and gives music to the poem.
6. Pun: This is another musical device used in the poem. For the sake of definition, pun is a play on words. In line 37 of the poem there is a play on the word “births” the capitalize “birth” is the birth of Jesus Christ while the birth in lowercase is the universal birth of all people worldwide
7. Personification – Elements that were personified in the poem are: “Night-fires going out”. The cities were hostile, the towns unfriendly; the expression can be explained below. Night fires cannot go out because they are not animals or humans which have lives to move about.
8. Synecdoche: This is an act of taking part of a whole or a wolf or a part. Examples are seen in the poem are “And feet kicking the empty wine skin” there “feet” Represents “people” that is the drunkards are the tavern. “Six hands” Represents the three men at the door of the Tavern “dicing” four pieces of silver.
9. Simile: Simile is an imaginative comparison between two things or objects that are in general not alike but in a particular aspect and similar. Simile uses “like” or “as” Introducing word Examples of simile as used in the poem are: “Hard on bitter agony for us like death our death” (line 38 – 39)
10. Allusion: This simply means a reference to a place, thing, objects or events. The allusion to the poem is seen in the expression. “Three trees on the low sky” This is a typical biblical allusion it refers to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ in between a robber and a murderer. Recall, three persons were crucified Jesus Christ with two criminals.

LANGUAGE USED IN THE POEM THE JOURNEY OF THE MAGI

The choice of words of the poet is quite simple except the syntax which is a bit complex. Readers are familiar with most of the words used in the poem. Both weights need explanation from the dictionary and so students will be needing that in order to understand these words.

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8.4 BATS BY D.H LAWRENCE

ANALYSIS OF THE POEM BATS

DH. Lawrence “Bat,” focuses on his disaffection towards the Mammal; Bat, He tells how he was sitting on a terrace somewhere in Florence, Italy, “beyond Pisa, beyond the mountains of Carrara,” watching as the sun sets and suddenly sees something flying through the arches of the Ponte Vecchio.

At first, he thinks they are swallows with “spools of dark thread sewing the shadows together.” However, it is too late for swallows, and, confused, he starts to wonder what these flying objects-” like a glove, a black glove was thrown up at the light”-could be. They are bats and they give the poet a sense of dread. According to Lawrence, Bats are “wildly vindictive.”

They don’t just swoop, but fly “madly,” causing “an uneasy creeping in one’s scalp.” He even seems to consider whether they are creatures at all, describing them as “little lumps that fly in the air” and their wings as “bits of the umbrella.”

As the poem continues, Lawrence becomes increasingly disparaging of the animal. He hates how they hang upside down and grin in their sleep. He says when they are to sleep, they look like “rows of disgusting old rags.” He finalizes by saying that while bats are a symbol of happiness in China, they are a symbol of misery to him.

THEMES IN THE POEM BATS

1. Irrational Prejudice
2. The Beauty in Nature
3. The Right to Individual Preference
4. Hatred for Bats

STRUCTURE OF THE POEM BATS

Lawrence’s ‘Bat’ is a 45- line poem with no exact stanzaic structure. The poem is written in free verse to abhor the poet’s repugnance for bats. Each stanza is not made of the same number of lines, some are one word or line that makes up a stanza. In all, the poem is written in 18 stanzas with each stanza containing a variety of numbers of lines.

POETIC DEVICES USED IN THE POEM BATS

1. Metonymy – In the opening stanza, the speaker employs metonymy by writing that “the world is taken by surprise.” While his focus is on the natural world in this poem, the “world” here comes to represent the reaction of all of the people in the world as they collectively shift their emotions at the end of the day.
2. Metaphor and Alliteration: The poet deploys the use of both alliteration and metaphor in the following line 4: “When the tired flower of Florence is in the gloom beneath the glowing.”
3. Symbolism: The poet delays many symbols in the poem “Bat” Lawrence makes use of nature and creatures from nature as a symbol.

LANGUAGE OF THE POEM BATS

The poet’s use of language is very simple and he adopts the use of conversational tone which allows the readers to have a good understanding of the message conveyed in the poem. The poet also put to use several Italian words and this fact established the physical setting of the poem as Italy. Examples are in lines 34, line 2, lines 4,6, and 8.

SETTINGS OF THE POEM BATS

The setting of the poem is in a terrace of a house in Italy, where the poetic persona observes the animals as they begin the process of setting in for the night.

8.5 BINSEY POPLARS BY GERARD MANLY HOPKINS

BACKGROUND OF THE POEM BINSEY

 “Binsey Poplars” also known as “Felled (1879)” is a 19th century poem and Gerard Hopkins was also a popular poet from this era also known as Victorian Literature. It refers to the literature that flourished when Queen Victoria ruled the British Empire between 1837-1901 Victorian eras as a bridge between Romantic era and 20th century era, that is why some characteristic features of romantic poetry still reflect in the poem where Hopkins laments bitterly over the destruction of nature such as trees. The heartless industrialization of the nineteenth 19th century moved Hopkins to express what has been lost to cutting and unnecessary felling of trees (deforestation). Here the poet’s persona mourns the loss of a forest from human destruction, then urges readers to be mindful of damaging nature. Cutting down trees becomes a metaphor for the larger destruction caused by 19th century urbanization and industrialization

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE POEM BINSEY POPLARS

The poem “Binsey Poplars” (1879) explores the destruction of natural objects which emanates from indiscriminate felling of poplar trees (at all straight trees with soft wood) in Binsey a small village in England. While the poet was wandering the north city, he came across a line of tall trees cut down in the village of Binsey, with which he had long been familiar with. Binsey Poplars is a metaphor for the destruction caused by 19th century society

LINE BY LINE ANALYSIS OF THE POEM BINSEY POPLARS

“In line 1-5, the persona begins with the lamentation of the cutting of dear aspens, that is, a type of poplar tree with leaves that move even when there is very little wind whose delicate beauty resides not only in their appearance, but in the way they create airy cages to cover the sunlight. The poet complains bitterly that those lovely trees have been “felled” “not spared, no one”. Not one of the “fresh following folded rank of tree” was spared, he reveals…. Following folded rank refers to the simple arrangement of the line of trees with their individual heights and gaps between them making a vertical “fold”. The interlacing shadows of the branches of poplar is liken to the lacing on a sandals- “that

dandled a sandalled”.”

In lines 7-11, the poet persona continues to lament over the cutting of those trees pointing out their importance or usefulness; for they even serve as shelter and provide cool breeze. The speaker says that we do not know the implications of rendering our nature useless by cutting down the poplar trees that create beautiful scenery in the world. The speaker also sees it as an attack on nature and insult on God’s creatures and creation. He uses the strong verbs” hew, ‘lack’ and rack” to suggest the seriousness of the destruction. To ‘delve’ means to dig something up, to ‘hew’ means to chop something, usually with an ax. The speaker laments the fact that we (human beings) don’t know what we’re doing when we dig up, chop down, hack apart, or ‘rack’ (fill with pain) the natural world. Nature is also described here, using metonymy, as “the growing green

In lines 12-15, the persona continues to ponder on man’s habit of destroying nature using a subtle tone here wherein he equates his love for poplars to love of a country (as in the countryside or nature, not the country of England) which is tender to touch both fragile and sensitive. The very being of nature, its essence is “slender” in the speaker’s view, like a thin almost as frail as a woman. The speaker goes further to describe the beauty of the poplars and equates it to that of a woman or eyeball using personification to reinforce the natural world because nature is sensitive “like this sleek and seeing ball but a prick will make no eye ball at all” This means that cutting down the poplar trees will amount to removing one’s eyeball which could cause pain and anguish. This is the point that the speaker is making when he says that some injury “will make no eye at all” (Line 15). With this comparison, the persona discusses nature as so fragile and delicate that any harm to it will make it cease to beike the eye.

In lines 16-19, the poet maintains that even when we want to improve and repair our natural surroundings, even when we mean to mend her we are equally changing and damaging it. This singular act of tampering with nature has become a problem ever since the advent of human modern civilization. This is what the speaker means when he says that “we end her”. We stop nature from being natural when we attempt to fix it. This simply means that the persona disapproves of any form of deforestation and afforestation because they both don’t have any advantage of any kind as he continues to make his case in this final line. He notes that, once we cut down or dig down nature (like the aspen trees), the next generation that comes after we have no idea how beautiful the environment was before. They (in-coming generation) would not be able to guess the beauty of their natural environment

In lines 20-24, the persona describes the havoc perpetuated or harm done to nature which might be ten or twelve/strokes of havoc “unselve” – a figurative way to describe the jew of an axe to unselve” the natural beauty with the word “unselve”. The speaker suggests that cutting down those trees is not just changing the beauty of the scene, it goes away deeper than that-changing the very essence of the natural world itself. Those tree-choppers are undoing nature. The last repeated three lines of the poem brings back to mind a theatrical soliloquy when we imagine the speaker in dismay at the destruction witnessed almost in a state of mumbling near-insanity. Cutting down and replanting of poplars in Binsey in 1879 reflects the endurance of nature itself.

THEMES IN THE POEM BINSEY POPLARS

1. Man’s Relationship with Nature – The poem “Binsey poplar” deals with humanity’s relationship with the natural world. It is entirely based on the persona’s love affair with some trees as he becomes upset to see those poplars chopped (cut) down. By cutting down those poplars man’s general natural world of
2. beauty is eroded. The persona laments bitterly at the beginning of the poem, “my aspens dear, whose airy cages quelled/all felled, are all
3. felled/not spared, not one. “This is a result of heartless industrialization of the 19th century society which witness man’s attempt to alter the world of beauty provided by the aspens as Hopkins contemplates on what has been lost to cutting and unnecessary felling of trees
4. (deforestation)”
5. Theme of Beauty of Nature – The poem explores admiration of natural beauty provided by nature. The speaker’s love for poplars in Binsey goes deeper than mere admiration because they help improve the quality of water, soil and air, create a beautiful landscape, and enrich Ecosystem, limits desertification. Planting poplars in naturalized areas helps control erosion. The persona therefore just cannot forget the above mentioned
6. benefits accrued to poplars as he does not want to see them cut down indiscriminately. The speaker goes further to admire the aspens by equating his love for them to that of love for a beautiful woman, love for a country and the sensitivity of the eyeball”
7. Effect of Industrialization – The poet exposes the danger of Industrialisation in the poem. The beauty provided by trees and nature are lost completely when these trees are cut down for industrial purposes. (Lines 22-24)
8. Theme of Destruction of Nature – The poem offers a commentary on the current battle to save the environment from the mindless destruction by humans. He expresses his frustration, hopelessness and sadness when he visits a small town called “Binsey” in oxford after his education. The poet is not happy seeing the poplars cut down which has not only affected the environment, such as undue exposure to the sun ray, but also changed the beautiful landscape.

STRUCTURE OF THE POEM BINSEY POPLARS

 ‘Binsey Poplars’ is set out in two stanzas and follows an innovative technique devised by Hopkins himself, known as ‘sprung rhythm’, a form of meter he derived from the rhythms heard in everyday speech and songs. In sprung rhythm, the stress is usually on the first syllable and several unstressed syllables could follow. He also makes extensive use of internal rhyme and compound adjectives which lend the poem a certain urgency that effectively conveys his sadness and shock that his beloved trees have been chopped down. The first stanza has 8 lines while the second stanza has 16 lines, a total of 24 lines

STYLE/POETIC DEVICES USED IN THE POEM BINSEY POPLARS

1. SIMILE: There is an indirect comparison in line 14: “like this sleek and seeing ball “where the persona equates incessant chopping down of aspen to that of removing eyeball.
2. PERSONIFICATION: Here the speaker sees nature or poplar as her, thereby giving human attribute to an inanimate object. It is seen as a feminine; for it is tender and fragile and any attempt to help her beauty all would be lost “To mend “her” will end “her” (Line 13) “To touch her being is slender” (Line 17) Nature is personified as a”her “. Even trying to fix “her” is too much interference in the speaker’s view
3. REPETITION: Some words are deliberately repeated to drive home the point and for emphasis. In line 3, the persona repeats the word “felled” three times to emphasize the enormity of evil unleashed on aspens. Also, three short lines are repeated with rhymes to underline the damage done to the countryside-the spoiling of the scene, the loss of beauty. It is as if the poet is trying to compensate for the felled, felled, the felled by reinstating it over and over.
4. ALLITERATION: Another device used to create a Lyrical effect in the poem.This alliteration is illustrated in the lines below: “Quelled or quenched” (line 2) “Of a fresh and following fold (line 4) “Swam or sank” (line 7) “Sleek and seeing ball (line 14) “Where we, even where we mean (line 16) “The Sweet especial scene (line 22) “Ten or twelve, only ten or twelve “Wind-wandering wedding winding bank
5. ASSONANCE: “Quelled or quenched” (line 2) “Dandled or sandalled (line 6) “Shadow that swam or sank (line 7) “This sleek and seeing ball (line 14) “To mend her we end her (line 17) “Hack and rack (line 11)
6. INVERSION: In line 1, there is an abnormal reversal of word order “My aspens dear” instead of “My dear aspens”. Also in line 5, “Not spared, not one” instead of “Not on was spared” to enable the poet to achieve spring rhythm.
7. METAPHOR: In line four: “Of a fresh and following folded rank”, the poet likens the lines of aspens to a rank of soldiers. The military image implies that the industrial development of the countryside equals a land of warfare. “Growing green” is a metaphor for zest for life. There is also an analogy with the removal of eyeballs and destruction of nature and it suggests that those who thoughtlessly destroy nature lack vision, and that action might bring irreversible damage.
8. ENJAMBMENT: also known as run-on-lines is when one phrase flows from one line into the next. Enjambment creates a flowing or winding effect that mimics the river bank that looks endless. E.g “Shadow that swam or sank On meadow and river and wind wandering weed-winding bank” (Lines 7-8)
9. CONSONANCE: The persona makes excessive use of harsh language that is, consonant clusters and strong consonants. His tone turns to one of anger in the harshest consonance of “Hack and rack”/the growing green” stand out sharply from the consonant /k/. Other examples of consonant clusters include: ‘sleek’ ‘slender’, ‘prick’, ‘strokes’, and ‘twelve’.
10. RHYTHM: This poem is written in “sprung rhythm”, an original metric developed by Hopkins which is meant to reflect the rhythms of normal speech. It is one of the earliest attempts of free verse. It is like a free verse with no consistent meter and rhyme. Example: My asp/ens dear, / whose air/y cat/quelled (iambic pentameter
11. IMAGERY: The imagery which is prominent in the poem is that of mourning, anguish and destruction. Aspens or nature is seen as a slender and tender woman. The persona hates to see her life being cut short by overzealous human beings. “O if we but knew what we do/when delve or hew to mend her we end her”, the persona lament endlessly
12. MOOD: the feeling of the persona is that of regret and disgust
13. TONE: The tone is mournful and melancholic and nostalgic
14. LANGUAGE: The language is ultimately complex and somewhat simple because of some words that are difficult to explain like ‘dandalled’ The poem is full of unusual word coinages and conversion, internal rhymes and sprung rhythm. Here the poet uses “dandle” (instead of a more familiar word such as “dangled” to create a rhyme and “sandalled”.. There is also many consonant clusters known as cacophonous sound

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8.6 DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT BY DYLAN THOMAS

ANALYSIS OF THE POEM

The poem is a passionate plea of the poet to his dying father. The poet expresses in the first

stanza that every mortal is bound to die after their old age, but at the same time should try to fight for life and resist the “”dying of the light””, which is death. He tries to discourage his father from surrendering easily to the call of death. In trying to convince his father not to accept the fate of death, the poet reminds his father four different groups of people not minding their life choices, success, failures and personalities, still have reasons to live. The first group he reminds his father of are wise men who in their wisdom know that death is a natural phenomenon and they are bound to accept it. Notwithstanding, the same wise men do everything possible to resist death knowing that they have not achieved enough in life. In line 5, the poet saying “” because their words had forked no lightning””; means that the Wise Men wants to retain life in order to make a historical on Earth”

The second group of people the poet presented to his Father is the good men, who reflect on their life and approaches; Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright

….Rage ,rage against the dying of the Sun…line 7&9

After giving a stock of their life which is not without human imperfection still have hope to live and immortalize their names with lasting legacies. The expression “”in a green bay”” is emblematic of the eternal sea which Will make their good works significant and valuable to remember.”

The third group of people is the “”wild men”” who caught and sang the sun in. flight…L10 There mark above is an exaggerated statement showing how the wild men wasted their life in frivolities not knowing that they are mortals. Also, by saying that the “”wild men “” have squandered their lives in adventure and excitement but realize themselves when it is too late. The wild men were daredevils who faced dangers with ignorance:

And learn too late, that they grieved it on its way…L11″

Next line of action focuses on “grave men” who are also nearer to death. The poet by using the image of ,”grave men ” in this poem is presenting the group of people who have been saddened by life predicaments to the extent that they can be compared to “walking corpses”. With their pitiable situation evident in their ‘blinding eyes ‘ there is yet a burning passion in them to live. Even in their frail state, their blind eyes still blazing “Like meteors and be gay” suggesting unquenching longing for survival. With this, the poet is saying that his father could live longer and happy regardless of his weak conditions.

In the last stanza, the poet is of the opinion that all men no matter their experience or their

helpless conditions fight for more time to live. He uses this point to buttress the fact that on no account should death be taken as a better alternative to life. He therefore begs his father not to die or resign to his fate to death. And you my father, there on the sad height

… I pray I do not go gentle into that good night. His philosophy about death in a nutshell conforms to the saying that…”” a living dog is better

than a dead lion .”

SETTING OF THE POEM DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT

This poem was written in Italy, it does not have a physical setting into which it can be situated. There is no particular place described in the poem nor is there any time mentioned in the poem. Apparently, the setting is more psychological than physical. The poet Dylan T tries to capture the psychological atmosphere of England at the time and create a poem that would fuse the realities of the time with the realities that the poem hoped to project. The psychological setting of the world

POETIC DEVICES USE IN THE POEM

1. Metaphor: There is the use of Metaphor “that good night” four times by the poet which gives the impression that the poet believes in the reality of death as a call of nature and not necessarily an omen. Another metaphoric expression in the poem include: “The dying of the light”, “Green of the light
2. Euphemism: This is a literary device that expresses an idea in a mild way. The fear and tension of death is reduced by the use of euphemism, for example:” Good night “, Dying of the light
3. Repetition: Examples of repetition are as follows: “Do not go gentle into that good night” “men ” “Rage, rage against the dying of the light
4. Hyperbole: this is exaggeration, the use of hyperbolic expressions is evident such as: “Fierce tears”, “Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight
5. Alliteration: Repetition of consonant sounds; “see…sight”, “sang …sun”, “learn…late
6. Simile: Comparison with the use of ” like”, “as” example, Blind eyes like meteors “
7. Personification: There is also the use of personification in line 5, the poet says, “because their words have forked no lightning ” Also in line 11, it says the wild men have grieved the sun. The sun is not human and cannot be grieved. In line 8 “Frail deeds” are made to ‘dance on a green bay’ although deeds refer to actions, deeds cannot take up any action, hence, the idea of “deed” dancing is personification
8. Metonymy: This figure of speech involves using a significant aspect of a thing to refer to that thing. A good example of this can be found in line 2 of the poem. The poetic persona makes mention of ‘old age’. Age is an aspect of the life of every human being and is used here to refer to those who are aged, it is also a symbolic reference to the elderly.
9. Assonance: This is a figure of speech that repeats vowel sounds. Examples: “Rage, rage” /ei/, “Wise…right”-/ai/ , “crying… bright -/ai/, “Dying…light”-/ai/ ,

STRUCTURE OF THE POEM

This is a six -stanza poem written in nineteen lines. The first five stanzas are tercet while the last stanza is structured in four (quatrain) The poem adopts a simple rhyme of aba, except in stanza six which has abaa.