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Stormcock In Elder: Ruth Pitter - Coggle Diagram
Stormcock In Elder
: Ruth Pitter
Title & Theme
Stormcock is a singing bird; also known as a missel-thrush
Ruth Pitter includes the theme of nature in a lot of her poems. This was is no different
There is a rhyme scheme of ABABCC
She is a traditionalist poet; doesn't experiment much
there is a definite format- 6 lines in each stanza
The theme is expressing hope in the face of adversity as well as expressing how nature's value may be disappearing now.
First Stanza
The setting is described as secluded and dark, which have a lot of negative connotations. However, using words such as 'my' show that it is the poet persona's personal decision to be there.
The room/house seems to be especially small and even expresses how she is away from all luxury and there is but mostly poverty around her. She seems to be shutting herself away from materialistic desires and instead, finding peace away from luxury.
The last two lines are the volta and they express that she was searching for "bread but found celestial food instead". Bread can be seen as symbolism for materialistic desires and the celestial food can be seen as how she finds spiritual sustenance instead.
The use of the word 'hermitage' shows how she can be secluding herself for spiritual reasons and also heightens the sense that this is because of her conscious decision and not because someone is forcing her to stay there.
Second Stanza
The repetition of loud highlights the sound and draws all attention of the readers to the startling sound, and thus, towards the missel-thrush.
The alliteration of 'wild, with wintry glee' further expresses the strong sound. The wintry glee, suggests that it sounds delightful, even in winter- a normally dull season.
The 'broken roof' heightens seclusion and expresses poverty
Third Stanza
'An arm's-length' shows that the bird was especially close to her, but she was yet to be noticed by the bird.
The poet persona is shown to be a simple onlooker to the bird. The bird has not seen the speaker, thus showing that we are witnessing the bird naturally- without any filter.
The persona then moves on to describe the bird. She describes it as majestic and elegant.
The throat is described as throbbing. This suggests the energy, and passion the bird conveys.
Fourth Stanza
Continuing the description, she notices the eyes 'ringed with many a-ray'. This proves how close she is as she begins to notice the various colors that make up the bird. The 'large eye' shows that the bird has the ability to look at things with greater insight and detail- not just materialistically, objectively, but in depth and clarity.
The bird can be symbolism for nature and the persona is glorifying it to show just how grand it is
The use of 'broken roof' in the last line and the word 'plain' can show how she can see nature's glory without any materialistic obstruction. It also expresses contrast with the glorified bird. The roof can express the negativity, adversity and harsh condition. Because the bird causes her to come out of such depression, the bird comes out as a sort of muse or inspiration, a sense of hope.
Fifth Stanza
Describing the stormcock to have 'gold sequins...brindled flower' show that the missel-thrush is not a mere bird anymore. Instead it depicts the beauty of nature and how ethereal it actually is, if only one chooses to pay close attention to it.
It also symbols spiritual strength and optimism
The intricate details show how impactful the bird is for the persona. It also shows the persona feels admiration the
Sixth Stanza
In the first two lines, the persona compliments the bird to be jovial and bringer of fortune and good luck.
She then proceeds to express how even in the cold, harsh weather in mid-February, the bird is still able to brave through it and sing in all its glory. Compared to the 'northwest Jack', the stormcock too has the same resilience.
The last two lines can show that the bird's 'dress' or plumage looks especially rich and expensive like those of rich men in feasts.
She wonders how the bird still sings and doesn't its 'bagpipes crack?'
Seventh Stanza
The first two lines portray that time will indeed move on and and most people will never know the worth and value of nature and what we have right now as is.
The lines after seem to be addressing the readers and asking them to remember the resilience of the missel-thrush and maintain optimism through even the coldest and hardest days, such as the way the stormcock does as well, singing even in the coldest months
This emphasizes how much our lives have been conceived by worldly pleasures and how we should try to connect back to nature. The last two lines include a more spiritual essence to them. Thus, portraying that it is not only an ode to nature but an ode on spiritual resilience as well.