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Backup, Storm on the Island The Emigrée, Checking Out Me History …
Backup
Storm on the Island
The Emigrée
Both poems present power in many ways as dangerous and threatening. However, The Emigrée also outlines the positive aspects associated with the power of place, a contrast to Storm on the Island which only portrays the destructive force of the power of nature.
Dangerous and Threatening Aspects of the Power
Storm on the Island
The poem consists of one long stanza, consisting of several long sentences which highlights the uncontrollable and overwhelming aspects of nature. Consequently, this doesn't allow the reader to catch their breath so the relentless structure reflects the relentless attack of the Storm on the Island.
Heaney's use of enjambment creates a constant barrage of information, reflecting the constant barrage of the storm exerted on the house. For example,
"Nor are the tress... Forgetting that it pummels your house too."
This gives the reader a sense that the power of nature cannot be prevented, where man has absolutely no control even if the force results in obliteration of valuable property.
This poem is one of three poems from the collection "Death of a Naturalist" which is an exploration of setting. Therefore, its positioning in a cluster of dangerous poems further emphasises the importance of the perilous, threatening aspect of nature on the Aran Islands.
Heaney also highlights the negativity power possesses in his poem through the use of form. Storm on the Island is in the form of a dramatic monologue which presents a one-sided view of everything where equality is not present, as we hear nothing from the listener. The dramatic monologue form reflects the imbalance in the relationship between the speaker and nature: there is only one dominant voice in this relationship. To compliment this, the lack of voice suggests that nature is indifferent and takes no concern of the battered home which fills the narrator with fear, providing a complete sense that experiences with nature is only a trajectory for demolition, destruction and horror.
The rhyme scheme employed by Heaney reflects how the storm is a norm for the narrator and highlights that this undesirable power is everlasting. The poem contains very little in the way of rhyme, reflecting the uncontrollable storm due to its lack of control. However, the use of half rhyme in the opening and closing couplets
"squat/slate"
and
"air/fear"
highlights that the poem ends as it begins, with half rhyme. This gives the poem a cyclical structure, creating a sense that the damaging storm is inescapable and will continue to occur time and time again, therefore showing the power of nature.
The Emigrée
Rumens uses structure to convey the negative effects of the power on the place. The poem is written in free verse, consisting of no rhyme or regular rhythm. This, the use of enjambment and multiple caesuras throughout the poem have a combined effect of chaos in the place she loves, but most importantly the lack of power the speaker possesses in that she cannot go into this place of war, danger and
"tyrants"
which is reflected through the chaotic and disorganised structural features of the poem.
Positive Aspects of the Power
Storm on the Island
Heaney only highlights the negativity power possesses, there is no mention of any positive aspects of power in the poem. (Could mention cyclical structure at this stage in essay)
The Emigrée
There is some organised structure to The Emigrée which contrasts the negatives associated with power. The regular stanza length can be seen as the speaker's way of imposing order on her experience. The Emigrée refuses to be overcome by the negativity of the conflict in the land, or the power imposed on her by those who refuse to let her visit. Additionally, the longest stanza in the poem is the last stanza, which focuses on the speaker's love for the place she is describing. This is the longest stanza in the poem, suggesting that the speaker doesn't want to leave: she is trying to savour the moment being described in this stanza so it is a positive thing.
Through Rumen's use of language she is able to emphasise the positive and negative power of place. The poem's imagery is a mixture of positive and negative and this is demonstrated by the phrase
"branded by an impression of sunlight"
. Here, Rumens has deliberately juxtaposed negative (
"branded"
) and positive (
"sunlight"
) to highlight the conflict she feels between her love of the place and her pain at not being able to be there. However, through the use of repetition of the word
"sunlight"
, Rumens is allowed to present her love and passion for the place, which overpowers any sense of negativity where this love cannot be disregarded as the place has a place in the speaker's heart.
Seamus Heaney
Carol Rumens
Checking Out Me History
London
Both poems express the poets anger towards the misuse of power by those with authority. However, they have different viewpoints on it being possible to change because Checking Out Me History shows a solution whereas London does not.
Solution to End Misuse of Power No Solution Offered
Checking Out Me History
Agard's use of structure shows the freedom black history has compared to white history. The division between the stanzas containing black or white history emphasise the freedom expressed in the black history stanzas which is shown by the free flowing nature of the language and the vivid imagery. The rich imagery found in the black verses juxtaposes the childish lexis found in the white verses to show how much more complex and interesting black history is compared to white history. However, the rhyme scheme and the use of enjambment tie together the white and black verses to show how Agard wants to end segregation and combine the two cultures in harmony.
Agard uses light imagery repeatedly when referring to black history. One example of this is when talking about Mary Seacole and she is described as a
"healing star"
. The light imagery shows how these black historical figures are sources of guidance for Agard, showing him how to combat oppression. Also, by learning about her, she has metaphorically healed him from this oppression.
At the end, Agard says
"I carving out me identity"
. This shows how his discoveries of black history have given him enough power to take control and end this oppression caused by the misuse of power.
"carving"
is a verb which is a deliberate action but it also has connotations of pain and struggle which reflects how although he is starting to end this misuse of power, even with all the guidance he has been given from the black historical figures, he knows that it will be a very long and painful process.
London
The ending of London shows how Blake feels that these is no hope for society and the suffering caused by this control will persist. Blake's use of language shows this because the last two words are
"marriage hearse"
. This oxymoron shows the death of an institution because it suggests that positive happy moments in our lives, like
"marriage"
, are really still leading us to our death, in this
"hearse"
. Even something which should be happy is still sad which shows how Blake feels there is no hope for society and it will continue to suffer.
Blake's use of structure also reflects this view. Because the first and last stanzas show the suffering caused by this abuse of power, it creates a cyclical structure. This reflects how Blake is willing to accept the cyclical nature of corruption because he feels that the suffering will never end. Blake sees that there is no hope for society to break free from this cycle and so it shows how he accepts that there is no hope for society.
Criticism of Misuse of Power
Checking Out Me History
Agard uses language to show his criticism of the misuse of power. The repetition of the phrase
"Dem tell me"
creates an angry tone. This shows Agard's frustration from the constant oppression he has experienced.
Agard also uses a violent metaphor,
"blind me to me own identity"
, to show the cruelty of colonialism. This is a very deliberate action so it emphasises the deliberate nature of the abuse by the people with power on Agard. This quote shows how Agard feels frustrated that he viewed the world in a different way because of his education.
The free verse form used is a break from European poetic traditions that heavily relied on form. Therefore, writing without form establishes the speaker's unique voice and to subtly rebel against colonialism because traditional poetry with a form is likely what would have been taught in the British colonial education system. This is also reflected by the non-standard English phonetic spelling used by Agard.
London
Blake also directly criticises religion and the monarchy for allowing this control to be imposed on people.
"Black'ning church"
shows how religion is corrupt and it abandons people. Blake criticises how religion is not providing for the lower class people in society and therefore allowing these vulnerable people to be controlled by the power of the upper classes. Also,
"blood down palace walls"
is criticism of the monarchy showing how the blood from all these deaths caused by this intense control is metaphorically on the hands of the monarchy.
Blake's use of a rigid structure with a consistent rhyme scheme and stanza length enhances the sense of complete control and oppression which mirrors how he feels the lower classes are trapped in London. However, some irregularities in the structure again show Blake's frustration at the people not realising the opportunities the people have to break free from control of the powerful people in society. When Blake repeatedly shows how easy it is to escape from the controls of the powerful people in society, it makes the people under this control seem very vulnerable so Blake is criticising this power even more because it preys on vulnerable people who are unable to resist the control.
Blake shows the effect of the power of humans on other humans with the metaphor,
"mind-forged manacles"
. This shows how the humans under this control have no freedom to think because of these self imposed
"manacles"
. Blake shows how he is angry at the authorities for causing this to happen and controlling people and taking away their freedom. However, he is also angry at the people themselves because these
"manacles"
are
"mind-forged"
so they are created by themselves so it shows his frustration because these people don't realise they are being controlled.
Blake uses language to show the great control placed upon humans and nature through his use of language. The river Thames is described as
"chartered"
which shows how it is restricted and controlled and this is especially important because the river is a metaphor for nature being controlled by the power of man which shows the extent of the power of man. This lack of freedom for nature shows how Blake is criticising the power to be able to control nature in this way.
John Agard
William Blake