Poetry Analysis Lesson
1. Read the poem separately
2. Read the poem together
3. Understand and write thesis statement
4. Look at literary devices
5. Unpick and structure essay
6. Plan in detail.
See below:
1. Introduction and thesis statement (what the main argument of the poem is)- difference between the pigeon and the workers in this poem? The poem explores the difference between the workers, who are negatively portrayers as predators/ aggressive creatures compared to the pigeon who is portrayed as delicate and fragile in representing the natural world- the manmade world (the workers) vs the natural world (the pigeon)- this is shown through analysis of the workers, the landscape, and the entrance and exit of the pigeon. LITERARY DEVICES- ways to analyse poetry or proseno rhyme scheme- narrative poem (prosaic poem) 2. the workers (lines 1-13)- serpent-warders- focus on verbs (focus on action)- sweating and straining, spewing, thrusting- present participle- doing words)- focus on their strain and struggle of their exertion- predatory creatures (bloodshot eyes)- throb, throb (imperatives)- sound of the machine, full sensory experience of these workers, hark (listening/ focus on oral experience)- stab (harsh- criminal, demonic language, cruel mouths to their prey)- animalistic language to describe humans- clatter that shatters (internal rhyme)- both onomatopoeic words- refrain (repeating lines)- their action is monotonous because the refrain surrounds the actions of the workers- reflect the action of the machine (every line is separate from each other- mechanical and monotonous- literally like stabs)- very descri ptive (very visceral and full of adjectives)what do we learn? the workers are depicted as aggressive predators or animals and their actions are shown to be strenuous and constant. 3. outside perspective/ the crowd/ the lake (lines 14-20)- action stops being forceful- pace slows down (enjambement- `the crowd stands by / watching the smoothers)- not as many or forceful present participles (watching- passive)- more pleasant adjectives- newlaid, virginal, flat, wet)- not as aggressive as how the workers are described- pause or lull in the poem as we are like the crowd, surveying the landscape- perversion of the natural world (curdled- not smooth or natural)- not an actual lake with water but with cement (flat and wet- monosyllabic words- no movement in the lake)- more personal (see how- as if we are part of the experience)- sarcastic (glisten and virginal)- it`s not actually water, it`s cement, nothing appealing about the lake (trick to the eye)- fascinated by (passive tense- so again, fits in with the idea of the crowd not being as active as the workers- surveyors or standing by)what do we learn? more of a transitional section between the workers and the pigeon- to set the scene for what the pigeon discovers, create empathy with the pigeon (we realise how easy it is to be fooled by the lake, sarcastic by the degradation of nature- very sad, foreshadows what is to come (in this pause, there is a very unsettling tone)- main point is that there is a shift in tone from the active to the passive, which raises suspense before the pigeon arrives (as if we are waiting for something to happen) 4. the pigeon (lines 21-32)- the lines are a lot longer here- enjambement (`and a pigeon from a plane-tree / Flutters down to bathe its wings)- reflection the pigeon flying down in the physical line, visual imagery, divine imagery as if the pigeon represents an angel- ironic because the humans are described as animals and the actual animal is depicted far more positively- innocence/ delicate/ angelic- it embodies/ represents the natural world or mother nature- bathe its wings in that mirage of water (very delicate, mirage of water- we know that it is concrete but the pigeon doesn`t yet)- very sudden movement (the pigeon arrives, realises then leaves)- feels very quick as all in one stanza- similar style of punctuation to first stanza (personification of the pigeon- deceived and angry, bewildered- no emotions for the workers who are very mechanical)- definite contrast, quick succession of adjectives (very blunt and to the point)- very direct as to what the pigeon is doing- same refrain- not as assertive (the throb, throb from the mixer)- poet includes this refrain again- to suggest that it would not stop, natural looking down on human behaviours (we are seeing the pigeon`s perspective- more sarcastic look on the actions of the workers)- logical argument: `it backs upon its wing, / Threshes air, and is gone.`- succinct actions compared to the elaborate descri ptions of the workers- the pigeon knows what it wants- the last stanza is the most important/ the crux of what the poet is trying to argue:1. the workers and the pigeon are finally linked (the seal of the pigeon`s foot on their work- it all comes together)- they cannot undo what they have done, always be this degradation of nature- the degradation of the workers` impact on the environment is just as concrete as the pigeon`s imprint (the natural world and the unnatural world coming into direct conflict)- very descri ptive (deflowered bed- not virginal anymore, before it was a `mirage` and now we see it for what it actually iswhat do we learn from this section? the directness of the pigeon is put into direct contrast with the verbose descri ptions of the workers, we learn that the degradation of the workers is permanent just like the imprint of the pigeon`s foot, we see the landscape for what it actually is- the crux and the main argument of the poem- we see the workers and the pigeon- their true relationship- set till rocks crumble (like an imprint- very monosyllabic language) 5. ConclusionTherefore, in Richard Church`s poem `Pigeon`, the natural world and the manmade world are put into direct conflict, as represented by the pigeon and the construction workers, respectively. Through analysis of the animalistic workers, the deceptive landscape, and the direct coming of the pigeon, it is clear that the negative effects of the concrete on this environment are permanent, depicted through the `seal of its coral foot` on the cement lake. Interestingly, Church ironically represents the workers as animalistic and the pigeon as delicate and innocence in order to demonstrate man`s perversion of nature.
Example of Paragraph 4 Furthermore, in the latter section of the poem, Church employs the image of a pigeon in order to unpick conflicts between the natural and manmade world. Church writes, `And a pigeon from a plane-tree / Flutters down`. Here, enjambement is employed to reflect the swift and almost angelic movement of the pigeon down to earth through the flowing of the lines together and the divine imagery of `its wings`. In addition, Church purposefully uses irony here. We see this as the pigeon is represented as innocent in its naive reaction to the lake: `But deceived, and angry, / Bewildered by the din`. This is ironic as the actual animal is depicted as fragile and unassuming compared to the workers who are depicted as predatory animals. This reflects man`s perversion of nature through the literal perversion of an animalistic metaphor. Also, Church uses three adjectives in quick succession, which shows the direct nature of the pigeon compared to the elaborate and verbose language used to describe the workers. The pigeon is shown to have emotions compared to the mechanical workers. Church employs the refrain from earlier in the poem, but here it is laced with sarcasm. The addition of a definite article asserts the inclusion of the pigeon`s perspective on these workers, suggesting the repeating nature of the men`s actions. The inclusion of this sarcastic refrain suggests that the natural world is condemning the manmade world. What is clear is that the last stanza is the crux of the poem. Church describes the lake as a `deflowered bed` compared to the earlier `virginal` descri ption, which underlines the its true nature. In other words, we see the effects of the workers on the landscape for what they actually are- it is no longer a `mirage`. The workers and the pigeon are finally linked. Through the monosyllabic last line, `Set till rocks crumble`, it is evident that the degradation of the workers` impact on the environment is just as concrete as the pigeon`s imprint. in this way, the natural world and the unnatural world coming into direct conflict.
