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'Giuseppe' - blog entry by Safia & Celine

"Giuseppe" by Roderick Ford explores the theme of ostracization during times of war and strife. It explores the dire consequences of discrimination for both the victim and its perpetrators. Ford uses the metaphor of a mermaid washed up on the beach to represent the dehumanisation of migrants. Ford explores xenophobia through his use of imagery that evokes historical examples: "that in Sicily in World War Two".  The reference to the Second World War foregrounds the theme of ostracization and migration. Ford's use of 'She' instead of any actual name may show their systematic dehumanisation of her. The speaker is disgusted by his Uncle Giuseppe's actions, but the ending is optimistic, "and he could not look me in the eye".

The reference to plants like "Bourgainvella" which typically grows in places foreign to Sicily, reflects how communities react positively to migration when it benefits them. 

Rodrick uses the example of WWII with the Nazi slaughtering of many Jews to bring in a sense of realism, helping the reader to understand the dreadful aspects being presented in the poem. Moreover, Giuseppe has a negative tone due to the seriousness of the  poem with words such as ‘captive’ , ‘dry’, ‘cut’, ‘burial ’and  ‘starvation’ all having negative connotation linking to being trapped. The collective use of these words discloses the loss of humanity in a moment of war, also, the line ‘starvation forgives men many things’ reflects how instinct are altered when desperation is high and the outcomes of brutality it produces. Furthermore, the constant contradiction for example ‘a fish can’t speak’, ‘but she screamed like a woman’, is used throughout the poem to juxtapose the disgusting actions towards the mermaid with the approach of the people, to reveal the common theme of human trying to dehumanize people as a way to justified their killings. Also the smile ‘screamed like a woman’ further emphasise the contradiction by the mermaid being compared to a woman. This personifies the mermaid allowing the reader to level with mermaid and feel sympathetic.

The split in generation highlighted in the Giuseppe shows how even the actions which occur years ago can leave a long lasting guilt to linger throughout generation. This link to the atmosphere in post-war Germany, this consisted of the baby boomers hostility towards ex-Nazi and their mocking of the ones who were trying to justify or ignore their contributions to such activates in WWII. This theme is mirrored in Giuseppe ‘couldn’t look me in the eye’ shows the uncle cannot rationalise his misdoing even with the constant dehumanizing of the mermaid, for instance, the reference to her never learning to speak, being simple and just being a fish. In addition, the repetition of the mermaid not being able to ‘speak’ is significant showing yet again the copying mechanism of ignoring ones human characteristic is used by human. Additionally, this reveals how groups or people are made to feel inferior and voiceless so those apart who are superior don’t identify themselves similar to them by denying them any humanity, allowing them to become emotionally unattached.

Giuseppe is dominated with free verse for example, in stanza two ‘me’, ‘two’, aquarium’ and ‘well’ being are an example of the pattern throughout. This reinforces and strengthens the serious and uncertainty of the poem, due to the fact it doesn’t follow a more playful rhyme allowing there to be an impactful message. Moreover, the mermaid being the protagonist of the poem is symbolic, as she is used to represent those who are treated unfairly and marginalized. Identity is also made significant because the confusion on how to address the mermaid is made explicit ‘she, it’, ‘she was only a fish’, ‘like a woman’ and ‘was proof she was just a fish’. Almost reflects to the reader the uncles uncomfortable tone when sharing the story with the persona, also, by the poem being in a first person narrative it makes it more believable and imitate. Making the reader feel like the experience and feeling being told by the persona directly to them, thus the reader can sympathise with the message of the poem.

AS Literature - poems we have covered so far - updated

'Look we have coming to Dover!' - blog post by Zhina

‘Look We Have Coming to Dover’

‘Look We Have Coming to Dover’ (‘L’) explores the experience of immigration, beginning with eagerness, descending towards a harsh reality of hardship, although Nagra occasionally masks the serious content with enthusiasm and humour. The preconception of immigrating into England differs to the suffering and poverty many immigrants actually experience, which is established within the poem through the array of metaphors such as ‘stabs in the back’. Moreover, the title is significant as before even having read the poem, there is a portrayal of the energetic optimism of coming to England, and we are introduced to concepts of England that are gleefully dismantled in the rest of the poem. The grammatical errors both in the title and the poem set the context of the speaker whose English is a second language.

The epigraph in the beginning of ‘L’ is from a poem written in 1851 by Matthew Arnold which expresses society’s growing anxiety about the modern secular world. Nagra contrasts this with his optimistic and hopeful approach to immigration, especially by manipulating the intention of ‘Dover Beach’ by quoting ‘so various, so beautiful, so new…’. Deliberately using this quote as an epigraph adds to the sarcasm and wit Nagra portrays. In ‘Dover Beach’ the poet imagines the withdrawal of religion from a civilized England’s shores, and the disorder and conflict he expects to follow. ‘L’ also represents a withdrawal, as one idea of England is replaced by another. Additionally, the visual structure of the poem appears like waves which is effective in setting the scene of Dover. Each stanza has 5 lines, each line increasing in length, evidently a regular structure.

Furthermore, the tone of the poem is bound up in its language. Every stanza has many sound effects with the use of half rhyme, alliteration and assonance, for instance: ‘thunder unbladders’ is an example of assonance. The use of improper English mixed with colloquial English deems the poem as quite conversational and idiomatic. This effect is to make the poem fun, funny, and satirical, with its political undertones coming from the use of words that imply how threatening immigration supposedly is, such as with how Nagra uses words expressed by people who see immigration as a threat to national identity like how the immigrants ‘invade’ in dehumanised ‘swarms’. He uses the sort of metaphors employed by racists whose objectives are to strike up fear of immigration. The poet coins new verbs such as ‘phlegmed’ and ‘unbladders’, as well as colloquial English words which mirrors the mixing of cultures that immigration entails.

‘L’ could be compared to various poems such as: ‘Please Hold’ by Ciaran O’Driscoll, ‘The Map Woman’ by Carol Ann Duffy, and ‘The Furthest Distances I’ve Travelled’ by Leontia Flynn. With ‘Please Hold’, ‘L’ shares a similarity in how humour can explore serious themes, as well as a depiction of the flaws of society. ‘The Map Woman’ explores the idea of belonging and identity, which can incorporate both similarities and contrasts to Nagra’s poem. ‘L’ and ‘The Furthest Distances I’ve Travelled’ relate through the evident themes of travel, creating a home, and the feeling of alienation.

'Song' - blog entry by Shannon

George Szirtes, ‘Song’

Initially, this poem gives recognition to the smallest of actions that have led to an accumulation of success. After following out these actions, it can make a difference whether it have an impact on society or on a global scale. This links to the dedication to Helen Suzman at the beginning of the poem, she was a South African White Liberal Activist who campaigned against the apartheid system. Suzman wanted to change the apartheid system, because the system in South Africa stood for race segregation in terms of the reduction of rights for the black inhabitants. It is clear that, she was an extremely influential person who didn’t give up even when it was difficult in order to make a change (Political). As well as revealing that the admiration for the collective power of protest is hugely highlighted within the poem.

 As the title strongly suggests, the poem uses patterns of sounds which can be indicated through the use of rhyme and repetition. Repetition is evident as the first and last stanzas are similar until the last line, which is perhaps being used to mirror the meaning of the build up to change. In the last stanza the turning point is discovered as there is an adjustment in the last line in the first stanza, “Of nothing happening, till something does” then to “Of nothing happening. Then something does”.  This change from ‘till’ to ‘then’ emphasises a crucial change and this single line changes the chorus dramatically. As the line has now been spilt up into two sentences this could show how one person has brought together many others, in a way just like a chain reaction where a little action has influenced others in a gradual way. The alteration of the sentence changes the meaning of it completely, which shows that now the change is indivisible.

 Moreover, the poem is mirroring the basic structure of a song (Chorus/Verse/Chorus) which is spilt up into three sections. The italic font identifies the distinction between the chorus and the verse, the central two stanzas (Verse) comment on the progression of change that is presented in the first and the last stanzas. In the second stanza which is an example, shows how a single hand or voice when joined with others can start the effect of change. This idea is explored through the use of opposing images (heaviness and lightness), ‘One pale feather tip the balance of a sinking ship’. The use of sibilance of ‘sinking ship’ puts emphasis on the contrast between the weight of a ship and the lightness of the feather, these two objects would not normally go together which could indicate a conflict of interest.  In the third stanza alliteration is used ‘Heavy fate has hung’ the H sound is repeated which suggests another significance to the emphasis of weight, but in a way to illustrate that this change is trying to make an impact and have a solid place and purpose.

 Additionally, ‘Song’ has a regular rhyme pattern it is apparent the last two lines in each stanza rhyme, for instance ‘tip’ and ‘ship’. As well as, the first and third lines rhyme at the end, ‘sung’ and ‘hung’ are some more examples. The use of rhyme supports the meaning of the poem because the fact that the rhyme is regular expresses the stability and unity of people coming together as one. As the rhyme becomes more evident, which is when the end of the two lines of each stanza rhyme this links to a change becoming more effective as people are tied to a collectively strong bond. This tends to happen when people protest together which links to Helen Suzman in a way.

Song can be linked to other poems, ‘The Furthest distances I’ve Travelled’ can be contrasted in terms of how differently rhyme is used and the effects it has in this poem compared to in ‘Song’ (Controlled, edgy humour). Also perhaps it could be linked to ‘Effects’ because the themes are completely different to one another ‘Song’ displays the changes people can make to the present which benefits the future. Whereas in ‘Effects’ it is filled with regret because the son is looking back at the past not being able to change it and shows a lot of grief towards the mother. 

'Material' - blog entry by Ikram & Oye

Material – Ros Barber

This poem talks about the importance of material and how material was valued more in the past than nowadays. It talks about handkerchiefs and how they were there for people in the past when people needed them. The shift in generations is spoken about and how society nowadays do not carry the same traditions as people in the past.

One interpretation we made was that the hanky was a metaphor for the mother always being there. It is given the characteristics of being soft and comforting just like a mother. The mother eventually ends up dying and gives her permission to her children to live life how they please. The mother shows love through handkerchiefs. Another interpretation we made was that it was tradition in the personas family to pass down handkerchiefs but nowadays people do not do this anymore. It says ''presents from distant aunts''. We concluded from this that handkerchiefs were meant to be family related and bring the family close in other words the hanky is family oriented. We also have this idea because it says ''neglected looking kids'' meaning that handkerchiefs were a way of bringing people together even strangers.There is a contrast in hankies and tissues. Hankies are strong and always there, however tissues are disposable and only used once. The hanky brings consistency and security and this can be concluded from the way the poem is set out in a chronological order of how time passes. The repitions of ''hanky'' shows how significant it is to the persona.

The poem is structured in 10 stanzas there is no regular structure. There is rhyme in the poem on lines 2 and 4 as well as lines 6 and 8. The words '' cloth'', ''shop'' and ''lace'', ''faith''. The persona believes community ties were stronger as well as people's relationships with mothers. The poem tells a story within itself which means there is use of an anecdote. The poem is based on experience. We can conclude this as it takes us back to the poets childhood and their relationship with their mother. ''I never did.'' The use of this minor sentence suggests the persona is reliant on their mother as she was the one always handing  her handkerchiefs. The use of the drop in clause ''she'd have one, always, up her sleeve'' also supports this point. This is because the adverb of frequency ''always'' elicits the hanky is always there just as a mother is always there for her children and there for causing her children to be reliant on her.

In the last stanza the persona becomes personal when mentioning their own mother. The use of the first person creates an impact on the reader as the reader will feel sympathy and may be able to relate.

'On Her Blindness' - blog entry by Ava

On Her Blindness

On Her Blindness (2007) by Adam Thorpe is a poem exploring the roles between parent and child and how we deal with shifts in that relationship.

The poem has 23 stanzas all with 2 lines apart from the last which has one.

The title is a take on Milton’s sonnet On His Blindness written in the 12^th Century about how though a carpenter becomes handicapped and can’t work any longer he is still equal in the eyes of God to an able bodied worker as “they also serve who only stand and wait." This sonnet contradicts Thorpe’s poem as the voice of the sonnet is the sufferer and Thorpe is the observer in On Her Blindness. 

Thorpe’s use of colour is interesting, it is mentioned twice in the poem: the beginning and end. The first mention of colour is a “pitch black room”, the world through his mother’s eyes. The second mention is of “autumn trees”: “golden”, “ablaze with colour” the world his mother would never see again, living or dead.

The use of Thorpe’s name in the poem makes it extremely personal. Although it is a poem and intended to create emotional stirrings within its readers the strong connection the poet clearly has to this subject allows the reader to almost live in Thorpe’s memories. Most poets write from experience but what Thorpe has written, during the poem becomes more than that, it becomes more of a free association writing piece on his feelings about his mother’s handicap. He expresses freely shame in his actions and responses through his description of himself: sop, inadequate and locked in son. Ironic as blindness literally locks up his mother in ways instead of his metaphorical emotional lock in. The poet makes clear his regrets of not being there for her at her most vulnerable.

Thorpe, seemingly at the time could not handle the shift in his and his mother’s relationship that made him the carer.  He shows this through inappropriate jarring attempts at humour throughout the sad poem such as: “bumping into walls like a dodgem”, providing the poem with an extra layer of emotion. The juxtaposition of the “locked in son” and the blind women that “kept her dignity” whilst in a “living hell” showing the strange antiheroic complex Thorpe has. In her time of need the mother is still portrayed as a column of strength in Thorpe’s life when it should be the other way round. Even when she is “too weak to move”  on her deathbed she cannot rely on her son for strength as he talks to her of the beauty of “the autumn trees” “forgetting” that she is unable to appreciate it. Thorpe’s denial of his mother’s worsening condition comes off as careless at times such as when she tells him at dinner that she’d “bump herself off” if not for “hope” and he couldn’t “recall what [he] replied”. A parent talking of suicide would be a memorable moment for most people. 

One of the main themes of On Her Blindness is deterioration. Setting is used to convey this well. The readers are first introduced to Thorpe’s mother in a restaurant in Paris, we are parted from her when she is in a coffin. This is a literal way of seeing how his mother’s life changed towards the end: her relationship with her son declined, her health her living standard. One of the only things that stayed constant was her determination to “ignore the void”.  Thorpe refuses to romanticize the idea of blindness due to his raw and realistic representation of his mother’s dilemma, he reinforces the idea of “living hell” throughout. The use of “Adam[‘s]” own name is a concrete refusal of any romanticizing of the situation, he has lived it, it is real life, it is a “living hell”.