As froth on the face of the deep Flashcards
when was it written
1893, year before death (became increasigly religious)
whats the structure
-short devotional poem of 8 lines
-1 stanza 8 lines
-first 7 lines in iamic tetrameter (regualrity shows stability of god)
-last line in trochaic dimeter (introduces gods presence)
effect of listing and full stop on last line
7 fitrst lines end in a comma, the full stop on the last line shows the finality of god.
effect of anaphora repetitionof AS
makes poem more accessible and relatable
what is the biblical refenece of ‘the face of the deep’
genesis 1:2 creation story where ‘the face of the deep’ refers to the surface of the dark roaring ocean that covered the surface of the earth before land was created
-shows the world is empty and bleak without god
‘as froth on the face of deep’
‘froth’ and ‘foam’ symbolise life without god
frictive alliteration connects ‘froth’ and ‘face of foam’
‘as foam on the crest of the sea
vivid image of sea invites us to imagine the expansive nature of sea in the creation story
‘as dreams at the waking of sleep’
similie invites us to consider the fleeting nature of dreams
what is a gourd and how is it a biblical reference
-a squash/ pumpkin
-biblical reference mentioned 4 times in Jonah 4
significance of ‘harvest’
harvest is potentially a reference to judgement day (god will harvest all souls)
‘no man shall reap’
suggestive of failed harvest
‘as vintage as that shall never be’
vintage refers to the produce of grapes in the harvest season
significance of switch from grand to domestic imagery
shows gods importance in all aspects of the
juxtaposition of froth and foam
shows lack of purpose without god
potential comparisons
RELIGIOUS DEVOTION - ‘A Christmas Carol’, ‘A Birthday’, ‘A Helpmeet for Him’
THE NATURAL WORLD - ‘May’, ‘An Apple Gathering’,
‘o my god, unto thee’
direct reference to god
