chainsaw versus the pampass grass Flashcards
stanza lengths depending on focus
stanzas about the chainsaw are longer than the stanzas about the pampass grass, chainsaws control of the narrative reflecting male control of society and value of chainsaw over pampas grass by the narrator
enjambment
used with chainsaw to reflect his unstoppable feeding and reckless control of the narrative, gaining of power beyond the poem structure
extended metaphor
fem versus masculine, the chainsaw destroying the pampass grass (violence against women)
and the relisience of women as a threat to the destructive power of the chainsaw
“with the weightless wreckage of wasps and flies”
alliteration creates a sense of anticipation, building desire, tension and eagerness
assonance creates rhythym in the text, reflecting the rhymic and repetitive nature of the actions in the poem (the violence), how it is accepted and harmonised into the poem, it is not out of place or disharmonous with anything else
“the chainsaw with its bloody desire”
the chainsaw is made to be destructive, it is made with the intention to destruct and never taught to be anything else- can we blame the chainsaw for wanting to destruct?
rhyming pattern
there is a lack of rhyme, which could be the result of the chainsaw not having the control to keep within the poem structure, having too much power but not enough control (emphasised by the caesura and enjambment)
“ludicrous feathers”
“taking in the warmth and life”
“sunning itself”
male perspective judging and mocking the plant for plant activities (having leaves and photosynthesis)
reflects male obsession with female modesty and humbleness
“i dabbed at the stalk that swooned”
pampass grass swooning from the male violence, the author is criticising male views on the female emotions (lust or hysteria or fear)
natural reaction to being cut down yet is mocked for being melodramatic
”- this was a game”
metaphor about that meaningless of his actions to him, ambigiouty of games (gambling versus chess versus uno versus russian roulette) but treating all as a game reflects his indifference to the consequences as long as he has fun
“blade became choked with soil or fouled with weeds”
power shifting, as the physical body of the destruction destructs the chainsaw as well
reflects the inability to avoid the consequences of violence
“choked” reflecting the loss of his voice and therefore power due to his destruction of others
“new shoots”
re-emergence of the pampas grass despite the violence
“shoots” reflecting violence, but not towards anyone just violence to get out, reflects that violence could be used for good
“the chainsaw seethed”
“seethed” = unexpressed rage
the chainsaw is futile without its violence, the rage isnt able to go anywhere- cant use its violence to grow as it already used its violent against others, left futile and repressed
