chainsaw vs the pampas grass Flashcards
themes
- gender roles
- human beings relationship with nature/ the natural world
- technology
- power (over nature)
- stereotypical masculinity
presentation of the chainsaw
stereotypically masculine, destructive, dominating
“grinding its teeth”
“gunned the trigger” (theme of technology)
presentation of the pampas grass
stereotypically feminine, passive, delicate
final presentation of the pampas grass
powerful, dominant, indestructible and a source of life
“twelve foot spears”
“a new crown”
“bloody desire, its sweet tooth”
personification
presentation of men as powerful
“drumming in its heart”
“gargle in its throat”
- feeling of closeness to the machine
- the idea that the chainsaw acts as an extension of the body
description of pampas grass
“stealing the show”
“ludicrous feathers”
“twelve foot spears”
“swooned”
The grass is personified as being stereotypically feminine and is described as taking vast care in its looks.
But despite this, there is an underlying aura of power, “twelve foot spears”
“twelve foot spears”
metaphor for power
“it didn’t exist”
shows the overwhelming destructive ability of the chainsaw
- domination and destruction of nature
“I lifted the fringe of undergrowth”
theme of sexual aggression
- personification
“till what was left was a flat stump of a manhole cover”
Nature is reduced to a man made object
“closed and mended behind, like cutting at water or air with a knife”
simile
- portrays the indestructible nature of the pampas grass and powerless of the manmade saw
“riding high in its saddle, wearing a new crown”
- theme of regrowth and renewal of nature
- metaphor - symbol of nature as powerful
“Coen in Egypt”
- biblical reference - abundance/ powerful
“like the midday moon”
- simile
- shows that the speaker is now passive, the role between man and woman have been reversed
