CHAINSAW VS THE PAMPAS GRASS Flashcards
what is it about?
explores the relationship between man and nature
could also be the relationship between genders
basically considers both power and masculinity - symbolised in the chainsaw
inconsistency of structure
line length is massively varied - as well as stanza length
could represent destructive nature of the chainsaw to disrupt and damage the structure of the poem
lack of enjambment between stanzas
each stanza is end stopped - represent how humanity imposes barriers and confines natural forms
feels more forced
personification of the chainsaw
‘grinding its teeth’
‘it knocked back’
make the object seem formidable, gives it the power of humans
represents how humans are destructive
the chainsaw seethed
personification
sibilance - burning emotion
intimidates and worries the reader
plant juice spat from the pipes and tubes
spat; shows a disregard for nature and shows how violent the chainsaw is
plant juice links to blood - disturbing, invokes the idea of pain and suffering - empathy for the grass
sunning itself, stealing the show with its footstools
sibilance in this line shadows the sibilance used with the chainsaw - potential for power
grass can survive with grace, ease and beauty
no gearing up or getting to speed, just an instant rage
highlights aggression, connotates the chainsaw to a typical idea of men, and how pent up anger is released in outburst of violence
the pampas grass with its ludicrous feathers and plumes
pampas grass representing femininity
narcissistic, artificial
unnecessary nature of female interests
links to ‘sunning itself’ - effort to be beautiful
by june it was… wearing a new crown
female victory over men
an often occurrence - ‘new’, one of many
the grass - ‘new shoots like asparagus tips sprang up from its nest’
the chainsaw - ‘engine oil’, and speaker has to switch it on
nature is superior, has an independent power
anything created by humans is dependent on them
hard and plosive sounds
back to the socket and flicked the switch
= anger and aggression
MASCULINITY
men are the stronger and dominant sex
but women have a quiet strength and win in the end
WAR AND CONFLICT
violent imagery throughout
the fight between the nature and the machine
STEREOTYPICAL FEMININITY
women are seen as weak and delicate
‘ludicrous’ and ‘stealing the show’ with beauty, aren’t taken seriously
