essay Flashcards
exploding the title
Use of present participle (‘waking’) suggests a process that is ongoing
‘With Russell’ – indicates a relationship of some sort
We immediately believe it to be a romantic relationship
We already understand that this seemingly insignificant moment of waking up in the morning is truly significant, having etched itself on the mind of the speaker
the sonnet - important notes
Sonnets contain 14 lines. Paterson’s poem is clearly a sonnet
Sonnets traditionally deal with romantic love
Paterson’s poem deals with love, but the paternal/familial love between a father and son
As it deals with an aspect of love, Paterson’s poem is, therefore, quite conventional in its subject matter.
form and structure
Challenges our expectations: subverts order of the Petrarchan sonnet form.
Begins with the sestet (six lines) and ends with the octave. In the opening sestet Paterson outlines epiphanic moment of waking up in bed next to his infant son
Beginning with the shorter section is apposite, draws our attention directly to the commonplace, ordinary or everyday nature of this event in parenthood.
Yet, by subverting the traditional order of the poem, Paterson signals its very significance in the trajectory of his life to date
In the longer 8-line section, the speaker takes the opportunity to explore in more detail the ways in which his life has been enhanced by Russell’s existence.
iambic pentameter
[whatev][er the][difference][it all] [began]
Here we have ten syllables in the line
We have five feet of two syllables
5 x 2 = 10
This gives us PENTAMETER
Why Use It?
Iambic pentameter is a basic rhythm that’s pleasing to the ear and closely resembles the rhythm of everyday speech, or a heartbeat.
line one - Whatever the difference is, it all began
“difference” indicative of change
Rest of poem defines what change has occurred
Fairy tale quality – ‘it all began’
Remarkable/unbelievable nature of story to follow
line 2 - the day we woke up face-to-face like lovers
‘Face-to-face’ is an intimate pose, one almost reserved for lovers.
Simile compares the overwhelming love he feels for Russell to the love one might only reserve for a lover
Reveals the connection or bond that these two people (the speaker and Russell) have
How does this link to theme (transformative nature of paternal love)?
line 3 - and his four-day-old smile dawned on him again,
The child – and not the smile – is four days old
transferred epithet for the newfound feeling that the speaker has had for four days
We also sense the vulnerability of the child – he is so young.
Metaphorical awakening highlighted through use of ‘dawned’. Paterson describes the moment when the baby’s smile dawned on him, which vividly conveys how the smile lights up his face
It also links to the morning and the idea of new beginnings, which adheres to the central ideas of the poem
line 4 - possessed him, till it would not fall or waver;
Personification of the smile – as though the warmth and love inherent in the child’s smile takes over Russell’s body. He is the embodiment of joy
Word choice – shows power and unrelenting strength of smile.
line 5 - and I pitched back not my old hard-pressed grin
Poet contrasts speaker’s affected smile (pre-Russell) with the genuine warm smile he now reflects back to Russell.
The poet notes that his usual hard-pressed grin, which suggests something forced, difficult and disingenuous, has been replaced with a reflection of the child’s innocent, joyful and sincere smile.
Usually it is a child to mimics the parent; here, the persona mimics the child. Again stressing how much this child is teaching/guiding the father.
line 6 - but his own smile, or one I’d rediscovered.
The son’s smile allows the poet to rediscover his own innate happiness.
intertextuality - dante’s inferno
14th century text
Tells the fictional journey of the writer Dante through Hell (‘inferno’)
In Inferno, Dante is guided on his journey by another poet, Virgil
intertextuality - meaning
Intertextuality is the shaping of a text’s meaning by another text. It is the interconnection between similar or related works of literature that reflect and influence an audience’s interpretation of the text. Intertextuality is the relation between texts that are inflected by means of quotations and allusion.
line 7 - Dear son, I was mezzo del cammin
‘Dear son’ is salutatory; it reminds us of the opening address of a letter. Highlights that this poem is not only about his son, but also for him.
We might also read a play on words in ‘dear’ as it means cherished.
Paterson draws on a quotation from Dante’s Inferno – in which the speaker describes his journey through purgatory. ‘mezzo del cammin’ means to be in the middle of life’s path
Here the speaker reflects on his middle age status, and the fact that his life was directionless/rudderless without Russell
line 8 - and the true path was as lost to me as ever
Lexical choice of ‘lost’ heightens this notion, showing his previous feelings of being directionless/confused about his purpose in life
The phrase ‘true path’ is both metaphorical and intertextual – it links neatly to the book of ‘Purgatory’ in Dante’s Inferno. .
Suggests that Russell has revealed the true path to him.
line 9 - when you cut in front and lit it as you ran.
This line draws attention to the abrupt nature of Russell’s arrival.
Persona describes Russell’s birth euphemistically as ‘cut[ting] in front’ – there is a sense in this metaphor that Russell has appeared in front of him and stopped him in his tracks.
Word choice of ‘lit’ shows the illuminating effects of Russell – he has revealed his father’s true purpose in life and brought joy to his life.
The fact he is running also reminds us of the boy’s youth and energy that revives the middle-aged poet.
line 10 - See how the true gift never leaves the giver:
The final quatrain returns to Russell’s smile. The poet refers to it as the true gift which paradoxically never leaves the giver – it is a genuine power the boy will always have.
assonance - repetition of vowel sounds
In lines 10 and 11 the poet makes distinctive use of assonance: ‘e’ vowel sounds (‘eeee’) and ‘I’ (ih) have a back and forth/see-sawing quality.
It shows the swapping/giving and receiving of love/reflection of smiles passing between them
line 11 - returned and redelivered, it rolled on
The use of the alliteration of r in the following line evokes motion, as if the smile is indeed rolling on to the next line
This is mimicked by the deliberate placement of the line break within the sentence
line 12 - until the smile poured through us like a river.
Paterson continues to use the initial smile mentioned in the first lines to represent the joy and love that pours through father and son.
The expression poured through us implies that Russell’s smile flows through the recipient, filling them with joy until they too experience the wealth of happiness. It is therefore viewed as being selfless and innocent
line 13 - How fine, I thought, this waking amongst men!
Moment of revelation for the speaker
Shows ecstasy in revelation
essay plan
Introduction: Title, author, task, techniques, three adjective descriptor, two sentence summary of poem
Paragraph One: Form and metre (sonnet and iambic pentameter) the powerful emotion they reveal, and how theme is established effectively
Paragraph Two: Imagery in the first sestet and how it reveals that powerful emotion. Reference three images.
Paragraph Three: volta (turning point), movement into octave, intertextuality x 2 quotations
Paragraph four: Positive implications of Russell’s birth, focus on range of poetic devices (euphemism, assonance, lexical choice and imagery), x 2 quotations
Paragraph Five: the poem’s ending, moment of epiphany, the re-awakening
Conclusion: What do we realise about the powerful human emotion of parental love by reading this poem?
line 14 - I kissed your mouth and pledged myself forever.
The word pledged indicates strong commitment, as if Paterson is promising to be a good father. This neatly ends the poem on a note of optimism.
