History Flashcards
September 2001
the use of epigraph is a reference to 9/11 which serves at the bigger picture of the poem
key poem themes
the speaker is attempting to rationalise his existence in the present amongst the bigger picture of a significant historical event
Man made vs nature
Big picture vs present moment
Analyse the structure of history
the more chaotic line lengths represent the speaker’s day at the beach
The pockets of iambic pentameter present his attempt to structure and organise his thoughts upon the intrusion of the historical moment - more serious
The lack of punctuation represents the chaos of life and his thoughts
Today
the use of time marker roots us in the present at the beginning of the poem
Gasoline smell from leuchars/ war planes cambered VS the tide far our/ quail grey in the distance
There is a man made reference to the bigger picture to a RAF base, the use of active verbs reflect the ongoing disruptive nature of the bigger picture to the speaker’s mind, the more peaceful image of nature juxtaposes this
- with the news in mind, and the muffled dread of what my come-
the use of parenthesis highlights the speakers sense of worry and hidden doubt from the intrusion of the historical bigger picture in the present moment
With Lucas/ gathering seashells/ and pebbles/ finding evidence of life in all this/ driftwork:
The speaker experiences a peaceful moment but is still haunted by the somber thoughts caused by the bigger picture as the driftwork represents the leftover consequences and memories of the event
Snails shells; shreds of razorfish: smudges of weed —-> pocket of iambic pentameter
The use of sibilance represents the peaceful natural imagery, this is disrupted by the speaker’s sudden somber and philosophical thought intruding as attempts to land on an idea but it lacks clarity
Lines raised in the wind/ our bodies fixed and anchored to the shore
The speaker exists in the present moment but his attention is displaced by the intrusion of the bigger picture which causes him to focus on the background events and ethereal - they’re intangible to him
Reading from the book/ of silt and rides / of jellyfish and sea anemone VS petrol blue
The speaker still desires to be taught and learn from nature which highlights its importance to him as a peaceful image is created, however this is interrupted by the manmade intrusions that highlight its destruction to nature
Child’s first nakedness
The innocence of the child in the present moment juxtaposes with the chaos of the bigger picture which highlights its destruction
Sometimes I am dizzy with the fear/ of losing everything- the sea, the sky, all living creatures…
The use of listing highlights the importance of nature to the speaker as the manmade moment intrudes again as he fears the destruction of war - thus juxtaposes with the previous child innocence
We scarcely register the drift and tug/ of other bodies/ scarcely apprehend/ the moment as it happens
The reader expresses his powerlessness and struggle against the bigger moment which destroys
Ornamental carp in public parks/ hum of radio/ jamjars of spawn
The adult view on nature being quite manmade and superficial versions - destruction- in comparison to the childhood innocence of enjoying nature
But this is the problem: how to be alive/ in all this gazed upon and cherished world/ and do no harm
Speaker expresses concerns over the damage which mankind does to nature
Sifting wood and dried weed vs plugged into the sky/ all nerve and line/ patient; afraid;
natural marks that nature has made on history - permanency and importance - but the manmade intrusion show how the speaker is unable to fully appreciate the present moment as the stress caused by the big picture haunts him
Attentive to the irredeemable
The speaker ends the poem with a more positive tone as he acknowledges although his own world has changed significantly his son is still experiencing the present moment which is significant to him still
