"Digging" by Seamus Heaney is a great example of the use of imagery. With a line like "When the spade sinks into the gravelly ground," one can recall from memory the feeling sinking a shovel or spade into the earth. Another good use of imagery is when Heaney describes "The cold smell of potato mould, the squelch and slap of soggy peat," because these things also bring about sensory sensory stimulation.
There is also a good use of symbolism in "Digging." In the way Heaney describes his use of a pen, he alludes to the past generations that had to do a great amount of physical labor in order to survive, and in this way his pen is the same in some ways as his father's spade.
"God's Grandeur" by Gerard Manley Hopkins is a Petrarchan sonnet that follows the rhyme scheme of abbaabbacdcdcd. The rhyme scheme of this poem is important because it helps to separate the original octave from the sestet, so one can see the different sections and analyze them separately.
Also interesting in "God's Grandeur" is the use of tone. In the octave, the tone is that of disappointment in mankind for no properly fearing God. However, in the sestet, the tone changes a bit, showing more hope and happiness than negativity that God will, for as long as the Earth is there, bring the sun up every morning and watch over all he created. The tone is important here because it completely changes at different points in the poem, from negative to positive, but ultimately is comforting.
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I agree with you. "Gods Grandeur" tone was a bit of disappointment, but the second stanza's tone was a bit of, "Well, the sun will still rise and God will still be there," type of tone, if that makes sense. He identifies with us all in a way that we can all be connected. How did you find the poem comforting? Besides the rising of the sun, which is nice, he sounds a bit angsty and mad at others.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Heaney used a lot of good imagery in "Digging." he really brings the reader in with "sensory stimulation" Nice job of breaking down the rhyme scheme on God's Grandeur, that poem was a little tough for me to get into.
ReplyDeleteYou definitely picked up on things in "God's Grandeur" that I didn't catch. I think it's really interesting how the rhyme scheme alone causes a separation in the poem. After reading the poem again, I can see where the tone changes slightly and becomes more positive. Knowing how this poem is set up also seems to help understand it more, seeing where the tone changes. Good job pointing these things out!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. The tone in "God's Grandeur" definitely changes. I know someone else asked how you found the poem comforting-- I believe it is too because in the last couple lines, the speaker talks about how the Holy Ghost "broods" over the world. We know he's there to protect the world, which is a comforting thought. But other than those lines, I would agree that he does sound a bit angsty.
ReplyDeleteI also thought the imagery in 'Digging' was great. He really made me feel like I was there with him; smelling the potatoes and hearing his father dig.
ReplyDeleteOh, and all those letters are insane. Woah.
-Rvr