8/11/2019 English Poetry Essay

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Gwen Harwoods poetry encapsulates human experiences as both timeless and integral tothe formation of our present perceptions. From a modern perspective, I can appreciate her

exploration of universal themes, as it has enabled her poetry to appeal through time and

consequently achieves textual integrity by resonating with contemporary audience. Her

poem The Violets examines the significance of memory as a means to fuse the innocence of

childhood and the present, while Father and Child touches upon the transience of life toillustrate inventible nature of death.(Comment about question )

Time is an inevitable factor of life, which can only be reflected upon through

memory. Gwen Harwood explores this concept in her influential poem the violets, which

masterfully explores a childs loss of innocence to the unforgiving nature of time. The

poem unfolds with a reflective tone towards the transience of childhood, which is exposed

through the fragility of melancholy flowers. Harwoods reference to her hometown

mitchelton provides an autobiographical outlook to the poem linking it to early life.She skillfully highlights her own experiences with the constant she could not grasp

through the motif of violets, which act as a catalyst for memories. Furthermore, The link tothe forgotten is emphasized through the monosyllabic sentences during the indented

portions of the poem, which reminisce the ambiguous memories of childhood.Moreover,

The narrator personifies time and presents it as a fiend who stole hours of unreturninglight from her young and innocent counterpart. Looking at this through a psychoanalytic

lens reveals the fragility of the young mind and the inability to understand that yearscannot move.However, the narrator refuge in her past is embodied through the

alliteration showing that not even deaths disorientating scale (can) distort the lamp litpresences of her memory. This leads one to agree with Elizabeth Lawson as she states

that (hardwoods) work pursues the major theme of continuity of psyche through

memory which reinforces the psychoanalytic projection of the piece.Harwoods

influential exploration of time and memory in the violets ultimately shapes thereaders outlook on the abstract concepts of life.

Harwoods poem the violets explores several more empowering concepts including

how the progression of age discards innocence, replacing it with experience. This is

introduced through the concept of childhood uncertainty presented through the direct

speech wheres morning gone?, highlighting the universal innocence of youth.

Furthermore, the arrogant nature of childhood is imposed through the paradoxical refusal

to be comforted by the romantic magnificence of the sweet violets. In contrast, the

progression of the poem introduces the childs newfound understanding, which Harwood

highlights through the religious allusion of reconciliation . This shows the childsmatureunderstanding of the events granting her roots of experience. However, there is still a

constant sense of uncertainty which Harwood addressesthrough the inconsistent rhyme

scheme and the cyclic nature of the poem beginning and ending with the simple scent ofviolets.Harwood emphasizes these links to nature by categorizing herself as a romantic

and encouraging readers to have a romantic outlook on her poetry. This is visible through

the bird motif where the indifferent black birds are juxtaposed to the calling curlews ,symbolizing the narrators youthful attachment to nature, which has dwindled as a

consequence of senile experience. The violets influences a readers understanding of

experience and its ability to impact the innocence of childhood, by implementing a

plethora of finely woven poetic techniques.

8/11/2019 English Poetry Essay

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Knowledge and maturity cannot be attained without the loss of innocence . This

notion is exemplified through Harwoods seminal text, Father and Child,entailing a

protagonist child falling into the complexities of life and death as a result of her voluntary

actions. The barn owl stanzas unfold with the structural elements of iambic tri-meter in

conjunction with simple monosyllabic sentences, establishing a world of childhood

innocence and simplicity. However, the rapid juxtaposition of imagery between hornyfiend and angel mindreligiously alludes to the sinister experiences causing the childs

scope to widen and understanding to increase. Furthermore, the protagonists identity andindividuality is heightened through the ironic metaphor where he portrays himself as a

wisp haired judge.This temporary authority is drawn to an abrupt conclusion throughthe fragmented sentence I fired, showing the narrator that death is not clean and final

but rather prolonging and painful. The transition climaxes as the blank eyes shone into(hers), placing an emphasis on the loss of childhood innocence and realization of

mortality.. These realizations are accentuated through a psychoanalytic outlook, suggesting

how the innocent nature of childhood is set to an abrupt end through the penchant violence

of life. A psychoanalytical analysis of the motif of sight also enables the readers to

understand the conscious mindset of childhood through the misunderstood eyes that didnot mirror (his) cruelty.

Moreover, (link to question)is continually expressed within Harwoods pieces,

demonstrating how ones experiences encapsulate a growing awareness of an

inevitable mortality.Prominently found within father and childs [nightfall], theprotagonist is portrayed in a changing state as her knowledge develops an acceptance of

mortality influenced by her fathers impending death. We come to understand the fathers

previously established influence on his daughter, through the inter-textual reference to

king Lear stating that theresno more to taste, ripeness is plainly all. This reference

insinuates the profound experiences and achievements the daughter has accomplishedwith her father, educing emotions relating to their finite relationship. However, the

personas awareness of mortality is embodied as she pretends that death (is) no morethan sleep . The juxtaposition of death and sleep is strengthened by enjambment, hence

emphasizing the protagonistsacceptance of the finite nature of time. Ultimately, the fineline between life and death is mimicked to evoke pathos within the metaphor a string near

breaking point, Harwood thus compelling our acceptance of mortality. Furthermore, a

Christian reading of this text allows the reader to perceive death as the beginning of a new

life by alluding to the ambiance of Adam and Eve through the quote, father, we pick up

our last fruits. Harwood explores how maturity develops a greater appreciation of

the cyclical nature of life and unavoidable constant of death by implementing a

diverse range of masterful techniques in her work.