Poem Analysis Not Waving But Drowning - 1263 Words

The poem Not Waving but Drowning was published in 1957 and is one of Stevie Smith s most well-known poems. Reading the poem, some may feel a chill of desperation and a sense of longing for someone. The plot of the story is a man s journey to a place of despair ,and no matter what the man accomplishes he will eventually drown.Stevie Smith s Not waving but Drowning uses figures of speech such as imagery, and allegory. The imagery adds a visual to what the characters world is like in his eyes, The use of allegory is to get a message across to its readers without actually saying it.He is battling an obstacle that he feels can never be overcome. With all the disappointment and regrets crushing over him, he is broken . Not Waving but drowning, begins with a straightforward cry for help. A man drowning and all he is too far away to be seen or heard by his friends. What is interesting about the poem, is its use of depressing humor, and ridiculous comments about the man. In an article written by Edward J. Mallot called â€Å"Not Drowning but Waving: Stevie Smith and The language of the Lake.†, Mallot explains Stevie Smith s writing style, and technique. The article lists three different personas used in the poem. Knowing the different personas helps the reader understand what is going on. The list of personas include the audience, the man drowning and his peers which Mallot puts into detail in his article,â€Å"The drowned man trying†¦ and still failing†¦ to articulate his unhappiness,Show MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Poem Not Waving But Drowning By Stevie Smith1193 Words   |  5 Pages Five Poem Assignment 1. â€Å"Not Waving but Drowning† by Stevie Smith has three stanzas, all of which are quatrains and are rhymed abcb . The genre is a lyric and the theme is death and isolation. In the beginning of the poem, the narrator tells us that nobody heard the drowning man or his recounting moans for help yet he continued to cry, waving his arms hoping someone would come and save him. By waving his arms the crowd believed that this was just a friendly gesture so we can interpret that atRead MoreStudy Notes on Out of the Blue by Simon Armitage3230 Words   |  13 PagesAnalysis of the poem Simon Armitages poem Out of the Blue is taken his from 2008 anthology of the same name. According to the books publishers, the poems in the anthology are presented in the form of a respone to  three separate conflicts, all of which have  changed the  world we live  in. Told from the point of view of an English trader working in the North Tower of the World Trade Centre, the poem forms part of the film Out Of The Blue  commissioned by Channel 5 and broadcast five years afterRead Morepreschool Essay46149 Words   |  185 Pagesfrom diverse linguistic or cultural communities, arts-based activities can provide a link between home and preschool. Teachers welcome children’s cultures to preschool programs when they encourage children and families to share songs, dances, poems, music, visual art, or art-related objects and practices from home. Programs serving diverse children can create positive learning opportunities, culturally relevant curricula, and a sense of community by including visual and performing arts that