" Identification of Modern metaphors, images and symbols from the poem " Blog Task

   " Identification of Modern metaphors, images and symbols from the poem "

                                                                                                            Task given by Dr. Dilip Barad.

(1)  "The Embankment" by T.E Hulme

                                               Modern poets and writers rejected the doctrine of  "Art for the Art's sake". they evolved the creed of "Art for life's sake". The writers concentrated their attention on the problem of modern life. therefore modern literature contains the quality of  "Realism". and poor became the raw materials of realistic novel, drama and poetry.

                                              This poem evokes the real condition of poor homeless people. and a " Fallen gentleman" reflects upon social problem.there are several modern images and metaphors that can be identified, As

- "Finesse of fiddles"

- "Flash of gold hills"

-"Star-eaten blanket" 

    

                                              What really matters in the life is the basic requirements like "Roti, Kapada, or Makan" and also the other necessity of human body such as Water, air, warmth etc. without that one can not imagine the human life.speaker realized that 'Warmth' is what really matters and is what poet should singing about. so poet implore God to make a blanket of the sky.

                                               "fallen gentleman" is also a modern metaphor which talks about the man who had succumbed to sexual temptations. speaker must be homeless. modern literature always deals with human existence. good literature always include what is necessary.  

(2) " Darkness" by Joseph Campbell 

                                               One can find a beautiful use of modern image in this poem such as 'Boghole' and also the modern metaphor like 'Silver ribbon'. 

                                               In darkness everything is invisible. this poem was written during 20th century. there was great impact of two world wars. and perhaps darkness indicates the horror and terror of wars. in this condition poet wants the light. but there is no ultimate solution of darkness(War). it is just an illusion and that is 'Silver ribbon' so poet look at it and made a poem. 

(3) "Image" by Edward storer

" Forsaken lovers,

  Burning to a chaste white moon,

  Upon strange pyres of loneliness and drought."

                                              This poem deals with the love theme. and also talking about the 'forsaken lovers', this is the modern metaphor, lovers are helpless and abandoned. 

                                              "Chaste white moon" is also the modern image. moon always gives light and peace. but it burns the forsaken lovers because they are on the strange pyre of loneliness and drought.

(4) " In a station of the metro " by Ezra pound 

                                              This poem evokes the mortality of human life. poet is busy in watching the human face on the platform.  " Apparition " is modern metaphor which is given to the human faces. Apparition means the ghost so it's connected with the appearance and disappearance. in the same way people in metro are like the apparition. and it also suggest the death of human life. 

                                               Central attraction of the poem is it's ability to unify man and nature. in second line it connects the man with nature. "Petals on a wet" is a modern image. Human beings on metro like flowers and trees, are constantly moving, growing and changing. 

(5) " The Pool " by H.D

                                               Imagist wanted to make their poetry hard to understand. Hilda Doolittle of course was an imagist poet of 20th century. one can find a remarkable modern image and metaphor such as, 

- 'Sea-fish' 

- 'banned one'

                                              one can interpret this poem as self reflection. and poet asking question to herself that 'are you alive?' and quivering like a sea fish is H.D's soul, and her consciousness. 

                                             In modern era there are several restrains and conflicts against women. in modern century woman has to suffer a lot. which is displayed by the image such as sea and fishing net. sea is the society and fishing net makes the woman feeling of being trapped under social laws and rules. 

                                             Woman does not have all the freedom of doing whatever she likes. that is why poet uses the metaphor "banned one". 

(6) "Insouciance" by Richard Aldington 

                                       Richard Aldington's life was full of stress after his divorce with Hilda Doolitte. this poem written year after world war one ended. in this poem poet describes that how life is full of misery and conflicts. at this time poetry kept him alive and happy. for writer or poet his work of art may be the central cause of happiness. 

            

                                       "White winged doves" is a modern metaphor.

(7) "Morning at the window" by T.S Eliot 

                                         The title of the poem "Morning at the window" is completely paradoxical to the theme of the poem. title suggests that theme may be joyful and hopeful. but the central idea is completely contrasting. 

                                          The main idea of the poem is poverty. it presents the picture of poor people. who have to face several hardship from morning to the late night. 

                                        Speaker of the poem must be visitor and belongs to the high class. because he is watching entire picture of poverty from his window. window also draws a clear line of difference between high class and law class. and the speaker must be the poet himself whose stomach is not empty, he has not to worry about bread and butter. so he can have ample time for the creation of work of art (poem). 

                                       Poor people have to live in basement because they can not afford the better apartment. "Rattling breakfast plates" shows that poor people have to work from early in the morning till late night. 

                                       There are vivid images that makes the poem imagist one. for eg. 

-"Rattling breakfast plates"

-"Damp souls"

-"Brown waves'

-"Twisted faces" 

-"Muddy skirts"

-"Aimless smile"

                                        "Damp souls" is an extremely negative phrase. which indicates the misery,stress and hardship of poor people. speaker is worried about the housemaids."Twisted faces" and tears in the eyes of passer-by shows the painful situation of poor people."Muddy skirts" of the girl shows the sympathetic situation of needy people. it's very hard for them to fulfill even their basic requirements. "Aimless smile" shows the "nothingness" of life. and also ask the question of existence. 

(8) "The red wheelbarrow" by William carlos williams

                                     The first stanza evokes the danger of so much depending upon someone or something. if rely on someone or something too much then it will become harmful. 

                                      central theme of the poem may be the agriculture. because wheel cart usually use by the farmer. it shows that agriculture life depends upon rain. it's too much dependents upon rain is harmful. so agriculture should be technically enhanced and update. technical ways of storing water should be there. in a way  poet perhaps talking about the modern technology. 

(9) "Anecdote of the jar" by Wallace Stevens  

                                 

                                  This is a imaginative poem which exaggerate the picture of jar. poet placed that jar upon hill. jar reminds us the Grecian urn of Keats. poet sings the glory of the jar. and also ask the question that which is superior 'a work of art or nature?'

                                    But at the end he concludes that nature is always superior than the work of art.  

(10) l(a.....) "leaf falls on loneliness" by e.e cummings

                                     This poem is full of simplicity. and structure of the poem can capture the eyes of the reader. Because of the war human life broken into several peaces. that can be seen through this poem. we can find the effect of the war on the structure of the poem. which breaks the poem in several half words.

                                     Poem also shows the pattern of falling leaves. and also the loneliness of the speaker which resulted from the war effect.