Topic: From the journal of a disappointed man by Andrew Motion
Key Points/Arguments
Themes Literary/Dramatic Devices Techniques of whole poem
Social class ‘chains’, ‘cranes’ – monosyllabic, typical internal rhymes Regular quatrains, fixed unresolved
Gender ‘ruminative’ – adjective suggests the men are slow in thought problem (perhaps class system)
‘silent men’ – as an observer he feels superior to the,
(archetypes, ‘ignoring me’ – verb shows an engagement through his distance
differing ‘let go or hold tight; all monosyllables’ – British imperatives, class divide – somewhat direct communication
masculinity) ‘water’s edge’ – motifs of hidden depths of ppls lives
Society and ‘strength and experience’ – derogatory, lack of intellect
‘monsters’ – dehumanisation, unexpected metaphor
culture ‘tired, so tired’ – repetition highlights lack of communication – he distances himself (also repetitive reference to mens’
silence
‘crack of Doom’ – elegant reference to end of world, metaphor antithesis of literal workers
‘least an hour’ – spare time/concept of time differs to working men
‘one massive man’ – takes away identity, focus on stature (they are not thinkers)
‘down like a mystic into water’ – preposition derogatory attitude to working class, simile is antithesis to physical presence
of man, metaphor for bottom of social class
‘no one spoke’ – silence, political passivity?
‘slow descent’ – focus on slow adverb, ironic, solemnity links to mystic
‘original thinker’ – usually associated with intellect
‘walked away’ – shocked observer
‘eclipse of interest’ – not thinkers
‘suddenly’ – adverb, out of blue to observer
‘men followed’ – links to start, like cattle
‘in mid-air’ preposition of uncertainty, unresolved problem, wonders what will happen
Key Points/Arguments
Themes Literary/Dramatic Devices Techniques of whole poem
Social class ‘chains’, ‘cranes’ – monosyllabic, typical internal rhymes Regular quatrains, fixed unresolved
Gender ‘ruminative’ – adjective suggests the men are slow in thought problem (perhaps class system)
‘silent men’ – as an observer he feels superior to the,
(archetypes, ‘ignoring me’ – verb shows an engagement through his distance
differing ‘let go or hold tight; all monosyllables’ – British imperatives, class divide – somewhat direct communication
masculinity) ‘water’s edge’ – motifs of hidden depths of ppls lives
Society and ‘strength and experience’ – derogatory, lack of intellect
‘monsters’ – dehumanisation, unexpected metaphor
culture ‘tired, so tired’ – repetition highlights lack of communication – he distances himself (also repetitive reference to mens’
silence
‘crack of Doom’ – elegant reference to end of world, metaphor antithesis of literal workers
‘least an hour’ – spare time/concept of time differs to working men
‘one massive man’ – takes away identity, focus on stature (they are not thinkers)
‘down like a mystic into water’ – preposition derogatory attitude to working class, simile is antithesis to physical presence
of man, metaphor for bottom of social class
‘no one spoke’ – silence, political passivity?
‘slow descent’ – focus on slow adverb, ironic, solemnity links to mystic
‘original thinker’ – usually associated with intellect
‘walked away’ – shocked observer
‘eclipse of interest’ – not thinkers
‘suddenly’ – adverb, out of blue to observer
‘men followed’ – links to start, like cattle
‘in mid-air’ preposition of uncertainty, unresolved problem, wonders what will happen
