Page 1: Literary Analysis and Poetic Devices
The first page delves deep into the poetic techniques Armitage employs to create an intimate connection between reader and speaker. Through careful manipulation of personal pronouns and direct address, the poem immediately establishes a powerful emotional bond.
Highlight: The use of "you" throughout the poem creates an accusatory tone, making readers feel personally implicated in the speaker's fate.
Example: The line "You have picked me out" demonstrates how the speaker directly engages with the reader, creating an immediate sense of responsibility.
Definition: Anadiplosis - the repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the next clause, used to show the speaker's deteriorating mental state.
The visual imagery throughout the poem creates a devastating portrait of the scene, with particular emphasis on the contrast between the speaker's white shirt and the chaos surrounding him.
Quote: "But the white of surrender is not yet flying" showcases both the speaker's resilience and the tragic irony of his situation.
Vocabulary: Epizeuxis - the immediate repetition of words for emphasis, as seen in "waving, waving" to convey desperate urgency.