The poem's rhyme scheme is irregular, to say the least. Cummings was renowned for his experiments in rhyme and so it's not too surprising to see them on display here. Such examples include
We doctors know
a hopeless case if --- listen: there's a hellof a good universe next door; let's go (emphasis added)
The rhymes are only occasional, and when they appear they provide a counterpoint to the poem's loose-limbed structure—which perfectly conveys Cummings's contempt for the idea of human progress and the arrogance on which it is based.
Had Cummings resorted to a more conventional poetic structure, complete with neat rhymes and rhythms, then he would've undermined his own message. It would've been strange indeed to read a poem damning human beings for acting as if they're god-like and omnipotent that was written in a polished, formal style.
On the contrary, Cummings wants to show "manunkind" at his very worst: in all his arrogance and hubris. And what better way to do that than to use a zig-zagging structure with only the occasional rhyme peeping through the chaos?
https://web.cs.dal.ca/~johnston/poetry/pitmonster.html
Wednesday, January 30, 2019
What is the rhyme scheme of the poem "pity this busy monter,manunkind"?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
What is the theme of the chapter Lead?
Primo Levi's complex probing of the Holocaust, including his survival of Auschwitz and pre- and post-war life, is organized around indiv...
-
The statement "Development policy needs to be about poor people, not just poor countries," carries a lot of baggage. Let's dis...
-
James is very unhappy on a number of occasions throughout the story, but he's especially unhappy with his life situation as the story be...
-
Primo Levi's complex probing of the Holocaust, including his survival of Auschwitz and pre- and post-war life, is organized around indiv...
-
One of the plot lines in Pride and Prejudice is Mrs. Bennet’s plan to marry off her daughters, preferably to rich men. Throughout the novel...
-
As if Hamlet were not obsessed enough with death, his uncovering of the skull of Yorick, the court jester from his youth, really sets him of...
-
Under common law, any hotel, inn, or other hospitality establishment has a duty to exercise "reasonable care" for the safety an...
-
Note that these events are not in chronological order. The story is told by the narrator, looking back upon her life. The first notable even...
No comments:
Post a Comment