Comparison between Vachel Lindsay, The Flower-Fed Buffaloesand Matthew Arnold, Dover Beach
Analyse how 2 poems you have studied this year have used the natural world to highlight a key theme/idea? Lament poemPoem is here:http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2078/is_2_44/ai_71317807/The usurpation of nature; death and destruction. These are the themes focused on in the poem’s “Lament” by Gillian Clarke and “The Flower-Fed Buffaloes” by Vachel Lindsay and both have a nature influenced genre which focuses on the plight of nature.Both poets use a range of poetic language features to show us the destruction man has inflicted to nature; the more common of these techniques include; similes, metaphors, repetition, imagery and euphemisms. These poets highlight the wrongs committed to the natural world, as a result from trivial and unnecessary actions from mankind.Lament is a poem telling us of the destructive and obsessive nature of man; which not only
affects animals and the other aspects of the natural world, but innocent children such as “the farmer’s sons” and “the boy fusilier” who have joined the insanity in war, merely for trivial reasons such as “company” and “music.” Clarke shows her shock at innocent boys being so adversely affected, especially when they would have probably been in innocent and noble positions such as “farmers” and teachers. This is contrasted with the pitiful job they now have; wading in a sea of thick, red, unavoidable blood. She is disgusted that their only reasons for joining the madness of war are trivial; ...
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affects animals and the other aspects of the natural world, but innocent children such as “the farmer’s sons” and “the boy fusilier” who have joined the insanity in war, merely for trivial reasons such as “company” and “music.” Clarke shows her shock at innocent boys being so adversely affected, especially when they would have probably been in innocent and noble positions such as “farmers” and teachers. This is contrasted with the pitiful job they now have; wading in a sea of thick, red, unavoidable blood. She is disgusted that their only reasons for joining the madness of war are trivial; easily achievable in more peaceful and satisfying ways. This is shown by the sad and grieving use of personification “For the cormorant in his funeral silk” and listing when she tells us “The Ocean’s lap” has a “mortal stain.” and the use of imagery “The soldier in his uniform of fire” further displays the sad plight of the young soldiers. These images show us the pain and anguish inflicted on nature and her animals; “the whale struck dumb by the missiles thunder” is an example of metaphor which Clarke uses to show this. She then proceeds to tell us even the innocent “farmer’s sons” are not exempt from the madness that has gripped those combating in the Gulf War.Repetition, listing, personification and euphemisms, these are poetic techniques used by Lindsay in her poem “Flower-fed buffaloes” and which show us the follies of man, which have resulted in the elimination of such beautiful and heavenly creatures. The first half of the poem has a soothing and caressing atmosphere; there is “perfumed grass” and “prairie flowers” which is coupled with a positive diction. An example of this effervescent diction is when Lindsay uses personification to tell us there are “locomotives singing.” This adds to a heavenly and desirable setting in which “flower-fed” buffaloes are numerous and peaceful. However, this is contrasted heavily when Lindsay sadly uses euphemisms’ and listing to hide her pain and disgust as she tells us the Buffaloes, Blackfeet” and “Pawnees.” are all euphemistically “lying low.” Clarke uses various poetic techniques and diction to tell us we should “lament” the atrocities and affliction that is being suffered by animals and nature; a result of a pointless and preventable feud. She is telling us that we should not cause unnecessary harm and suffering, especially to things that cannot defend themselves, and over trivial reasons. Clarke reinforces this theme when she hints connotations of death when she tells us the Earth is “burnt” and the “sun put out.” She also tells us of the “slow dying” suffered from “the stink of anger” which heightens our feeling of guilt; our actions have caused death and sufferingLindsay is telling us that we should remember the animals, the peace, the heaven, that used to be nature, and how we have transformed the land, to suit our needs; using repetition “wheels and wheels and wheels spin by.” She tells us man only cares for what he uses, destroying everything else, an example of this is when we are told using passion and listing “they gore no more, they bellow no more, they trundle around the hills no more.” She also tells us, the spring, being a useful resource for man, is “still sweet” which further reinforces the claim that we are selfish and cannot restrain our insatiable wants.Both these poems, in summary, send us a very strong message, that we cannot sustain our cruelty that we have so well tried to veil from our minds. I have learnt to appreciate nature, and not cause any unjust suffering if I can help it, we have caused so much damage, and it is only fair that we repay our debts. We do not want to make our race, or another, euphemistically “lie low.”
