"Where I come from" by Elizabeth Brewster: How does this poem vividly conveys the importance of places?
Extracts from this document...
Introduction
Where I come from: How does this poem vividly conveys the importance of places? In the poem ?where I come from? written by Elizabeth Brewster, the main theme of where we gre up from have been strongly conveyed by Brewster?s skillfull use of imageries, structure and the contrast between city life and life in the countryside- the place where the poet grew up in. Brewster vividly conveys the importance of places through the use of variety of imageries to enhance its importance. The first line ?People are made of places? ? we can see that the main theme of the poem is already introduced in the first line. Unlike other poets, by introducing the main theme on the first line successfully have captured the reader?s attention and shifts their thoughts to the ?place? and so acts as a way to open their mind to nostalgia. She then carries on with ?they carry with them hints of jungles or mountains?, ?smell of smog? in the ?atmosphere of the city?. ...read more.
Middle
?museum smell? suggests the lack of creativity and ?art? connects with ?guide book? which acts as a metaphor for the path of life, shows how art- the impulse for creativity, knowledge and freedom have been prevented or blocked. However, Brewster seems not to criticize the city life as is present in her tone during this stanza is seen to be quite calm- as she only lists the places out on paper with an ounce of thought. This makes the reader feel that the poet has respect for all places people grows up in and through the use of mathematical vocabularies and scientific vocabularies, through ?tidily plotted? or ?chromium-plated?, Brewster is simply stating the facts of the city lifestyle and how people can be greatly affect by it having a uniform life- furthermore conveys the importance of places. Brewster finally conveys the importance of places of where she grew up in- the countryside, through the use of effective structures and imageries. ...read more.
Conclusion
All of these imageries help the poet to enhance the place where she comes from- even more significant and impressive than city life in stanza 1, further vividly conveys how her place can affect her as greatly as everyone else and how she never erases the image of ?wood? in her mind. In conclusion, Brewster has weaved an intricate web of meanings and intepretations in the reader?s mind- especially signifying the places where we grew up in. Brewster have said in her last line which I consider to be most important: ?a door in the mind open, and there blows a frosty wind from fields of snow?. By using the door in the mind as a metaphor, the poet is saying nostalgia and memories coming back to her, and where ?frosty wind? in her hometown, Canada freezing in the winter, she?s brave enough to even admit the flaws in her own birthplace. But through all of these , the place she comes have helped her to become what she is today, and this makes the reader not only nostalgic, but also a sense of lovingness towards that ?place?. ...read more.
This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Post-1914 section.
Found what you're looking for?
- Start learning 29% faster today
- 150,000+ documents available
- Just £6.99 a month