Dianne Williams Stepp's

The Filbert Orchard Ian Donlon

AP English 12 Ms. Kaste

Dianne Williams Stepp’s “The Filbert Orchard” portrays a uniquely haunting experience. The poem blaintly attempts to draw the reader in through its critical lense and perspective. Stepp’s usage of many carefully connected literary devices creates a distinctive tone, effect, and message that exposes the tragedy behind southern ideology and values during the civil war. The success of “The Filbert Orchard” can then be traced to its tight construction and use of historical references portrayed through literary detail.

Stepp’s choice of both imagery and metaphor comprise the poems strength in terms of its overall effect and message. Stepp utilizes imagery as a means of developing her message about southern ideology. This can be seen at various points in the poem where emotions, sights, sounds, objects, places, and figures are all being used to demonstrate the purposely behind a lost generation. In that they are continuing to fight even though family and friends may be on either sides. The author is thus indirectly questioning the ethical and moral nature of the south portrayed through her obvious literary judgments: “the way they staggered in rows down the hill. In spring they sprouted sparse flags waved them foolishly at the jays.” (Stepp, lines 4-7) In this example Stepp vividly uses the description of a tree for representation of the lost generations pride. Their pride in the sense of fighting a war that seems not worth fighting for both because of the scarcity of men and their inescapable death. Stepp also accomplishes her message through metaphorical comparisons, which aid in expressing the south’s futility: “A company of lost men. In the backyard at night, bare feet on the braille of root and stone, I heard them.” (Stepp, lines 13-15) This example exemplifies the foolishness behind the civil war struggle for it demonstrates that the confederate soldiers are walking blindly on “braille” as they fight on at night.

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The specific diction and rhythm found in the “The Filbert Orchard” heightens the southern messages and values in the text as well as delivers a powerful effect for the reader. The poem’s literary detail can be seen in its diction, which aids in the establishment of Stepp’s dark imagery. Early on the usage of alliteration with “gnarled limbs grizzled” helps paint a gloomy picture in combining images of sight, smell, ugliness, and people. “Moles at their feet carved generations of mansions.” (Stepp, lines 7-9) Another essential instance of diction is the usage of “Moles” in contrast to mansions. It could have been chosen for symbolizing the average slave’s role as well as the relationship shared by the master and the slave. It can also be viewed as slaves were merely property for an economic goal and did not warrant emotions to that of family if being compared to a “Mole”. Rhythm becomes a very important factor in the poem since much of its success is derived from intricately woven transitions such as: “They were like old soldiers gnarled limbs grizzled with lichen, the way the staggered in rows…they were those old fathers we never had…In the backyard at night, bare feet on the braille of root and stone, I heard them….like cries, calls in the dark like at Vicksburg: “Any of you boys from Missouri?” Success can then be attributed to this stylistic device because it gets utilized strategically to establish a number Stepp’s common themes like disillusionment, loss, and the corruption of the past and individual. The “Filbert Orchard” starts out with broad imagery and metaphors and gradually works into the realm of the very specific. This is best seen at the ending when it changes from imagery and metaphors into dialogue: “Any of you boys from Missouri? Seen my father? my brother?” (Stepp, lines 18-20) This change in rhythm forces the reader to go back and figure out the broader aspects of the poem. The bold statements displayed in the ending mark a distinct rhythmic change. In that before the closing series of dialogues the poem is merely ideological and crafted similar to that of a story. The ending changes that perspective and shifts the major themes of loss and disullisionment towards a more local individual level

The close attention given to literary elements ultimately enables “The Filbert Orchard” to achieve an extreme level of insight into the southern identity and culture during the civil war. Through its exploration of southern values translated into a vivid storyline the reader is blown away by its short profound thematic integration. The poem is aided by its progressive literal development from appealing to the general society to the localized individual. The journey becomes compounded with introspection because of its ornate literary devices.

PS MS KASTE: Did you choose this poem because of your interest in Faulkner and its relatable themes? What is your connection or fascination with literature about the south?