However I feel that he actually uses comparative and associative tropes to get his message across to us, the reader better than the sounds of poetry. From the beginning he describes jellyfish as all the same and in the middle he uses similes to describe how they are different from one another if you pay closer attention to an individual. I think that this poem is a metaphor because Doty is actually talking about humans trying to change their “shapes” or “looks” to be individuals and so we, humans, are not all seen the same.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
"Difference" analysis
In the poem “Differences” by Mark Doty he wrote about the differences of jellyfish. Doty does not use many of the sounds of poetry. However, he used the consonance sound “S” in every stanza of his poem. He used at least two “s” sounds in every stanza. For example, in stanza seven line two saying “or a plastic purse swallowing itself,” you can see that the consonance sound sticks out and you pay closer attention to the details given by Doty. By having the consonance “s” sound it made the poem easier to read, more enjoyable to read, and allows the reader to gather the details. Doty also uses caesura to give the reader a place to stop and think about what he was trying to say, then starting a new idea or thought. For example, “...of metaphor. What can words do” we stop to think about what was said before and finish out thoughts.
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I find it interesting that you mention "humans trying to change...'shape' or 'looks.'" I never considered the poem to relate to other forms of change besides changing words. Until designer/fashion images were mentioned in class, I was pretty positive this poem was just about word style.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there isn't a formal structure of sound used in the poem, but I still think that there are many sound elements that add to the flow and changing shape of the poem. When the speaker challenges you to pay attention to the sounds of your mouth, you're almost forced to go back and read the poem again. For instance, when you re-read the poem paying attention to all the "S" sounds, the poem became easier and funner to read. There are many pairings that contain similar sounds within the same stanza like "SUBmarine" and "SUBterfuge." In stanza 10, "nothing but something" and "FIGures then reFIGuring" put emphasis on contrasts. Many kinds of rhymes and sound effects highlight important themes in the poem.
To me, caesuras and spondee serve the greatest function in the poem--especially at that point you mentioned after "metaphor." I'd be interested to know if you found the caesuras to have a structural function for the poem.
I too never thought that the poem was about "looks," but your interpretation is far better than the one I came up with. On further inspection, it seems as though the poem is actually quite critical of "shapeshifting" as in the second stanza, where caesura draws the reader's attention, it reads, "is it right to call them creatures these elaborate sacks of nothing?" Also, I agree that the poem's comparative figures of speech provide far more insight into its meaning than the sounds do. I most likely would have understood the meaning better had I not been concentrating so hard on using the sounds to find it. Of the sound terms used, I found caesura to be the most helpful in deciphering the poem. As you mentioned, it forces the reader to slow down and spend more time considering the importance of the line. I think you did a great job interpreting this poem.
ReplyDeleteHi Eric!
ReplyDeleteI agree with your interpretation of Doty's use of sounds in his poem. His frequent use of the consonant "s" contributes of the fluidity of the words. Just like how the jellyfish are fluid in their motions and appearance, the repetition of the “s” sounds represents the jellyfishes’ characteristics by aiding in the easy, smooth reading of the piece. I also agree with his use of caesura. The example you gave brings the subject of the poem away from jellyfish and to its new subject, words or humans’ mouths forming the many different words in the human language. You mentioned that you thought the author was using the jellyfish as a metaphor for humans themselves, instead of the words they use. It’s an interesting thought that can be analyzed further, but I think Doty is simply comparing the jellyfish to words. He talks about similes, metaphors, and trophs, which are components of the human language. But poems are always open to interpretation =)
-Ashley