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Question: Compare the ways in which poets use ordinary events to explore universal themes in ‘Chainsaw Vs Pampas Grass’ by Simon Armitage and one other poem of your choice from the Poems of the Decade.
A Level English Literature
Consider:
Poet’s development of themes
Poet’s use of language and imagery
Use of other poetic techniques (structure/form)
Answer: Both Armitage and Motion use ordinary events to explore universal themes such as masculinity and its important role in society. Armitage uses gardening to explore the theme of masculinity whilst Motion uses builders. Both poems use language and poetry devices in contrasting and similar ways to explore the subject of masculinity. Throughout the poem, Armitage uses violent imagery to present the brutality of the chainsaw as well as its power. For example the chainsaw is described as ‘grinding its teeth’, here personification is used to make the chainsaw come to life and sound human, additionally the verb ‘grinding’ suggests an element of aggression however a psychosomatic interpretation believe that ‘teeth grinding’ indicates there is tension as a result of holding back what you want to express and so the chainsaw ‘grinding its teeth’ is indicative of the anger and tension ...(short extract)
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- Subject: English Literature
- Course: English Literature
- Level: GCSE
- Year: Not applicable
- Mark: Not available
- Words: 695
- Date submitted: May 21, 2017
- Date written: Not available
- References: No
- Document type: Essay*
- Essay ID: 7995
