Page 2: Structure and Symbolism in 'Poppies'
The second page of the analysis focuses on the poem's structure and continued use of symbolism. The poem is identified as a dramatic monologue in second-person narrative, directly addressing the absent son. This structure emphasizes the one-sided nature of the conversation and the mother's isolation in her grief.
Definition: Dramatic monologue - A type of poem in which a character speaks to a silent listener, revealing their thoughts and feelings.
The poem's chaotic structure reflects the lack of control experienced by those left behind during wartime. It presents an outpouring of emotion, resembling a stream of consciousness that mirrors the narrator's uncensored thoughts.
Highlight: The chaotic structure of the poem emphasizes that the impact of war extends far beyond the battlefield, affecting families and communities.
Symbolism continues to play a crucial role in the latter part of the poem. The image of a songbird being released from its cage and a dove flying from a pear tree symbolize the son's departure and the mother's process of letting go.
Quote: "Later a single dove flew from the pear tree, and this is where it has led me,"
The dove, a traditional symbol of peace, is described as "pulled freely against the sky, an ornamental stitch." This imagery combines the themes of freedom, peace, and the domestic act of sewing, further interweaving the personal with the political.
The poem concludes with the mother at a war memorial, leaning "against it like a wishbone." This simile evokes the fragility of hope and the physical manifestation of her emotional state.
Vocabulary: Wishbone - A forked bone between the neck and breast of a bird, traditionally used in a wishing ritual.
The final image of the mother listening for her son's "playground voice catching on the wind" poignantly captures the enduring nature of parental love and the painful reality of loss, embodying the central themes of remembrance and loss in 'Poppies' by Jane Weir.
