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A LESSON FOR THIS SUNDAY - Literature Notes
Please note that the information given on this poem is not meant to replace any material given in the classroom setting. It is a very BASIC giude to enable a literal understanding of the poem. Metaphorical interpretations should be sought in the classroom.
1.The growing idleness of summer grass
2.With its frail kites of furious butterflies
1.Requests the lemonade of simple praise
2.In scansion gentler than my hammock swing
5 And rituals no more upsetting than a
Black maid shaking linen as she sings
The plain notes of some protestant hosanna
Since I lie idling from 5.the thought in things,
Or so they should. Until I hear the cries
10 Of two small children hunting yellow wings,
Who 6.break my sabbath with the thought of sin.
Brother and sister with a common pin,
3.Frowning like serious lepidopterists.
2.The little surgeon pierces the thin eyes.
15 3.Crouched on plump haunches, as a mantis prays
7.She shrieks to eviscerate its abdomen.
The lesson is the same. The maid removes
Both prodigies from their interest in science.
The girl, in lemon frock, begins to scream
20 As the maimed, teetering thing attempts its flight.
2.She is herself a thing of summery light.
3.Frail as a flower in this blue August air,
8.Not marked for some late grief that cannot speak.
9.The mind swings inward on itself in fear
25 Swayed towards nausea from each normal sign.
10.Heredity of cruelty everywhere,
And everywhere 11.the frocks of summer torn,
12.The long look back to see where choice is born,
4.As summer grass sways to the scythe's design.
Walcott, Derek. 'A Lesson For This Sunday' in A World of Poetry. Edited by Mark McWatt and Hazel Simmonds McDonald. Pearson Education Ltd, 2005.
This is the OPINION of one individual, which might not coincide with the views of others.
LITERAL MEANING
The poem opens with the persona lying down in the grass and reflecting on nature. The persona's peace, however, is broken by two small children who appear to be dissecting a butterfly. The persona, who we learn is the maid, removes both children from their science project, but the little girl reacts by screaming. The maimed insect then attempts to fly and the persona ponders life and how cruel it can be.
LITERARY DEVICES
1. PERSONIFICATION
2. METAPHOR
3. SIMILE
4. ALLITERATION
Line 29: The sound of the "S's" almost lulls the reader into believing that it is a beautiful line, but when one examines the words, it becomes clear that it is a sinister reminder that everything must die. A scythe is a long curved blade at the end of a long pole that is attached to one or two short poles. The purpose of the scythe is to cut crops such as grass or corn, but it is also associated with death. For example, one can see pictures of the physical manifestation of death carrying a scythe, his tool of death. Therefore, every calm evening must end and everything must eventually die.
IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES
5. 'the thought in things'
This tells the reader that the persona is deep in thought, she is reflecting.
6. 'break my sabbath with the thought of sin'
Sabbath is usually thought of as a day of rest, so when the persona's sabbath is broken with the thought of sin, or the 'lepidopterist' antics of the children, it means that the serenity of the moment has been broken.
7. 'She shrieks to eviscerate its abdomen'
This tells the reader that the little girl is clearly very displeased when she is prevented from completing her science project. She does not merely cry, but shrieks, which is an extreme form of crying that is filled with emotion, not to mention a loud volume.
8. 'Not marked for some great grief that cannot speak'
This line highlights how innocent the child appears to be.
9. 'The mind swings inward on itself in fear'
The thoughts that occupy the persona's mind are fearful ones. She is reflecting on how even the most innocent of human beings can be so cruel, as well as the inevitability of death.
10. 'Heredity of cruelty everywhere'
The word heredity means the passing on of physical or mental characteristics genetically from one generation to another. Therefore, the poet is highlighting that the cruelty that the children exhibit is a trait that has been passed on and, like death, is inevitable.
11. 'the frocks of summer torn'
This means that summer, in all its splendour and glory, has lost its shine. It is dishevelled. The innocence and joy that the season represents is lost in the cruelty that prevails.
12. 'The long look back to see where choice is born'
This implies that the persona is reflecting on the evolution of this cruel streak in humanity.
TONE
The tone of the poem is a reflective one. The persona is thinking about the cruelties of life.
THEMATIC CATEGORY
Death
The poem opens with the persona lying down in the grass and reflecting on nature. The persona's peace, however, is broken by two small children who appear to be dissecting a butterfly. The persona, who we learn is the maid, removes both children from their science project, but the little girl reacts by screaming. The maimed insect then attempts to fly and the persona ponders life and how cruel it can be.
LITERARY DEVICES
1. PERSONIFICATION
- Line 1: It is significant that the word idleness is used to describe the growth of the plant because it implies that it is a peaceful and lazy summer day. It highlights that the persona is relaxing and is in a calm state of mind.
- Line 3: When one thinks of lemonade, it brings to mind coolness, freshness and relaxation. So when the poet says that the grass requests the lemonade of praise, there is an implication that it looks pleasant, and adds to the calm atmosphere that surrounds the persona. This achievement, therefore, demands acknowledgement.
2. METAPHOR
- Line 2: The butterflies are described as kites. This implies that they have some attachment to the grass, they keep returning, while constantly flitting away. They also appear to be as frail, or delicate, as kites.
- Line 4: A scansion is the rhythm of a line or verse. Therefore, this line is highlighting that the rhythm of the swinging hammock is a gentle one. This serves to re-enforce the relaxing day that the persona is having.
- Line 14: The child is described as a surgeon because he/she is doing something that is considered to be very technical, which highlights the serious interest that the child has in his/her's project.
- Line 21: The term 'summery light' implies a certain innocence that the child appears to possess, which completely contrasts with her surgical endeavors. It takes precision and coldness to stick a pin through any living creature's eye, something that an innocent child should not have the will, or desire, to do.
3. SIMILE
- Line 13: A lepidopterist is a person who studies butterflies and moths. Therefore, the fact that these children are frowning over their subject, implies a certain sustained intensity that is not common to children. This highlights the duality in human nature, the ability to good and evil simultaneously.
- Line 15: The term plump haunches brings to mind toddlers and very young children, however, this is contrasted with the children being likened to a praying mantis. The praying mantis has the title of one of nature's perfect predators. This is because it uses its prominent forelegs, which are bent and held together at an angle that suggests the position of prayer, like razor blades that take down prey that are up to three times its size. So the children, despite their look of innocence, are presented as a danger to nature.
- Line 22: The little girl is described as frail as a flower, but her interest in dissecting insects creates a clear contrast in relation to this. This, again, highlights the ability in humans to be both good and evil.
4. ALLITERATION
Line 29: The sound of the "S's" almost lulls the reader into believing that it is a beautiful line, but when one examines the words, it becomes clear that it is a sinister reminder that everything must die. A scythe is a long curved blade at the end of a long pole that is attached to one or two short poles. The purpose of the scythe is to cut crops such as grass or corn, but it is also associated with death. For example, one can see pictures of the physical manifestation of death carrying a scythe, his tool of death. Therefore, every calm evening must end and everything must eventually die.
IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES
5. 'the thought in things'
This tells the reader that the persona is deep in thought, she is reflecting.
6. 'break my sabbath with the thought of sin'
Sabbath is usually thought of as a day of rest, so when the persona's sabbath is broken with the thought of sin, or the 'lepidopterist' antics of the children, it means that the serenity of the moment has been broken.
7. 'She shrieks to eviscerate its abdomen'
This tells the reader that the little girl is clearly very displeased when she is prevented from completing her science project. She does not merely cry, but shrieks, which is an extreme form of crying that is filled with emotion, not to mention a loud volume.
8. 'Not marked for some great grief that cannot speak'
This line highlights how innocent the child appears to be.
9. 'The mind swings inward on itself in fear'
The thoughts that occupy the persona's mind are fearful ones. She is reflecting on how even the most innocent of human beings can be so cruel, as well as the inevitability of death.
10. 'Heredity of cruelty everywhere'
The word heredity means the passing on of physical or mental characteristics genetically from one generation to another. Therefore, the poet is highlighting that the cruelty that the children exhibit is a trait that has been passed on and, like death, is inevitable.
11. 'the frocks of summer torn'
This means that summer, in all its splendour and glory, has lost its shine. It is dishevelled. The innocence and joy that the season represents is lost in the cruelty that prevails.
12. 'The long look back to see where choice is born'
This implies that the persona is reflecting on the evolution of this cruel streak in humanity.
TONE
The tone of the poem is a reflective one. The persona is thinking about the cruelties of life.
THEMATIC CATEGORY
Death
Contributor: Leisa Samuels-Thomas
