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A LESSON FOR THIS SUNDAY
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Derek Walcott was a poet and playwright from the island of St. Lucia, who was born in 1913 and died in 2017. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1992 and was also a critic, teacher, and journalist. (more)
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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 (www.bulbsoup.com) 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.
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 (www.bulbsoup.com) 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.
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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. Poet: Derek Walcott |
LITERARY DEVICES
1. PERSONIFICATION
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3. SIMILE continued
praying mantis. The praying mantis has the title of one of nature's perfect predators. This (www.bulbsoup.com) 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.
praying mantis. The praying mantis has the title of one of nature's perfect predators. This (www.bulbsoup.com) 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.
- Stanza 2, 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 of humans to be both good and evil.
- Stanza 3, 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 (www.bulbsoup.com) 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.
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DEFINITIONS: LITERARY DEVICES
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TABLE: LITERARY DEVICES
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IMPORTANT WORDS/ PHRASES
5. 'the thought in things' (Stanza 1, line 8)
This tells the reader that the persona is deep in thought, she is reflecting.
6. 'break my sabbath with the thought of sin' (Stanza 2, line 11)
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' (Stanza 2, line 16)
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' (Stanza 2, line 23)
This line highlights how innocent the child appears to be.
9. 'The mind swings inward on itself in fear' (Stanza 3, line 24)
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' (Stanza 3, line 26)
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' (Stanza 3, line 27)
This means that summer, in all its splendour and glory, has lost its shine. It is disheveled. 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' (Stanza 3, line 29)
This implies that the persona is reflecting on the evolution of this cruel streak in humanity.
5. 'the thought in things' (Stanza 1, line 8)
This tells the reader that the persona is deep in thought, she is reflecting.
6. 'break my sabbath with the thought of sin' (Stanza 2, line 11)
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' (Stanza 2, line 16)
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' (Stanza 2, line 23)
This line highlights how innocent the child appears to be.
9. 'The mind swings inward on itself in fear' (Stanza 3, line 24)
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' (Stanza 3, line 26)
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' (Stanza 3, line 27)
This means that summer, in all its splendour and glory, has lost its shine. It is disheveled. 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' (Stanza 3, line 29)
This implies that the persona is reflecting on the evolution of this cruel streak in humanity.
THEMATIC CATEGORY: Nature, Death, Childhood Innocence
ATMOSPHERE
The mood of the poem is chilling and sad. This is because the questioning of innocence, by the speaker, seems so detached.
The tone of the poem is a reflective one. The persona is thinking about the cruelties of life.
The mood of the poem is chilling and sad. This is because the questioning of innocence, by the speaker, seems so detached.
The tone of the poem is a reflective one. The persona is thinking about the cruelties of life.
Contributor: Leisa Samuels-Thomas
Walcott, Derek. 'A Lesson For This Sunday' in A World of Poetry. Edited by Mark McWatt and Hazel Simmonds McDonald. Pearson Education Ltd, 2005.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Walcott
https://youtu.be/6hGuallLPcM?si=bwrye7TjFrwkxDbz
Walcott, Derek. 'A Lesson For This Sunday' in A World of Poetry. Edited by Mark McWatt and Hazel Simmonds McDonald. Pearson Education Ltd, 2005.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Walcott
https://youtu.be/6hGuallLPcM?si=bwrye7TjFrwkxDbz
