I must complete an essay analyzing the atmosphere and how it's portrayed in Home for the Aged by Elizabeth Brewster.My question is how does the use of descriptive detail establish the atmosphere?
I do not know what the atmosphere is in this poem and I am confused on the meaning of the poem as a whole.
Home For the Aged by Elizabeth Brewster:
The old men sit, five of them on a bench,
Half sleeping, half awake, dazed by the sun,
In the muted afternoon, between one broadcast ball game and the next
Their thoughts are leaves that drifted across a sky perpetually autumn.
Their hands are folded: they have done with the Sunday papers.
Decorously shabby, decently combed and clean,
They watch with half closed eyes the passers-by,
The loitering lovers, the boys on bikes , the cars
Rushing eagerly to some scene of active life .
Their lives are folded up like the papers, and who can know
Whether their years passed sober and discreet,
With the measured, dutiful, regular click of a clock,
Or whether some old violence lingers still
In faded headlines on their dusty brains?
What boyhood do they wander in, what middle age forget?
And do they watch their dwindling stock of time
With hope, or resignation, or despair?
The atmosphere is depressing. These old men are near the ends of their lives and their thoughts are unknown.
"And do they watch their dwindling stock of time
With hope, or resignation, or despair?"
Thank you, but how do I write a 5 paragraph essay on the atmosphere? I am supposed to analyze and explain how it is portrayed. Does it work if I touch on word choice, imagery, and.. sentence structure( I do not have enough evidence)?
Yes. First write a thesis sentence. Your supporting arguments could be a discussion of the word choice, imagery, and sentence structure. Show how they all portray the atmosphere.
Ok I have ideas on what to discuss for word choice and imagery, but not sentence structure(all I have is the use of questions) so do you have any ideas on that? Or maybe another element of the poem I can use instead?
Please help Ms. Sue!
Stop. Hammer Time
To analyze how the use of descriptive detail establishes the atmosphere in "Home for the Aged" by Elizabeth Brewster, you will need to closely examine the poem's language and imagery. Here are some steps you can follow:
1. Read the poem carefully: Begin by reading the poem multiple times to familiarize yourself with its content and structure. Pay attention to the specific words and phrases used by the poet.
2. Identify descriptive details: Look for descriptive details in the poem that evoke a particular atmosphere or mood. Examples might include descriptions of the setting, the characters, or the emotions conveyed.
3. Consider the setting and imagery: Analyze how the poet describes the physical environment in the poem, such as the bench, the sun, and the passing scenery. Think about how these details contribute to the overall atmosphere.
4. Examine the language and tone: Pay attention to the words and phrases used by the poet, as well as the overall tone of the poem. Note any instances of figurative language, such as metaphors or similes, and consider how they contribute to the atmosphere.
5. Look for patterns and contrasts: Consider any recurring motifs or contrasting elements in the poem that help establish the atmosphere. Are there any repeated images or ideas that contribute to a specific mood?
Once you have completed the above steps, you can begin to analyze the atmosphere and overall meaning of the poem. Keep in mind that the atmosphere may vary depending on the reader's interpretation, so try to support your analysis with evidence from the text.