Movement Description:
The Beat poetry style of writing began during the 1940's in New York City, and along the west coast. Some poets who preferred to use beat style poetry were people such as Allan Oinsberg, Gary Snyder, and Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Beat style poems were known for their constant battles against social conformity and literary tradition. Nowadays, typically poets who write beat style poems are perceived as those who tend to abuse drugs and other medications, as well as alcoholic beverages. In result to the use of drugs and alcohol, many poets of the Beats Movement, channeled higher levels of thinking and which would often affect their diction and actions. Its believed that most poets who used Beats style poetry were Buddhist, and would often times take things they have previously learned and experienced and put them into their poems.
The Beat poetry style of writing began during the 1940's in New York City, and along the west coast. Some poets who preferred to use beat style poetry were people such as Allan Oinsberg, Gary Snyder, and Lawrence Ferlinghetti. Beat style poems were known for their constant battles against social conformity and literary tradition. Nowadays, typically poets who write beat style poems are perceived as those who tend to abuse drugs and other medications, as well as alcoholic beverages. In result to the use of drugs and alcohol, many poets of the Beats Movement, channeled higher levels of thinking and which would often affect their diction and actions. Its believed that most poets who used Beats style poetry were Buddhist, and would often times take things they have previously learned and experienced and put them into their poems.
Poem Analysis:
This poem was very complex and without the ability to close read one couldn't easily comprehend what's going on. It seems that the author is lost and struggling to find out who he really is, thus, the reason that towards the end, he includes the fact that most people living by mask and hiding themselves. Now, just as any confused person the author does things that may not have 100% accurate reasoning behind them. For example, he often mocks Eastern Chinese culture and steals others' ideas while trying to discover who he really is. |
Literary Devices:
Kenneth Slessor, used a variety of figurative language throughout this poem. Some of them included the use of personification, reflections, and many more. Slessor used personification when he said, "...their pockets fat with riches out of reason...". This takes place around the time he begins to describe the Eastern Chinese culture. POEM LINK: http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/176478 |