Subjects:
To begin reading a poem, I believe that it is imperative to identify major indicators of meaning, this includes aspects of setting and topic, as well as the voice of the person dominating or directing your reading. This can be achieved by looking for a clue as to the identity of the narrator, is it coming from a feminine or masculine point of view? “The Black Art” comes from a feminine point of view, the narrator is clearly female. The first stanza refers to women, “a woman who writes feels too much,” this stanza is ended with the key line “Dear love, I am that girl”. The u
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In stanza two the author switches from talking about herself to talking about the male subject, “Dear Love, you are that man”.
In the first stanza, I believe the author is trying to suggest that although women have important roles as mothers, and caregivers (children & vegetables), it is only a small part of our identity as a person. In stanza one the word “cycle” perhaps refers to the female menstrual cycle and to the feminine point of view, while the word “erection” pertaining to a mans genitals, highlights the switch to talking about the masculine perspective.
. Another example of the satirical nature of the poem is in the line “she thinks she can warn the stars.
The words used in a poem and their literal meanings are not the only way to decipher what the poem is about. The author established a firm identification with the female audience. We are able to make a clear distinction between the topics of the two stanzas by paying attention to some key terms of the poem. As a female reader the author has established a common ground with the opening line. The author has used the word ‘spy” as a rhetorical figure, using word play to produce an unanticipated effect without actually changing the meaning of the word used. ” The reference to the stars is the author making fun at the sheer possibility of women being ambitious (reaching for new height). For myself, it is clear from the line “A writer is essentially a crook.
Essay's Topics
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