‘Chainsaw Versus the Pampas Grass’ is a poem by Simon Armitage which considers the relationship between man made, physical objects, with nature and the natural world, specifically using the symbolism of a chainsaw to show man’s interaction. ‘Chainsaw Versus the Pampas Grass’ Key ThemesPower: There is extreme power exhibited by the chainsaw throughout the poem, with the potential of harm adding to the sense of power and brutality. The use of different sounds created through the language in the poem makes ‘Chainsaw Versus the Pampas Grass’ a very interesting which is notable in the anthology for its ease and enjoyability of reading.
The pampas grass represents nature, which of course ultimately wins. The thrusting, posturing masculinity of powerful machinery – of which the poet seems rather nervous – ultimately loses, while the pampas grass has feminine-sounding ‘feathers’ and ‘plumes’. The metaphorical femininity of the pampas grass is expressed in its ‘plumes’ and ‘feathers’.
Armitage makes use of personification throughout this poem, using it to describe the chainsaw as a snarling dangerous animal, but also its victim, the pampas grass. The fifth stanza opens with a metaphor comparing the chainsaw to a sledgehammer and the pampas grass to a nut it opened. In the final stanza of ‘Chainsaw Versus the Pampas Grass,’ the speaker describes the anger, the chainsaw felt over being defeated.
The contemporary British poet Simon Armitage allowed his poem ‘Chainsaw versus the Pampas Grass’ to be published online on the Oxford Today site, so we hope he wouldn’t mind our offering a few words about this poem, by way of tentative analysis. In summary, ‘Chainsaw versus the Pampas Grass’ is about a man taking a chainsaw and cutting down the pampas grass of South America. Despite the chainsaw mowing down the grass with ease, the poem ends with a vision of the grass growing back, enduring despite the chainsaw’s best efforts to destroy it.
chainsaw vs the pampas grass Related Question:
What is chainsaw versus the pampas grass about?
In summary, ‘Chainsaw versus the Pampas Grass’ is about a man (we assume the speaker is male) taking a chainsaw and cutting down the pampas grass of South America. The chainsaw is ‘overkill’ where such a simple task is concerned: one doesn’t need to use an electric chainsaw to cut grass.
What type of poem is chainsaw vs the pampas grass?
‘Chainsaw Versus the Pampas Grass’ is a poem by Simon Armitage which considers the relationship between man made, physical objects, with nature and the natural world, specifically using the symbolism of a chainsaw to show man’s interaction.
How is masculinity presented in chainsaw versus the pampas grass?
In conclusion, both poems centre around a female versus male contest. Through the use of the chainsaw and the gun we see masculinity being a passionate, angry power while the pampas grass and the speaker in “The Gun” express femininity as consistent and gentle.
What is Simon Armitage’s most famous poem?
Simon Armitage was born in 1963 in Yorkshire. He was a probation officer in Greater Manchester. He is the current Poet Laureate of the U.K (2019-2029). His most well-known poems include ‘Kid’, ‘Homecoming’, ‘Poem’, and ‘Remains’.
What is from the journal of a disappointed man about?
‘From the Journal of a Disappointed Man’ by Andrew Motion describes the actions of construction workers who labor to build a pier. The poem takes the reader through the narrator’s initial impression of the men and then how that impression evolves as he studies them.
What is the poem material about?
‘Material’ by Ros Barber is an amusing, moving, and clever poem that speaks on the past and tradition through the symbol of a handkerchief. The poem takes the reader through the speaker’s youth and delves into her mother’s love of handkerchiefs. She always kept them on her person, usually up in her sleeves.
What is history by John Burnside about?
Within ‘History’ Burnside explores themes of war, loss, and human nature. The mood is solemn throughout with a few more peaceful and wistful sections woven in. Even when the mood lightens and the speaker depicts a scene that is more peaceful, it is never without the presence of darkness.
How is power presented in Eat Me?
Power: Throughout ‘Eat Me’ the idea of power is very important because it is fundamental to the ‘feeder’ relationship. Without this power it wouldn’t be able to operate, and the objectification and possession would not be able to take place.
What chainsaw do loggers use?
Stihl is the most popular chainsaw for professional loggers. It has a long-lasting chain, and you can also enjoy the exceptional cutting speeds available with this brand of chainsaw. Additionally, the chains are high-performance, low vibration, and quiet in their performance.
Can a chainsaw cut through bone?
Bones may be slightly tougher, but they are rigid and a chainsaw will likely be able to cut through them without much problem – though it will probably dull the blade more than wood.
What is Ted Hughes most famous poem?
1. ‘The Thought-Fox’. This poem, from Hughes’s first collection The Hawk in the Rain (1957), explores the writer’s struggle to find inspiration, which is depicted in the poem by the fox.
What is on her blindness about?
‘On Her Blindness’ by Adam Thorpe describes a mother’s life, her struggle with blindness, her death, and the family’s inability to understand what she went through. The poem takes the reader through several emotional passages that depict the poet’s mother’s frustration at her disability.
How is guilt presented in the Lammas hireling?
He says the traditional “Bless me Father for I have sinned” line and adds at the end that its been only “an hour” since his last confession. This speaks to his unshakeable guilt over what he did to the hireling, as well as his fear that what he did wasn’t enough and that the creature is going to come back.
What is the poem the deliverer about?
Summary. ‘The Deliverer’ by Tishani Doshi speaks on the prevalence of female infanticide in rural India and the lives of the women who help to commit it. The poem begins with the speaker stating that she and her mother are in a convent, looking for a child.
What type of poem is material?
‘Material’ is a poem by Ros Barber which considers the transition between childhood and adulthood, and the narrator’s nostalgia for a less consumer-driven world through the description of a traditional handkerchief.