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’.
Chainsaw versus the Pampas Grass It seemed an unlikely match. No gearing up or getting to speed, just an instant rage, the rush of metal lashing out at air, connected to the mains. The pampas grass with its ludicrous feathers and plumes. The pampas grass, taking the warmth and light from cuttings and bulbs, sunning itself, stealing the show with its footstools, cushions and tufts and its twelve-foot spears. I lifted the fringe of undergrowth, carved at the trunk – plant-juice spat from the pipes and tubes and dust flew out as I ripped into pockets of dark, secret warmth. Then cut and raked, cut and raked, till what was left was a flat stump the size of a barrel lid that wouldn’t be dug with a spade or prised from the earth. I poured barbecue fluid into the patch and threw in a match – it flamed for a minute, smoked for a minute more, and went out.
‘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 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 genius Related Question:
What is the poem 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.
How is power presented in chainsaw vs pampas grass?
‘Chainsaw Versus the Pampas Grass’ Key Themes Power: There is extreme power exhibited by the chainsaw throughout the poem, with the potential of harm adding to the sense of power and brutality. However, the grass also shows power albeit more subtly in that it is able to survive.
How is masculinity presented in chainsaw versus 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 the structure of chainsaw versus the pampas grass?
Structure. ‘Chainsaw Versus the Pampas Grass’ by Simon Armitage is made up of eight stanzas of irregular lengths. They vary from five lines up to eleven. Armitage did not choose to use a specific rhyme scheme to unify the lines of the poem, nor did he structure the lines to a particular metrical pattern.
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 a minor role about?
‘A Minor Role’ by UA Fanthorpe explores the concept of an individual’s place in society, and the way that illness can impact it. Fanthorpe was born in London in 1929 and died in 2009, having become very well known for her work and her style of writing.
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 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.
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.
When was an easy passage written?
Julia Copus’s “An Easy Passage” won the 2010 Forward Prize and was later published in her 2012 collection, The World’s Two Smallest Humans. The poem follows a young girl who is trying to climb back into her house through an open window after sneaking out.
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 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 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.
What is the poem effects about?
Effects by Alan Jenkins explores the poet’s memories of his mother as, after she has died, he holds her hand and waits to receive her belongings. There is a deep sense of regret throughout the poem, with Jenkins wishing he had done more to connect with his mother while she was alive.