Gwen Harwood’s poetry is very powerful for its ability to question the social conventions of its time‚ positioning the reader to see things in new ways. During the 1960’s‚ a wave of feminism swept across Australian society‚ challenging the dominant patriarchal ideologies of the time. Gwen Harwood’s poems ‘Burning Sappho’ and ‘Suburban Sonnet’ are two texts that challenge the dominant image of the happy‚ gentle‚ but ultimately subservient housewife. Instead‚ ‘Burning Sappho’ is powerful in constructing
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MODULE B: CRITICAL STUDY OF GWEN HARWOOD Through examining Gwen Harwood’s poems “Triste Triste” (1963) and “Father and Child” (1975) it becomes apparent that their enduring popularity is rooted in their exploration of issues integral in defining the human condition‚ in particular (QUESTION transience of time‚ but also the conflict between creativity and domesticity‚ the inevitability of loss of childhood innocence and the fragility of life respectively ). However; Harwood’s poems are not only
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The Violets by Gwen Harwood was written during the late 1960s and was published in the anthology Selected Poems in 1975. As we know‚ Harwood’s poems explore philosophical and universal ideas. Harwood herself says “My themes are old ones – of love‚ memory‚ experience etc”‚ all of which are explored in this poem through the use of poetic and language techniques. Literally‚ the persona of the poem is outside when some aspects of the nature around her‚ like violets and a blackbird‚ trigger a memory from
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Gwen Harwood- Father and Child The ability of a text to be universally accepted in a range of contexts ultimately determines its textual integrity and appreciation. Gwen Harwood’s work draws from the inspiration of her context‚ her lifelong influences‚ primarily music‚ her childhood and religious beliefs. This can be identified through study of Gwen Harwood’s poem‚ "Father and Child" that is able to be appreciated in a multitude of different contexts due to its universality and textual integrity
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Sylvia Plath’s poem “Mirror” and Gwen Harwood’s poem “In the Park” explore the concept of loss diversely. Plath’s poem surrounds the distress regarding the inevitability of aging and its impact while Harwood’s poem explores how the truth cannot be hidden when faced with motherhood. In the opening verses of “Mirror‚” the narrator commences its narration by declaring itself neutral. It announces it has “no preconceptions” and without bias or emotions it will metaphorically “swallow immediately” what
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alive’. When Harwood refers to the wind‚ she uses the particular image to allude to the human experience of loneliness and frustration‚ as the mother feels like she has nobody else to turn to. Harwood’s choice of words is monosyllabic ‘they have eaten me alive’ suggesting a sense of weariness and despair throughout the poem‚ in turn adding effect for the reader. The children ‘Draw(s) aimless patterns in the dirt’ metaphorically emphasizes her disorientation and lack of direction. When Harwood describes
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Gwen Harwood’s poetry focuses on the concepts of loss and consolation‚ which‚ through her exploration of universal themes and deft use of poetic and literary techniques‚ has continued to engage readers over the ages. My understanding of her poems resonates with these ideas about them‚ as does it the notion that Harwood’s poetry examines ideas of the growth towards maturity‚ understanding and wisdom‚ and the connection this shares with the conventional images of youth and age. The poems “Father and
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------------------------------------------------- ‘In the park’ – Gwen Harwood (page 151) Initial impressions: * First and last lines rhyme‚ middle two lines rhyme. * Generates compelling rhythm * About meeting someone form past – comparing life with past * Sense of how hard her life with children is – husbands’ decision? * Sense of loss of individuality‚ sacrifice for children especially in comparison to past life. Line 1: * ‘her clothes are out of date’ connotation –
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In the park‚ is a sonnet which was written by Gwen Harwood. The sonnet explores the concept of sacrifice by demonstrating the relationship of two individuals‚ including a woman who is bound by her responsibilities of motherhood. The perspective given about the concept is coming from two different individuals. The unidentified woman’s perspective is a reflection of her life‚ which is an emotional life journey. She is bound by her responsibilities as a mother‚ which stops her from pursuing her goals
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experience articulates social and cultural traditions‚ allowing the poet to endorse or critique the naturalized values of his or her culture. In her two sonnets‚ In the Park‚ and Suburban Sonnet: Boxing Day‚ the Australian poet Gwen Harwood uses the generic conventions of poetry to construct a central persona who‚ through their voice‚ conveys the social expectations of women in 1950s suburban Australia. Both sonnets centre on a mother dealing with the everyday challenges of motherhood and through the
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