Glasgow Sonnet Essay
Glasgow sonnet is a touching poem written by Edwin Morgan and is about how Glasgow used to be, years ago and the effects that it had on people. It deals with an important issue such as poverty and we see the reality of it and how it shouldn’t be ignored. By examining Morgans use of techniques we will be able to seen more of the effects of poverty and how and things actually are Morgans makes the poem particularly effective by the use of sonnet structure, the first 8 lines show us the area and the surroundings and the second half shows us the inside of the situation including people having to deal with this poverty.
Straight away the opening line sets the scene and immediately gives us an image of the place and just how depressing the atmosphere is ;
“a mean wind wanders…”
Here Morgan uses alliteration and personification in describing the wind. He uses the word “mean” in describing the wind, we then imagine the wind having a strong, loud sound as it “wanders”. The word “wanders” suggests the wind is moving at a slow pace and entering loads of small places around the place. This gives us a start on what this place may be like as even the weather gives off a negative vibe about it. Though it is the start of dealing with an image of what the children are doing and how they live:
“play- fortresses of brick and brick-a-brac”
Here Morgan uses alliteration and harsh consonants in explaining what children do and what theyre playing with. Instead of playing with toys they are playing with bricks which are harsh consonants it suggest the children may have a harsh life and live in harsh surroundings. Here we are dealing with poverty as children shouldn’t be doing what is described in the poem and certainly shouldn’t be playing with such dangerous objects potentially putting themselves at risk. We continue to see what children may be doing in their spare time and also get an image of the building itself which definitely shows signs of poverty:
“four-storeys have no
Straight away the opening line sets the scene and immediately gives us an image of the place and just how depressing the atmosphere is ;
“a mean wind wanders…”
Here Morgan uses alliteration and personification in describing the wind. He uses the word “mean” in describing the wind, we then imagine the wind having a strong, loud sound as it “wanders”. The word “wanders” suggests the wind is moving at a slow pace and entering loads of small places around the place. This gives us a start on what this place may be like as even the weather gives off a negative vibe about it. Though it is the start of dealing with an image of what the children are doing and how they live:
“play- fortresses of brick and brick-a-brac”
Here Morgan uses alliteration and harsh consonants in explaining what children do and what theyre playing with. Instead of playing with toys they are playing with bricks which are harsh consonants it suggest the children may have a harsh life and live in harsh surroundings. Here we are dealing with poverty as children shouldn’t be doing what is described in the poem and certainly shouldn’t be playing with such dangerous objects potentially putting themselves at risk. We continue to see what children may be doing in their spare time and also get an image of the building itself which definitely shows signs of poverty:
“four-storeys have no