Notes On Le Loopgarou
Notes on L’Loupgarou by Derek Walcott
This sonnet has 10 syllables to each of the 14 lines. The octave outlines the situation in which a man has been betrayed, and ruined and is shunned by his community and gossiping old women who spread rumours about him. The sestet gives details of the superstitious story which has an obvious effect on these people and how Le’ Brun met his demise.
The title of the Poem- L’Loupgarou is French for werewolf. French terms and French based Creole are still used in St. Lucia- the country where the poet is from.
Literal Meaning
The poem tells the tale of old Le’Brun,, a man who is rumoured by the town folk to be a loupgarou. He was therefore treated as an outcast or ostracized. Old women would gossip about him while literally shutting him out of their lives with closing windows. The prevailing gossip in this poem is that he transformed into a hound one night, but was wounded by his watchman. He then returned to his doorstep almost dead. The main idea presented in the poem also is the story of Le’Brun; someone who was feared by society because he was obviously different and this was even revealed through the poets presentation of his attire.
Devices
Oxymoron- Line 9 ‘Christian Witches.’ This oxymoron emphasizes the dual nature of the women in the village. They gossip because of the fear of difference they sense in Le’Brun and act in an unchristian like manner in their responses/reactions toward him.
Alliteration- Line 1 ‘tale that threaded through the town.’ The alliteration highlights the manner in which the gossip about Le’ Brun spreads throughout the entire village. The women thread the rumour as easily as they sew. It’s as though the way the gossip spreads is synonymous thread running throughout a garment.
Line 4 “slowly shutting” This alliteration speaks to the alienation that Le’ Brun has been subjected to. It also emphasizes that even though these individuals are closing their windows they do it slowly as there is
This sonnet has 10 syllables to each of the 14 lines. The octave outlines the situation in which a man has been betrayed, and ruined and is shunned by his community and gossiping old women who spread rumours about him. The sestet gives details of the superstitious story which has an obvious effect on these people and how Le’ Brun met his demise.
The title of the Poem- L’Loupgarou is French for werewolf. French terms and French based Creole are still used in St. Lucia- the country where the poet is from.
Literal Meaning
The poem tells the tale of old Le’Brun,, a man who is rumoured by the town folk to be a loupgarou. He was therefore treated as an outcast or ostracized. Old women would gossip about him while literally shutting him out of their lives with closing windows. The prevailing gossip in this poem is that he transformed into a hound one night, but was wounded by his watchman. He then returned to his doorstep almost dead. The main idea presented in the poem also is the story of Le’Brun; someone who was feared by society because he was obviously different and this was even revealed through the poets presentation of his attire.
Devices
Oxymoron- Line 9 ‘Christian Witches.’ This oxymoron emphasizes the dual nature of the women in the village. They gossip because of the fear of difference they sense in Le’Brun and act in an unchristian like manner in their responses/reactions toward him.
Alliteration- Line 1 ‘tale that threaded through the town.’ The alliteration highlights the manner in which the gossip about Le’ Brun spreads throughout the entire village. The women thread the rumour as easily as they sew. It’s as though the way the gossip spreads is synonymous thread running throughout a garment.
Line 4 “slowly shutting” This alliteration speaks to the alienation that Le’ Brun has been subjected to. It also emphasizes that even though these individuals are closing their windows they do it slowly as there is