Peter Skrzynecki's Poem 'Insomnia': Analyzing the Metaphorical Representation
Extended Response - Insomnia
How does Skrzynecki represent his ideas about insomnia in the poem
Peter Skrzynecki presents a view of Insomnia as an unpleasant, inhumane experience. He explores this problem through the use of religious themes, sociological issues, and inner thoughts and feelings as well as a range of metaphors
Skryznecki introduces the physical sense of insomnia as being “Of salt in your mouth - sticky, like rubber half melted’ by olfactory and gustatory imagery. Immediately we are aware of a negative tone. Skryznecki reinforces this tone “In the darkness” and then describes “Of Blankets your fingers grow numb, open Bibles and throw fish scraps to appease the scavenger birds” through the use of a metaphor as the “scavengers” for his sleep loss. Now that the scavengers are “announcing dawn” it is already too late and the struggle to sleep is lost” “Hand scoop hollows into the mattress - look for warm sand and the incoming tide” is an extended metaphor of the sea with the use of “incoming tide” as the rhythmic, soothing nature of sleep, which has “scoop hollow in the mattress” as the frustration of his unyielding desire. Skryznecki claims to have only found “bones, seaweed, rusted iron that cuts your wrist like teeth” as a symbol for the decay and pain which he endures. Skryznecki, interestingly, claims it as harming “your wrists and teeth”; invoking a personal empathy from the reader.
Skrzynecki introduces his frustration as “it was to have been a pilgrim’s journey. You prayed for strong winds and fair weather, a current to bear you within the sight of landfall”. The religious metaphor of a pilgrimage journey, implies that sleep is a holy experience; one that can uplift and rejuvenate oneself. The climax is reached as “Christ awaited you at Emmaus, in the shade of Limestone caves and willows’ again as a personal level “you”; the symbol journey of sleeping. Juxtaposing the religious with “Dead parents could not have broken through with
How does Skrzynecki represent his ideas about insomnia in the poem
Peter Skrzynecki presents a view of Insomnia as an unpleasant, inhumane experience. He explores this problem through the use of religious themes, sociological issues, and inner thoughts and feelings as well as a range of metaphors
Skryznecki introduces the physical sense of insomnia as being “Of salt in your mouth - sticky, like rubber half melted’ by olfactory and gustatory imagery. Immediately we are aware of a negative tone. Skryznecki reinforces this tone “In the darkness” and then describes “Of Blankets your fingers grow numb, open Bibles and throw fish scraps to appease the scavenger birds” through the use of a metaphor as the “scavengers” for his sleep loss. Now that the scavengers are “announcing dawn” it is already too late and the struggle to sleep is lost” “Hand scoop hollows into the mattress - look for warm sand and the incoming tide” is an extended metaphor of the sea with the use of “incoming tide” as the rhythmic, soothing nature of sleep, which has “scoop hollow in the mattress” as the frustration of his unyielding desire. Skryznecki claims to have only found “bones, seaweed, rusted iron that cuts your wrist like teeth” as a symbol for the decay and pain which he endures. Skryznecki, interestingly, claims it as harming “your wrists and teeth”; invoking a personal empathy from the reader.
Skrzynecki introduces his frustration as “it was to have been a pilgrim’s journey. You prayed for strong winds and fair weather, a current to bear you within the sight of landfall”. The religious metaphor of a pilgrimage journey, implies that sleep is a holy experience; one that can uplift and rejuvenate oneself. The climax is reached as “Christ awaited you at Emmaus, in the shade of Limestone caves and willows’ again as a personal level “you”; the symbol journey of sleeping. Juxtaposing the religious with “Dead parents could not have broken through with