This document covers the poem: 'From the Journal of a Disappointed Man' from the Poems of the Decade Poetry. I studied this poem for my A Level, Edexcel English Literature Exam as part of the poetry module. By constructing these summarises and notes these provided me with ideas and themes which I c...
• Journals are meant to be private. Highlights the persona as an observer
• Critical of the men which is ironic as we do not see his own behaviour in society
• As far as the reader is aware, he makes no attempt to communicate with others
• Disappointed man perhaps highlights the pressures of society and the mental health which men
with them. Equally could highlight the disappointment that none of them appear to want to
break from these constraints.
• Invasion of privacy? Criticisms meant for his own viewing rather than the whole of society.
Structure:
• Overall structure is repetitive with a consistent layout of four-line stanzas (eleven in the poem)
with even line lengths which gives a visual impression of solid blocks and chunks of text. Readers
see this as a link to the traditional association between masculinity and strength with the layout
demonstrating this quality through its consistency and regular shape. Deemed as contrasting
against a flowing structure in other poems which is seen as more feminine. Reader also
interprets a stronger link with ideas of cycles in society and considering the way that individuals
conform to the societal expectations rather than showing elements of individuality
• Poem could either be viewed as that of movement of the piles being used to construct the pier.
They are all similar in size. Could equally highlight the archetypal man and the mundane nature
of the work they are doing and the archetype that they represent
• Contrasts to regular stanza layout and line length, enjambment used to bring diversity to pace
the poem. Most stanzas conclude with the terminal caesura in the form of an end-stopped line.
The beginning of the poem demonstrates ideas and imagery to continue onto the next stanza.
Imagery is more effective due to it being uninterrupted for longer and develops a ‘story-like’
setting. Deliberate simplification of the poem to present a blunt and realistic recount of manual
labour (rather than artistic and creative for which a reader anticipates a more developed and
creative use of language structure).
• Varied use punctuation is significant on the rhythm and pace. First stanza has many commas as
part of a list whereas the second stanza use semicolons too. Third stanza uses hyphens and the
introduction of speech. Reader is surprised to see this variety of punctuation in the poem which
contrasts against the simple stanza length but is interpreted as motion considering the ways in
which the external presentation of masculinity is different to internal thoughts and experiences.
On the outside there may be appearances of conformity but it isn’t internally the same.
• Asyndetic list of ‘pulleys, cranes, ropes...’ expresses the use of the industrialised society. Equally
expressing its mundane and monotonous nature in society
• Use of speech ‘let go’ or ‘hold tight’ equally interrupts the flow of the poem. Express the
mundane nature of the work that the men were caring out, and the limited communication that
is occurring between them.
, • ‘Silent on the subject-baffled'. The caesura forces the reader to pause and reflect on their own
life. Highlights the importance of living with purpose to fulfil their dreams that you want to
precure.
• ‘(he had been chewing tobacco)’ the brackets create this story like nature to the poem. Poems
having this journal and story like structure to the poem expressing the mundane nature of the
tasks they were performing. Yet, as journals were meant to be private perhaps this poem is
ironic in the personas own facade which he using against the merciless nature of the constraints
viewed in society.
Language:
• The poem begins with the use of ‘I discovered these men’. The use of ‘discovered’ for the
quotations gives the impression of a scientific discovery, perhaps contrasting through science
and education versus manual labour. Further emphasises of the sense that the narrator does
not feel part of the group of men, raising questions regarding societal expectations of men.
• Contrasting imagery and ideas in the poem to create a shift in perspective to help identify the
onlooker as different to other men being observed. The workers are performing a practical
action in contrast to the more intellectual thoughts of the onlooker. Interpreted as forming an
‘us versus them’ perspective which understood as referencing societal expectations form men
to criticise hyper-masculine imagery by highlighting individuality.
• Personal tone and voice of poem is seen as an effective technique with use of ‘I’ and personal
observations helping to create a greater sense of being for the narrator, even to the extent of
them becoming a ‘character’ as part of a mini story. In keeping with interpretations of the title
which sees the narrator as writing their journal based on these observations, although the
overall personal tone is still effective even if a reader is not considering its relation to the title.
Distance between the descriptions of ‘men’ and the personal ‘I’ which interprets as the narrator
not feeling a part of this ‘type’ of man.
• ‘Men driving a new pile/ into the pier’ suggesting of the hard labour that was probably endured
by the working class. Creates a sense of monotony for the work that they are carrying out
• Asyndetic list of ‘chains, pulleys, cranes, ropes and, as I said, a wooden pile’. List of materials
representatives of the industrialised society. The consonance ‘c’ and ‘p’ sounds create a sense of
the noise the workers were making. Suggests the power and ferocity of masculinity which
alienate society
• Plosives are key part in the poem as it helps to emphasise the masculine tone and elements.
Technique achieved through use of words beginning with ‘b’ and ‘p’ such as ‘pulleys’ ‘powerful’
and ‘baffled’. The ‘p’ plosive is voiceless meaning the vocal cords don’t vibrate when making the
sound as is therefore effective at creating a consistency strong sound than the voiced ‘b’ sound.
• ‘swinging/ over the water on a long wire hawser’ creates a tone of uncertainty. Suggests a sense
of unpredictability of the monotonous and mundane world that the labourers have developed
in. Suggesting the precarious nature in which the workers are working creates a sense of anxiety
for the pier they are constructing. They are ‘powerful men’. The adjective ‘powerful’
representing the traditional societal expectations towards men. Yet the dynamic verb ‘ignoring’
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