Poem no. 13 of Matric Poetry Set. Summary and line-by-line analysis of "Penguin on the beach" by Ruth Miller. With a particular focus on symbolism, setting and figures of speech. Helping making your study session easier, more efficient and stress free.
‘Penguin on the Beach’
By Ruth Miller
Structure:
- 8 Stanzas
- Free Verse (no regular rhyme scheme)
- Enjambement (from 1 stanza to the next)
Poet: (non-examinable – merely to give insight behind certain element of the poem)
- Her poetry is extremely personal
- Therefore, we can truly believe she has witnessed what she speaks about in the
poem.
- Her compassion is evident, through her strong descriptions
About: A penguin escapes a polluted environment and is forced to rely on and be feed by
the humans that caused this problem.
Theme: Human Intrusion
Intention: To create awareness of human intrusion and environmental pollution. It is very
critical of humans. Intended to make the reader feel sympathy and culpability (guilt).
Atmosphere: sympathetic for character (penguin)
Tone: critical
Important Poetic Elements/Figures of Speech:
Paradox A seemingly absurd or contradictory
statement or proposition which when
investigated may prove to be well founded
or true.
Enjambement The continuation of a sentence or phrase
from one line of poetry to the next. Without
the presence or lack of punctuation.
Colon A colon is used to give emphasis, present
dialogue, introduce lists or text, and clarify
[:] composition titles.
1|Page Created by Jaimie Morgan
, Oxymoron A figure of speech in which apparently
contradictory terms appear in conjunction /
next to each other
Illusion An illusion can be a narrative technique,
used by referring to another piece of work,
literature, film, fairy tale, or in this case the
bible creating biblical illusion.
Irony Using language that normally signifies the
opposite of its usual or typical meaning,
typically for humorous or emphatic effect.
Alliteration Repetition of a consonant in this case [s]
(Sibilance) To emphasis danger, but in general to have
a context specific effect.
Title:
‘Penguin on the beach’
“beach” – no reference to a specific beach, therefore making the poem universal.
Stanza One:
Stranger in his own element, “stranger” + “own element” – Paradox
Sea-casualty, the castaway manikin (opposing/contradictory ideas)
Waddles in his tailored coat-tails.
“sea-casualty” – (penguin casualty of oil
Oil
spill caused by humans)
“castaway” – stranded because of oil spill
accident.
“manikin” – small man in a tuxedo
(light-hearted description – shows poet’s
affection to penguin)
“waddles” + “coat-tails” – Cute imagery
adding to manikin image.
“Oil” – Alone placement emphasises the
penguin’s reason for being a castaway.
Enjambement: joins the stanzas and creates
a continuous flow.
2|Page Created by Jaimie Morgan
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through EFT, credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying this summary from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller JaimieMorgan. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy this summary for R50,00. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
