The Furthest Distances I've Travelled Leonita Flynn -- annotated
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Course
Unit 3 - Poetry
Institution
PEARSON (PEARSON)
Book
Poems of the Decade
Complete with in-depth analysis that helped me to achieve full marks on the relevant comparative essay, and ultimately full marks in the A-Level exam itself (June 2022). Alongside close reading applies a range of critical perspectives (eg Marxism, postcolonialism etc) to enable alternative readings.
leonita flynn the furthest distances ive travelled analysis
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Unit 3 - Poetry
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The Furthest Distances I’ve Travelled
Leonita Flynn
There is nothing unique or individual about the speaker’s journey – deeply ironic as travel is
for identity/self-discovery. The poem begins with this subordinate clause – builds tension.
The verb ‘saddled’ has equine connotations (zoomorphism) – this implies
Like many folk, when first I saddled a rucksack, she is not in control. The ‘rucksack’ is a burden/oppressive force.
feeling its weight on my back – The dashes fragment the stanza and create terminal caesura, reflecting the
erratic nature of travel.
the way my spine
The noun ‘spine’ in conjunction with verb ‘curved’ suggests unnaturalness: the
curved under it like a meridian –
speaker is merely conforming and submitting to what is expected. Notably, the
verb ‘curved’ is passive – reinforces idea that nature is prepotent & speaker lacks
true autonomy and power. The circular image/simile ‘like a meridian’ suggests
futility of travel – it is cyclical and doesn’t result in a meaningful outcome.
Distortion of usual phrase off the beaten track. Reinforces argument that the speaker
doesn’t have a unique path – conforms to actions and journeys of everyone else.
I thought: Yes. This is how
to live. On the beaten track, the sherpa pass, between Krakow Polysyndeton creates a sense of mundanity: robotic
nature of the speaker’s travel.
and Zagreb, or the Siberian white
Adjective ‘white’ creates a sense of uniformity and blandness. The verb ‘scattered’
cells of scattered airports;
suggests haphazard lack of connection. Although ‘Siberian’ could suggest geographic
extremity and remoteness, the noun ‘airports’ emphasises that the speaker has remained
‘on the beaten track’. ‘Cells’ can be read as a prison cell: the speaker is trapped in
conforming to the expectations of society – expected a connected, organic experience, but
has been disillusioned – it is a mundane and bleak image.
it came clear as over a tannoy
Quite an impersonal/mundane/monotonous image that jars with what we would expect
that in restlessness, in anony of self-discovery. This simile is ironic as tannoys usually lack clarity; this suggests the
mity: ___________________ message for her is clouded.
was some kind of destiny. It is ironic that the speaker achieves self-discovery in restlessness – this is usually found
through meditation/reflection.
Physical gap on the page
reflects the unfulfilling Again, it is ironic and somewhat paradoxical that the speaker finds her destiny in anonymity.
nature of travel – it The vague phrase ‘some kind’ somewhat undermines this moment of insight.
creates fragmentation
which reflects the (Note the forced unnatural half-rhymes throughout this stanza (‘tannoy’ & ‘anony’, ‘mity’
speaker’s disillusionment. & ‘destiny’) through enjambement. These reflect the speaker’s difficulty in finding
harmony).
Half-rhymes, caesuras and enjambment reflect chaotic nature of frantic panic the speaker
is experiencing.
So whether it was the scare stories about Larium
– the threats of delirium
and baldness – that lead me, not to a Western Union
wiring money with six words of Lithuanian,
The juxtaposition between the mundanity of ‘bills’ and ‘wiring money with six words of Lithuanian’ negates
the idea of exotic adventure. The repeated contrast between what the speaker could be doing and what she
is conveys her frustration and regret. Her life seems mundane, ordinary, dull and unfulfilled – notably, this is
reflected by the unadorned language.
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