Summary
Summary ‘To my father who died’ (Dawn Garisch)
- Course
- English Home Language
- Institution
- 11th Grade
‘To my father who died’ (Dawn Garisch)
[Show more]
1 review
By: katlegomatlala58 • 1 month ago
Content preview
To my father who died1
Summary: This piece begins with a speaker sitting along a
shore. Suddenly, she finds the soul of her father emerging
Dawn Garisch from the sea, and he tries to visualize the sea again through
her eyes. He takes a long look at the wash, unsure of where
to cast his eyes. Then, he scans for the depths where he can
plunge again as a fish.
The title says “To my father” as a note or present would, and is not
addressing the father directly, as the poem does with the pronoun
“you”. The title is for the reader, who is invited to read what she wrote
to her father. The last two words, “who died”, make the reader
consider the circumstances closely: how can a note be addressed to
someone who is already dead? The poem has actually been written
for the daughter, the speaker/poet herself, who is trying to understand
her father and his relationship or lack thereof with her. Addressing him
directly in the poem itself is a device to bring him closer to her, while
we know he is dead because the title tells us this before we even read
the poem.
, 2
The poet addresses her deceased father directly
through the use of the preposition “To”
Personification
Gives the sea a human quality of breath to the sea and this
image contrast directly with the deceased father.
Alliteration
To serve as reminders of the distant
rather that shared experiences of
her upbringing.
Simile
The understanding of the relationship with
the speaker’s father.
The simile suggest neglect – the child is
“washed up”. Once the value minerals
have been extracted, all that remains for
a driver are “shells/ and other flotsam
fragments” which creates an impression of
isolation and neglect in the relationship
between the speaker and her father.
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 ansiestudynotes. 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.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
67096 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy summaries for 14 years now