ENG2602 Assignment 3 2024 -
DUE 13 August 2024
, Essay 1: Poetry Analysis – "Farewell" by E.E. Sule
Introduction
E.E. Sule's poem "Farewell" encapsulates the profound disillusionment and sorrow experienced by
intellectuals and professionals in a post-independence nation that has failed to fulfill its promises.
Through his evocative use of diction, metaphors, and personification, Sule articulates a deep sense of
frustration, outrage, and hopelessness, especially in the context of the forced migration of educated
individuals like university professors. The poem is a lamentation of the betrayal of a generation's hopes
and dreams, reflecting the broader political and social decay that has taken root in the country.
Body Paragraph 1: Diction and Its Role in Conveying Emotions
Sule's choice of words is critical in conveying the emotions of the poem. The phrase “Tight jinxed
professors gazing at the immensity of nothing!” immediately sets a tone of entrapment and despair. The
word "jinxed" implies that the professors are cursed or doomed, unable to escape their unfortunate
circumstances. The phrase "immensity of nothing" suggests a void, a vast expanse of hopelessness that
these intellectuals are forced to confront. This diction effectively communicates the poet's view that the
promise of independence has been replaced by a bleak reality where educated individuals find
themselves powerless and directionless.
Another powerful example of diction is found in the line, “Pens swagger in hollowness, prostitute with
cheap sheets.” Here, the word "swagger" usually implies confidence or bravado, but when paired with
"hollowness," it creates an image of empty, meaningless gestures. The use of the word "prostitute" as a
verb is particularly striking, as it suggests that the act of writing has been degraded, reduced to
something cheap and sordid. The "cheap sheets" metaphorically represent the devaluation of intellectual
labor, highlighting the poet's despair over the state of academia and the intellectual class in his country.
Body Paragraph 2: Use of Metaphors to Highlight Disillusionment
Metaphors in "Farewell" are used to vividly express the poet's disillusionment with the post-
independence reality. The line “Afro-haired professors walking the length of the Atlantic in fury!” is a
particularly potent metaphor. The image of professors walking across the Atlantic suggests an
impossible journey, one that is driven by anger and frustration. This metaphor captures the sense of
being uprooted and exiled, as many educated individuals are forced to leave their homeland in search of
better opportunities elsewhere. The use of "Afro-haired" emphasizes their identity and roots, making
their forced migration all the more tragic.
Another metaphor that deepens the sense of loss is found in the repeated line, “Bid the sun, bid the
moon, bid the stars, bid the rivers Farewell.” The sun, moon, stars, and rivers are elemental forces,
representing the natural world and the constancy of life. By bidding them farewell, the poet suggests a
complete severance from what is familiar and life-sustaining. This repetition emphasizes the finality of
this departure, symbolizing a profound loss of hope and connection to the homeland.
