Dog's Death Updike
English Composition II
4 November 2013
Good Dog “Dog’s Death” was written in 1969 by John Updike. This heartbreaking poem is about a family dog that passed away. They’ve had her since she was just a pup until the day she was fatally injured. Getting a new pet comes with a lot of responsibilities. The first step is house training. The family created a designated place for their new puppy to take care of business. In order for her to know that she is doing right, they must say “Good dog” (340). In this poem, John Updike uses this phrase three times. Toward the end of the poem, the effects of the words begin to change. Updike sets the reader up for the change in the use of “Good dog” in the last line. Praising a dog promotes good behavior. They started training her as soon as possible so she’d begin learning early. John confirms, “Too young to know much, she was beginning to learn” (340). Updike is informing the reader that there is training taking place. Teaching a canine to be consistent, it must learn right from wrong. He mentions, “To use the newspapers spread on the …show more content…
kitchen floor And to win, wetting there, the words, ‘Good dog! Good dog’” (Updike 340)! The use of this phrase is signifying a good deed. She will eventually learn to always use the newspaper. When the reader first notices the phrase, they will think a happy owner admiring their dog’s good behavior. But, not all is well in this poem. The life of the pup had slowly started to fade.
The blissful tone that was once present has now died. Updike warns that the “autopsy disclosed a rupture in her liver” and “her heart was learning to lie down forever” (340). The author is creating the image of a dog’s life fading before their eyes. As a result, the tone was shifted to prepare the reader for the family’s loss. Finally, “surrounded by love that would have upheld her”, she passed away (Updike 340). Thinking of the title, “Dog’s Death”, it is an automatic notification there is some sorrow in between the lines. If the title had been “Good Dog”, the rest of the poem would not make sense. Updike would have to change his entire attitude towards the poem. It would give off a sense of happiness. In the second stanza, the reader can immediately see otherwise. John’s intention in the three use of “good dog” is to establish
ambiguity. Leading up to the last stanza, the reader is faced with images of grieving and bereavement. Updike then takes the reader’s mind back to the scene inside the home. They “found that in the night of her frame, Drawing near to dissolution, had endured the shame of diarrhoea” (340). With regards to this, John is inflicting empathy towards the wilting puppy. Alternatively, he is portraying her as helpless. Even through the pain of knowing that her life is being cut short, she is still yearning for the approval of her owners. Facing the embarrassment of having diarrhea, moments before dying, she “dragged across the floor To a newspaper carelessly left there” like she was taught (340). Updike is hinting a sense of uplifting emotions. All that could be said was “good dog” (340). Only this time, it has a deeper meaning than a compliment for good behavior. There is emotion present. She was fighting life but still focused on seeking the approval and happiness of her owners. John put emphasis of the last two words to show detachment from the initial meaning. The final connotation of “good dog” is expressed with more love. As previously stated, Updike took the words “good dog” and used to body of his poem to set up the final meaning of those words. He transitioned his tone and used specific word choice to appeal to one’s emotions. “Good dog” is typically used without much emotion, but to notify a pet that they are doing a good deed and should continue. John took those words and added affection. The appearances of grief lead to empathy, which opened up room for a small hint of enlightenment. This led the reader to pick up on the care in regard to the phrase “good dog”.
Works Cited
Updike, John. “Dog’s Date.” Literature to Go. Ed. Michael Meyer. 2nd ed. New York: Bedford, 2011. Print.
4 November 2013
Good Dog “Dog’s Death” was written in 1969 by John Updike. This heartbreaking poem is about a family dog that passed away. They’ve had her since she was just a pup until the day she was fatally injured. Getting a new pet comes with a lot of responsibilities. The first step is house training. The family created a designated place for their new puppy to take care of business. In order for her to know that she is doing right, they must say “Good dog” (340). In this poem, John Updike uses this phrase three times. Toward the end of the poem, the effects of the words begin to change. Updike sets the reader up for the change in the use of “Good dog” in the last line. Praising a dog promotes good behavior. They started training her as soon as possible so she’d begin learning early. John confirms, “Too young to know much, she was beginning to learn” (340). Updike is informing the reader that there is training taking place. Teaching a canine to be consistent, it must learn right from wrong. He mentions, “To use the newspapers spread on the …show more content…
kitchen floor And to win, wetting there, the words, ‘Good dog! Good dog’” (Updike 340)! The use of this phrase is signifying a good deed. She will eventually learn to always use the newspaper. When the reader first notices the phrase, they will think a happy owner admiring their dog’s good behavior. But, not all is well in this poem. The life of the pup had slowly started to fade.
The blissful tone that was once present has now died. Updike warns that the “autopsy disclosed a rupture in her liver” and “her heart was learning to lie down forever” (340). The author is creating the image of a dog’s life fading before their eyes. As a result, the tone was shifted to prepare the reader for the family’s loss. Finally, “surrounded by love that would have upheld her”, she passed away (Updike 340). Thinking of the title, “Dog’s Death”, it is an automatic notification there is some sorrow in between the lines. If the title had been “Good Dog”, the rest of the poem would not make sense. Updike would have to change his entire attitude towards the poem. It would give off a sense of happiness. In the second stanza, the reader can immediately see otherwise. John’s intention in the three use of “good dog” is to establish
ambiguity. Leading up to the last stanza, the reader is faced with images of grieving and bereavement. Updike then takes the reader’s mind back to the scene inside the home. They “found that in the night of her frame, Drawing near to dissolution, had endured the shame of diarrhoea” (340). With regards to this, John is inflicting empathy towards the wilting puppy. Alternatively, he is portraying her as helpless. Even through the pain of knowing that her life is being cut short, she is still yearning for the approval of her owners. Facing the embarrassment of having diarrhea, moments before dying, she “dragged across the floor To a newspaper carelessly left there” like she was taught (340). Updike is hinting a sense of uplifting emotions. All that could be said was “good dog” (340). Only this time, it has a deeper meaning than a compliment for good behavior. There is emotion present. She was fighting life but still focused on seeking the approval and happiness of her owners. John put emphasis of the last two words to show detachment from the initial meaning. The final connotation of “good dog” is expressed with more love. As previously stated, Updike took the words “good dog” and used to body of his poem to set up the final meaning of those words. He transitioned his tone and used specific word choice to appeal to one’s emotions. “Good dog” is typically used without much emotion, but to notify a pet that they are doing a good deed and should continue. John took those words and added affection. The appearances of grief lead to empathy, which opened up room for a small hint of enlightenment. This led the reader to pick up on the care in regard to the phrase “good dog”.
Works Cited
Updike, John. “Dog’s Date.” Literature to Go. Ed. Michael Meyer. 2nd ed. New York: Bedford, 2011. Print.