Elements of Riders to the Sun
Elements of Riders to the Sea
Stephanie Keeney
ENG 125 Introduction to Literature
Nathan Pritts
November 5, 2012
The poem Riders to the Sea by John Millington Synge is a story of a grieving mother and wife who fears the loss of her youngest son to the sea. One of the elements through the story is our protagonist Maurya who has lost hope and fears the worst for her son (Clugston, 2010). Foreshadowing is also an element during the story. Another element throughout the story is the foil and dramatic irony. These elements combine to make a lasting impression throughout the story and set a tone that is dispair and all hope lost without any comic relief.
The protagonist Maurya in the story has already lost five sons and her husband to the sea (Smith, 1987). She sets the mood for play as she tries to convince Bartley her youngest not to go out to sea. The protagonist fears that she has already lost Michael her other son which she has no proof of to the sea (Smith, 1987). The sea is the antagonist along with Bartley to Maurya. She battles with them but seems to lose each time. Without this battle between them the story would lose a very important element that keeps the story flowing and intriguing. Foreshadowing occurs throughout the story and hints towards the death of her son Michael and pending death of Bartley. One example in the story is when “Maurya arranges to purchase the white boards that can be used for Michael’s coffin” (Clugston, 2010). They have no proof of his death but yet she assumes and buys it. It signifies she is well aware of her loss and that he will not return to her either. Even though the element of foreshadowing prepares the reader for the death, the protagonist refuses to admit defeat just yet. She is battling for that last bit of hope for her sons.
The last elements I found interesting was the foil and dramatic irony. The priest in the story played the part of the foil. He tried to show a different approach to what may have
Stephanie Keeney
ENG 125 Introduction to Literature
Nathan Pritts
November 5, 2012
The poem Riders to the Sea by John Millington Synge is a story of a grieving mother and wife who fears the loss of her youngest son to the sea. One of the elements through the story is our protagonist Maurya who has lost hope and fears the worst for her son (Clugston, 2010). Foreshadowing is also an element during the story. Another element throughout the story is the foil and dramatic irony. These elements combine to make a lasting impression throughout the story and set a tone that is dispair and all hope lost without any comic relief.
The protagonist Maurya in the story has already lost five sons and her husband to the sea (Smith, 1987). She sets the mood for play as she tries to convince Bartley her youngest not to go out to sea. The protagonist fears that she has already lost Michael her other son which she has no proof of to the sea (Smith, 1987). The sea is the antagonist along with Bartley to Maurya. She battles with them but seems to lose each time. Without this battle between them the story would lose a very important element that keeps the story flowing and intriguing. Foreshadowing occurs throughout the story and hints towards the death of her son Michael and pending death of Bartley. One example in the story is when “Maurya arranges to purchase the white boards that can be used for Michael’s coffin” (Clugston, 2010). They have no proof of his death but yet she assumes and buys it. It signifies she is well aware of her loss and that he will not return to her either. Even though the element of foreshadowing prepares the reader for the death, the protagonist refuses to admit defeat just yet. She is battling for that last bit of hope for her sons.
The last elements I found interesting was the foil and dramatic irony. The priest in the story played the part of the foil. He tried to show a different approach to what may have
References: Clugston, R. W. (2010). Journey into literature. San Diego, California: Bridgepoint Education, I Smith, Sid, E. w. (1987, Aug 07). 'Riders to the sea ' gives new meaning to 'fringe '. Chicago Tribune (Pre-1997 Fulltext). Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/291048352?accountid=32521