Harry Wood Analysis
‘Harry Wood’
Pun – explain both meanings 1) What evidence is there in the first stanza of Harry Wood’s struggle for survival?
Harry Wood’s struggle for survival is clearly revealed in the first stanza through the use of the pun “digging his way out of poverty” as he literally worked hard in the “mines” and metaphorically worked extremely hard to earn money to climb the social hierarchy from the bottom of social class “mines” to a reasonable position “foreman’s place”
2) What does the second stanza reveal about Harry Wood’s character?
The anecdote in stanza two reveals the extent of Harry Wood’s personality. The fact that he was fighting with the “union..for weeks” after he “fired a man for fooling with ropes” reveals that he is …show more content…
pitted against men and does not have time for fooling around, that he has not spirit, no joy. This highlights his stoic nature, his loneliness and isolation, as the further people climb the social hierarchy the more isolated they become.
“ air” Hyperbole of suffocating loneliness of his life
3) What words show the defeat of the miners?
“they sank/ back to the sleek coal caves” showcases the defeat of the miners as highlighted through the use of sibilance of “sank” and “sleek” – connotations – smoothing - and the alliteration of “coal” and “caves”. The expressive noun “Sank” highlights their defeat, whilst “sleek” reveals to the responder of Harry Wood’s determined nature as he aims to have everything perfect, and not have a hair out of line in order to climb the social hierarchy.
4) The shovels rattled in the earth. Comment on the effectiveness of the world rattled.
The onomatopoeia “rattled” of the “shovels” in “The shovels rattled in the earth”. For instance, the adjective “rattled” sets up an image in the responder’s mind of Harry being trapped underground, however through the rattling of the shovels finding his way out. This shows Harry’s endurance and stamina, as well as his ambitious nature, as he would not have held on if it weren’t for the perseverance for his grandchildren.
5) What evidence can you find to show in the fourth stanza that Harry Wood has become reasonably prosperous?
In the fourth stanza, it is revealed to the responder that Harry Wood has become reasonably prosperous as he has been able to purchase a farm with the hard, cold cash he earned whilst working in the “mines” as exposed by the line“...he’s bought the farm,/...he herds the steers in”.
This further highlights his determined nature to climb the social hierarchy in order to gain a better life for his grandchildren.
Immediacy – has real relevance now 6) Why are the cattle seen as tubs of meat?
The “steer” are metaphorically seen as “tubs of meat” to highlight Harry Wood’s Machiavellian, and unfeeling nature, as he objectifies the cows into products “tubs” and therefore money. This is due to the fact that he is stubborn yet determined to climb the social hierarchy and does not care what he has to do to get there. This highlights his lack of spirit and his lack of warmth, making the responder feel uneasy.
7) What feelings does the poet’s description of Harry Wood’s house and yard cause you to have?
The poet’s description of Harry Wood’s house and yard “Kangaroo bones/ pocked with skin and maggot bubbles of flesh” shows the death and decay that surrounds his life in order to achieve his mission. This symbolises the ugly environment “bones..maggot” which is a metaphor for his emotional ugliness as he is dry and impassive, causing the responder to view Harry Wood as a spiritless, Machiavellian
man.
8) What does the phrase stares at the dark window reveals about Harry?
The phrase “stares at the dark window” in stanza six reveals to the responder that Harry Wood is reflecting his “dark” struggle for survival, in which he tries to gain a better life for his grandchildren free from “poverty”, as indicated through the noun “window”. His struggle has altered him into a spiritually bankrupt human being, as material survival is all that matters to him. This is metaphorically represented through the adjective “dark”, making the responder feel uneasy about Harry Wood’s journey.
9) From your reading of the poem, what effect do you think Harry Wood’s struggle for survival has had on him?
Harry Wood’s struggle for survival to provide a better life for his grandchildren through material possession, has caused his personality to alter to one of loneliness and isolation, and turned him into a spiritually bankrupt human being, devoid of emotion as highlighted through the adjective “dark” in “stares at the dark window”.
10) What is the poet’s message in the poem?
The poem’s message is to be aware of the sacrifices the previous generations have made for their grandchildren as indicated by “they won’t be poor/ as he was, and they’ll have time...for something more than survival”, This highlights that in working hard all his life, to provide a better life for his grandchildren free of “poverty”, Harry Wood has become spiritually bankrupt as material survival is all that matters to him.
Pun – explain both meanings 1) What evidence is there in the first stanza of Harry Wood’s struggle for survival?
Harry Wood’s struggle for survival is clearly revealed in the first stanza through the use of the pun “digging his way out of poverty” as he literally worked hard in the “mines” and metaphorically worked extremely hard to earn money to climb the social hierarchy from the bottom of social class “mines” to a reasonable position “foreman’s place”
2) What does the second stanza reveal about Harry Wood’s character?
The anecdote in stanza two reveals the extent of Harry Wood’s personality. The fact that he was fighting with the “union..for weeks” after he “fired a man for fooling with ropes” reveals that he is …show more content…
pitted against men and does not have time for fooling around, that he has not spirit, no joy. This highlights his stoic nature, his loneliness and isolation, as the further people climb the social hierarchy the more isolated they become.
“ air” Hyperbole of suffocating loneliness of his life
3) What words show the defeat of the miners?
“they sank/ back to the sleek coal caves” showcases the defeat of the miners as highlighted through the use of sibilance of “sank” and “sleek” – connotations – smoothing - and the alliteration of “coal” and “caves”. The expressive noun “Sank” highlights their defeat, whilst “sleek” reveals to the responder of Harry Wood’s determined nature as he aims to have everything perfect, and not have a hair out of line in order to climb the social hierarchy.
4) The shovels rattled in the earth. Comment on the effectiveness of the world rattled.
The onomatopoeia “rattled” of the “shovels” in “The shovels rattled in the earth”. For instance, the adjective “rattled” sets up an image in the responder’s mind of Harry being trapped underground, however through the rattling of the shovels finding his way out. This shows Harry’s endurance and stamina, as well as his ambitious nature, as he would not have held on if it weren’t for the perseverance for his grandchildren.
5) What evidence can you find to show in the fourth stanza that Harry Wood has become reasonably prosperous?
In the fourth stanza, it is revealed to the responder that Harry Wood has become reasonably prosperous as he has been able to purchase a farm with the hard, cold cash he earned whilst working in the “mines” as exposed by the line“...he’s bought the farm,/...he herds the steers in”.
This further highlights his determined nature to climb the social hierarchy in order to gain a better life for his grandchildren.
Immediacy – has real relevance now 6) Why are the cattle seen as tubs of meat?
The “steer” are metaphorically seen as “tubs of meat” to highlight Harry Wood’s Machiavellian, and unfeeling nature, as he objectifies the cows into products “tubs” and therefore money. This is due to the fact that he is stubborn yet determined to climb the social hierarchy and does not care what he has to do to get there. This highlights his lack of spirit and his lack of warmth, making the responder feel uneasy.
7) What feelings does the poet’s description of Harry Wood’s house and yard cause you to have?
The poet’s description of Harry Wood’s house and yard “Kangaroo bones/ pocked with skin and maggot bubbles of flesh” shows the death and decay that surrounds his life in order to achieve his mission. This symbolises the ugly environment “bones..maggot” which is a metaphor for his emotional ugliness as he is dry and impassive, causing the responder to view Harry Wood as a spiritless, Machiavellian
man.
8) What does the phrase stares at the dark window reveals about Harry?
The phrase “stares at the dark window” in stanza six reveals to the responder that Harry Wood is reflecting his “dark” struggle for survival, in which he tries to gain a better life for his grandchildren free from “poverty”, as indicated through the noun “window”. His struggle has altered him into a spiritually bankrupt human being, as material survival is all that matters to him. This is metaphorically represented through the adjective “dark”, making the responder feel uneasy about Harry Wood’s journey.
9) From your reading of the poem, what effect do you think Harry Wood’s struggle for survival has had on him?
Harry Wood’s struggle for survival to provide a better life for his grandchildren through material possession, has caused his personality to alter to one of loneliness and isolation, and turned him into a spiritually bankrupt human being, devoid of emotion as highlighted through the adjective “dark” in “stares at the dark window”.
10) What is the poet’s message in the poem?
The poem’s message is to be aware of the sacrifices the previous generations have made for their grandchildren as indicated by “they won’t be poor/ as he was, and they’ll have time...for something more than survival”, This highlights that in working hard all his life, to provide a better life for his grandchildren free of “poverty”, Harry Wood has become spiritually bankrupt as material survival is all that matters to him.