James Dickey Research Paper
James Dickey, Poet Laureate:
Although James Dickey’s tendency is to delve into the natural world, when expressing the concept of life and death as opposed to staying grounded by the world of man, he is able to more clearly explain the significance of the two. Dickey’s word choice, his tone, the way he structures his works, as well as his own, personal experiences, aid in expressing the balance. In his works, the natural world is a constant representation of the willfulness, and strength of life, and the power and inevitability of death. In the natural world concepts such as life and death are able to take upon themselves, physical representations. The songs of birds singing in the morning could be a representation of life, while the ominous presence of a Great White Shark would be a representation of death. James Dickey uses animals as his representations of life and death.
The snake is a common factor in a number of James Dickey’s poems. In many cultures, snakes are associated with death. In Egypt, snakes were used for sinister purposes such as murder and suicide. In Greek mythology, snakes were often associated with deadly presences. Medusa, the Gorgon, had snakes growing from her head instead of hair. In Christianity, the Serpent tempted Adam and Eve into eating the forbidden fruit. God cursed the Serpent “above all animals” …show more content…
In the poem, the kudzu moves in and “The snakes do, and weave themselves/ Among its lengthening vines/Their spade heads resting on leaves”. (Lines 23-25) James Dickey takes his experience fighting in World War II and uses it as inspiration for the poem. The structure of the poem reflects the winding form of the vines, as well as the snakes concealed in them. Switching between two line, and eight line stanzas, the reader can more clearly imagine the foreign vines winding silently about, quickly engulfing everything in a jungle of vines, without even being
Although James Dickey’s tendency is to delve into the natural world, when expressing the concept of life and death as opposed to staying grounded by the world of man, he is able to more clearly explain the significance of the two. Dickey’s word choice, his tone, the way he structures his works, as well as his own, personal experiences, aid in expressing the balance. In his works, the natural world is a constant representation of the willfulness, and strength of life, and the power and inevitability of death. In the natural world concepts such as life and death are able to take upon themselves, physical representations. The songs of birds singing in the morning could be a representation of life, while the ominous presence of a Great White Shark would be a representation of death. James Dickey uses animals as his representations of life and death.
The snake is a common factor in a number of James Dickey’s poems. In many cultures, snakes are associated with death. In Egypt, snakes were used for sinister purposes such as murder and suicide. In Greek mythology, snakes were often associated with deadly presences. Medusa, the Gorgon, had snakes growing from her head instead of hair. In Christianity, the Serpent tempted Adam and Eve into eating the forbidden fruit. God cursed the Serpent “above all animals” …show more content…
In the poem, the kudzu moves in and “The snakes do, and weave themselves/ Among its lengthening vines/Their spade heads resting on leaves”. (Lines 23-25) James Dickey takes his experience fighting in World War II and uses it as inspiration for the poem. The structure of the poem reflects the winding form of the vines, as well as the snakes concealed in them. Switching between two line, and eight line stanzas, the reader can more clearly imagine the foreign vines winding silently about, quickly engulfing everything in a jungle of vines, without even being