Seen From Above Poem Analytical Essay
Analytical Essay About Poem
“Seen From Above” by Wislawa Szymborska
Second Draft
Perceiving Real Importance
Does a beetle’s death require as much thoughtful consideration as a human’s? Is a beetle only less significant as a human due to the contrasting proportions? Does size matter at all? A dead beetle lies on a path through a field and is meditated on for only a glance. The passing person then continues the right of way. Wislawa Szymborska attempts to change our ideas of death to comprehend that even small things are relevant as shown in the poem, ‘Seen From Above,’ by utilizing the imagery of the dead beetle, through claiming death’s metaphorical right of way, and with the contrast of a deceased human and a dead animal. The insignificance of the dead beetle is portrayed as a sorrowful and somber event though the skillful use of imagery of the mechanical beetle on the side of the field. As Szymborska walks through the fields, she discovers the despairing significance of a dead animal lying in her path. “..Lies unmourned and shining in the sun.”(16) Every single person that walks the same path simply gives the beetle one glance and walks on. The beetle is forgotten and neglected. In contrast, full attention would be given to a human being lying in the equivalent situation. Szymborska utilizes imagery to get the audience to stop and think for a while. Imagery not only assists the audience in visualizing what this scene looks like, but it helps them comprehend the importance of the situation. Humans feel no relevance in the matter of the multitudes of animals dying each day. However, even the smallest animal should be mourned after. Animals live their life, and do no harm, where as humans commit the worst crimes and are still recognized as something special. When comparing a human ‘s and an animal’s outcome of death, the idea of death changes to a great extent, which is displayed through the use of irony. The first time the persona comes upon the
“Seen From Above” by Wislawa Szymborska
Second Draft
Perceiving Real Importance
Does a beetle’s death require as much thoughtful consideration as a human’s? Is a beetle only less significant as a human due to the contrasting proportions? Does size matter at all? A dead beetle lies on a path through a field and is meditated on for only a glance. The passing person then continues the right of way. Wislawa Szymborska attempts to change our ideas of death to comprehend that even small things are relevant as shown in the poem, ‘Seen From Above,’ by utilizing the imagery of the dead beetle, through claiming death’s metaphorical right of way, and with the contrast of a deceased human and a dead animal. The insignificance of the dead beetle is portrayed as a sorrowful and somber event though the skillful use of imagery of the mechanical beetle on the side of the field. As Szymborska walks through the fields, she discovers the despairing significance of a dead animal lying in her path. “..Lies unmourned and shining in the sun.”(16) Every single person that walks the same path simply gives the beetle one glance and walks on. The beetle is forgotten and neglected. In contrast, full attention would be given to a human being lying in the equivalent situation. Szymborska utilizes imagery to get the audience to stop and think for a while. Imagery not only assists the audience in visualizing what this scene looks like, but it helps them comprehend the importance of the situation. Humans feel no relevance in the matter of the multitudes of animals dying each day. However, even the smallest animal should be mourned after. Animals live their life, and do no harm, where as humans commit the worst crimes and are still recognized as something special. When comparing a human ‘s and an animal’s outcome of death, the idea of death changes to a great extent, which is displayed through the use of irony. The first time the persona comes upon the