Strange Fruit Poem Analysis
One protest issue we learnt about this term was Racism. Racism is a form of discrimination based on race, especially the belief that one race is superior to another. In “Strange Fruit” Abel Meeropol protests and raises awareness of the treatment of African Americans in South USA. The song describes the scene of lynching of Black American’s and their resemblance to a fruit hanging from a tree. We also studied the poem “took the children away” by Archie Roach which similarly portrayed a great understanding of the horrific treatment of black people. Roach sings about his personal story of the stolen generation in 1969. Two techniques that were used by both composers are: Juxtaposition and emotive language both of which have helped me understand
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the problems of Racism.
Firstly, one significant technique that has been used throughout Meeropol’s poem is Juxtaposition.
When Meeropol says “Pastoral scene of the gallant South” which sounds soft and calm, he then says “The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth” which there is an immediate change of emotion and a rougher situation. In “Took the children away” Roach uses the same technique as Meeropol when he says “Taught us to read, to write and pray” Which creates a peaceful and forgiving surrounding, but then he says “Then they took the children away” which changes the situation into a sad and angry feeling. Juxtaposition in these poems really gives me a more brief idea and understanding of the tough issue of Racism.
Secondly, another important technique that has been used in the poem “Strange Fruit” is Emotive language. As Meeropool is describing the state that the bodies are in he uses strong and harsh language that made me feel scared and frightened “The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth.” You can almost just picture it in your head and instantly feel horrified and shocked. In “Took the children away” emotive language is shown when Roach describes being “Snatched from their mother’s breast” which creates emotion and makes me feel sad, annoyed and feeling sorry for
him.
Finally, this issue has helped the growth of my awareness towards the inequality of Indigenous people and the immoral battles they were put through in the past. When the use of the technique Juxtaposition is described in both poems it really triggers my emotions and makes me feel sad and guilty as Meeropol describes the black people hanging on the trees and Roach describes being ‘taken away’. The use of the technique emotive language in both poems has made me feel very emotive as both authors are describing what has happened when Meeropol describes the state that the bodies are in and Roach describes the babies being snatched from their mother’s breast which made me feel extremely upset and angry.
the problems of Racism.
Firstly, one significant technique that has been used throughout Meeropol’s poem is Juxtaposition.
When Meeropol says “Pastoral scene of the gallant South” which sounds soft and calm, he then says “The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth” which there is an immediate change of emotion and a rougher situation. In “Took the children away” Roach uses the same technique as Meeropol when he says “Taught us to read, to write and pray” Which creates a peaceful and forgiving surrounding, but then he says “Then they took the children away” which changes the situation into a sad and angry feeling. Juxtaposition in these poems really gives me a more brief idea and understanding of the tough issue of Racism.
Secondly, another important technique that has been used in the poem “Strange Fruit” is Emotive language. As Meeropool is describing the state that the bodies are in he uses strong and harsh language that made me feel scared and frightened “The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth.” You can almost just picture it in your head and instantly feel horrified and shocked. In “Took the children away” emotive language is shown when Roach describes being “Snatched from their mother’s breast” which creates emotion and makes me feel sad, annoyed and feeling sorry for
him.
Finally, this issue has helped the growth of my awareness towards the inequality of Indigenous people and the immoral battles they were put through in the past. When the use of the technique Juxtaposition is described in both poems it really triggers my emotions and makes me feel sad and guilty as Meeropol describes the black people hanging on the trees and Roach describes being ‘taken away’. The use of the technique emotive language in both poems has made me feel very emotive as both authors are describing what has happened when Meeropol describes the state that the bodies are in and Roach describes the babies being snatched from their mother’s breast which made me feel extremely upset and angry.