When The Circular Saw Fred Cogswell Analysis
When the circular saw chewed up my fingernail
I said to myself
“This is a bad dream and I shall wake up”
But I didn’t and in a few minutes the pain began
after that, I had a scar to remind me not to go near the circular saw
but I soon found they had ways of disgusting themselves so that watch as I might they were always hurting me
now inside and out
I am covered with scars but that is not the worst I’ve learned the worst thing is that under the masks
I wear and without intending to be
I am a circular saw
2. The narrator is reminiscing his past memories that show his efforts to keep a distance from the things he fears and hates. One can try very hard to keep the truth hidden, but it always prevails through. Another …show more content…
When looking at the figurative level, there are multiple lines that indicate the poet’s fear of the ‘saw.’ For instance, in the lines “I had a scar to remind me not to go near the circular saw” (9-11) it shows that he has experienced something before that tells him not to go close to them. The poet leads this recurring topic into the theme. At the beginning it is atrocious and apprehensive, but there is a change in the last stanza, when he realizes that he has become an individual that will pass on the pain he has received. This is shown in lines, “the worst thing is that under the masks I wear and without intending to be I am a circular saw.” (22-26) The regretful tone comes into play when he comes to the understanding that he is the ‘circular saw’ that will give others sorrow intentionally or unintentionally. An eye opening truth is revealed that leaves the audience to give sympathy to the poet. When analyzing the poem carefully, slight appearance of embarrassment can be noticed through the line “under the masks” (23) as he transforms into the thing he is distressed by. Throughout the poem, it can be understood that the ‘circular saw’ is used as a metaphor
I said to myself
“This is a bad dream and I shall wake up”
But I didn’t and in a few minutes the pain began
after that, I had a scar to remind me not to go near the circular saw
but I soon found they had ways of disgusting themselves so that watch as I might they were always hurting me
now inside and out
I am covered with scars but that is not the worst I’ve learned the worst thing is that under the masks
I wear and without intending to be
I am a circular saw
2. The narrator is reminiscing his past memories that show his efforts to keep a distance from the things he fears and hates. One can try very hard to keep the truth hidden, but it always prevails through. Another …show more content…
When looking at the figurative level, there are multiple lines that indicate the poet’s fear of the ‘saw.’ For instance, in the lines “I had a scar to remind me not to go near the circular saw” (9-11) it shows that he has experienced something before that tells him not to go close to them. The poet leads this recurring topic into the theme. At the beginning it is atrocious and apprehensive, but there is a change in the last stanza, when he realizes that he has become an individual that will pass on the pain he has received. This is shown in lines, “the worst thing is that under the masks I wear and without intending to be I am a circular saw.” (22-26) The regretful tone comes into play when he comes to the understanding that he is the ‘circular saw’ that will give others sorrow intentionally or unintentionally. An eye opening truth is revealed that leaves the audience to give sympathy to the poet. When analyzing the poem carefully, slight appearance of embarrassment can be noticed through the line “under the masks” (23) as he transforms into the thing he is distressed by. Throughout the poem, it can be understood that the ‘circular saw’ is used as a metaphor