1981 Poem: “Storm Warnings” (Adrienne Rich)Prompt: Write an essay in which you explain how the organization of the poem and the use of concrete details reveal both its literal and its metaphorical meanings. In your discussion, show how both of these meanings relate to the title.Explanation:
I feel this prompt relates back to Angelou's writing because there are many instances in which her writing can be implied both in a very literal way but also in a very complex and metaphorical viewpoint. The structure of the poem also plays a big role in how the poem can be analyzed and relate to specific readers in different ways.
Essay:
There the ones whom take care of the children, clean the house, and cook dinner every night...Theses ones are meant to be moms and the family caretaker. Many believe that woman are inferior to men and in many situations cannot perform the same tasks as them, and if they were to try would not meet the correct standards of the work done. "Woman Work" is a poem in which starts off very slow and dry in comparison to Angelou's other works yet as the reader continues through the first stanza and begins the second stanza. they come to realize that the words are more than just letters on a page and can truly begin to dissect the poem into multiple meanings of interpretation. Angelou has a very powerful yet casual tone throughout her poem and through "Woman Work" is able to pinpoint many of the common misconceptions on a woman's world and daily to-do list that constantly engulf the perception of woman on a global scale.
Creating a stanza that seems to last forever and then swiftly shifting gears and transforming the poem into short and dynamic stanzas creates the complexity that Angelou is commonly known for while still giving the poem a sense of individuality and originality. Angelou starts off her poem with a very drawn out stanza that is almost to the length in which it turns away the readers from continuing on, yet in a very dramatic yet smooth transition is able to pull the readers back in with more attention then they started with. Through burden and tiresome work, a list of chores and expectations that follow a woman day to day have reverse effects and continue to grow longer rather than shorter. What seem to be very lonesome and otherwise lesser tasks that must be done create a tone of solemn and sadness. Connecting to the audience over a very controversial topic can create a slippery slope to many yet Angelou successfully does just that. She carefully reaches the edge without falling and virtually stepping over the line. Continuing on through the poem, Angelou beings to liven up as she talks about nature and the unexpected wonders that come with outside forces. Beginning to write shorter stanzas with lighter words relay an impression of comfort and contentment with where the narrator stands with her current self. Understanding the thoughts and overwhelming burdens that come with the routine housework coincide with Angelou's choice of "Woman Work" serving not only as her title to her written work but also as a reference to those whom have the same afflictions.
Implications of themes and tones vary throughout many literature pieces and Angelou follows this same pattern as do many other writers. Reading her poem the first time through and simply reading for pleasure versus reading it over again to analyze and interpret meaning gives off many different versions of those implications. Depending on the audience that is reading the poem and what the reader is truly trying to understand from the work can decide how the words on paper relate to themselves and the world in which they surround themselves with. Angelou writes in a very broad spectrum with her word choice allowing for many audiences to elicit themes in both literal and metaphorical perspectives. From beginning to end, Angelou allows for many perceptions of her work to relate to almost all whom read "Woman Work" whether he be young or old, a fast or slow reader, or he be a she. Angelou's last stanza specifically allows for both implications of both a literal and methaphorical stand point depending on how the poem is analyzed. On a very literal platform, Angelou is simply calling the sun, rain, mountains, etc.. her own yet with a complexity in which she contradicts the persona that is illicited in the first stanza. As a woman with so much to do on a daily basis at such a fast pace while tending for children and a baby, why would she not claim her young as her own. Generally children are seen as the center of attention to families but specifically mothers for reasons that can make a list longer than that seen in the poem, yet in this circumstance it seems to be the opposite creating a sense of wonder to be left sitting with the reader to ponder. On the flip side of the coin, Angelou's last stanza can imply a very deep metaphorical meaning in which she never seems to find hapiness and resorts to nature and all that it entails to find relief. With a woman whom is constantly on her feet doing household chores up until the point of exhaustion without recieveing a single thank you or a sense of appreciation it is easy to see that nature and the unpredictable become her serenity. In many instances, woman need a place in which they can relax and truly habe time to be alone and escape from the duties that are known to many as "Woman Work."
From start to finish, "Woman Work" is defined through every statement of the poem. Woman constantly go go go and most of the chores that are accomplished are done behind closed doors; therfore they don't receive any recognition or awknowledgement from anyone despite the effort put in and endless exhaustion without time to recover. However, through either interpretation whether it be literally or metaphorically, a common theme shines through. No matter the length of a list or the work that it contains, a womans work is never done. Chore upon chore piling up onto the shoulders of a fatigued woman yet her job is never done. She is the one who puts in the sweat, blood, and tears... She is a woman at work.
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