Carefully read the following poem by Mary Oliver. Then write a well-organized blog in which you analyze how Oliver conveys the relationship between the tree and family through the use of figurative language and other poetic techniques.
"The Black Walnut Tree" by Mary Oliver describes the struggle of a woman and her daughter to decided whether to sell a tree which grows on their property.
The start of the poem introduces the debate outright. However, as the narrator of the piece, or the author herself, makes her case it seems rather one sided, all arguments are in favor of cutting down the tree. All of this imagery is fairly literal, all making reference to the physical damages that could be caused if the tree remains, however, the author employs words such as "likely" and "anyway" which add not only a casual and conversational element to the piece, but one too of doubt. These words are speculative and thus show that the women do not have their minds made up in regards to the tree as it appears they do.
The poem shifts as the author writes "but something brighter than money moves in our blood- an edge sharp and quick as a trowel." Here is where the author begins to employ figurative imagery as this "something" is making reference to the symbolic meaning behind the tree. As the poem continues the narrator makes reference to dreams of her father and her and her mother's willingness to crawl with shame in their "fathers backyard." Harvesting from the tree, as suggested by the piece, is a way of connecting with the agricultural ways of their forefathers. The tree is their connection to the past and the debate is not so much over the mere life of a tree, but between living comfortably and sticking to their roots.
One contrast that appears evident is that between the images in the first half of the poem and the second half. The first half concentrates on the present and describes things as they could be in a mundane and realistic sense. However, the second half refers to the life of her forefathers in a more pleasant and grand light, describing the "blue fields" and "fresh and generous Ohio." There is a romanticism about the past, and that is where the conflict over the tree lies.
The end of the poem speaks about the tree as it continues to remain in the yard. The author describes the way her mother and her would "crawl in shame at the emptiness we'd made." if they were to sell the plant. As the poem comes to a close the author writes "So the black walnut tree swings through another year of sun and leaping winds, of leaves and bounding fruit." This passing of time is representative of the joys and sorrows, the rise and falls of a life where they live with the presence of the tree, a life where they live in a way that remains close to their roots and their family. However, the closing words of the piece make references to the tree and the way it continues to endure the "cracking whip of the mortgage" suggesting that the struggle continues on.
As an additionally symbol, the poem speaks continually of the masculine presence in the two woman's life. The tree is not representative of their life, but of that of their fathers. Of men. The walnut is a common symbol of great masculinity because of its hard outer shell. However, the black color in the title is a foreshadowing of the struggle which the family faces in regards to the tree.
Danielle, Your blog was very interesting this week. I also observed that the beginning was very literal about the struggle. The images from the first half are so much different than that of the second. I liked your discussion on the masculine presence of the tree. It was really interesting. I didn’t see that. I took the tree as more of a family symbol than one of just a specific sort of masculine figure. That was really interesting to read. Nice job!
I think that you did a great job analyzing the poem. The description that you had for the beginning of the poem was exactly what I noticed. I think that the author was using a literal meaning to describe the beginning of the poem. The way that you analyzed the second half of the story was interesting. I could not think of the reason the author included this part in the poem, but the way that he was reminiscent of the past was very interesting. Great job!
The Black Walnut Tree was a very interesting poem. The poem had both literal meanings and meanings that had underlying connotations. The poem also has a shift in it from present tense and how the family will pay the mortgage to the past tense and how the father of the family would feel about selling the tree.
The poem begins with a sad and depressing tone. The title of the poem uses the color black for the tree. This sets the tone for the entire poem because black is a color that sparks sadness in people. The author then begins the poem discussing the families situation. It becomes evident that the family is poor and they are looking for a source of funds to pay off the mortgage. The black walnut tree is a type of wood that could be sold for a high profit, but the family does not want to part with the tree. This is the reoccurring theme of the poem.
The poem can be split into two different sections. The first section is the present tense of the story. The mother and daughter are the only two people present in this section and they are trying to make a decision of whether or not they should sell the tree. They come up with some reasons for getting rid of the tree. They say that not only do they need the money, but they also know that the roots are going to ruin the plumbing. They convince themselves that this must be done.
The second part of the poem deals with the past of the family. The father is no longer with the family, and they think about how it would affect him had he still been around. They realize that the tree was a symbol of their family and the unity and memories that they had. They do not know if the money is worth ruining everything that they had as a family. This is the problem that the family faces.
The tree seems like something that could easily have been forgotten and sold. Many people now would not think twice about getting rid of a tree for money. The family in the poem are very hesitant to get rid of the tree. The main reason that they will not get rid of the tree is because it shows the unity the family had. They do not want to lose all of the memories that they had. It symbolizes everything that the family had.
Kraus, Nice job! I think that you did a really nice job analyzing the poem. I want to start with the symbolism of the tree. I also found it to be a symbol of the family. I said that it was also a symbol of the power of family because that tree never falters. I also like that instead of just discussing past and present you thought of it as two completely different sections. That was such a good idea. Great blog!
I found it very interesting that you thought of the poem as two different sections. I found the first part of the poem to be very literal while the second part of the poem is much more figurative. I also found that the tree signified the family as well as their ancestors. I think that you did an excellent job anaylzing the poem. Great blog!
The Black Walnut Tree is a story not only of struggle but of the power of family.
The beginning of the poem is very literal. The author of this poem, Mary Oliver, comes out and says exactly what she wants the reader to know, and nothing more. She depicts the image of two women sitting together and discussing the fate of this tree that lives in their backyard. It seems to be a danger to the property where it lives. The overall tone of the beginning is a very somber tone. The use of the color black serves to set the mood as rather depressing.
There are also some images that are used in the beginning of this poem that create a negative image in the reader’s mind. The author says things such as smashing the house and roots in the pipes. Both of these images make the reader think that it is time to cut down the tree. The woman and daughter are trying to make the right decision because it could change the mortgage. It seems to be the impossible choice. Do they pay off the mortgage or do they keep this strong and large tree in their yard.
There is an obvious shift after this, however. The tone of the poem suddenly becomes more upbeat. The author uses the phrase “something brighter than money runs in our veins.” This gives the tree a new level of significance to the poem. It is suddenly a symbol of the father and husband that passed away. The tree belonged to him while he lived on Earth, and now the family doesn’t seem to be able to part with this tree. It stands for so much that they could never replace once it is gone. The daughter realizes this when she says “we would crawl with shame in the emptiness.” She realizes that without that tree it is like her father is no longer there.
There are two very strong symbols in this poem. One of them is her fathers Bohemia. The author describes it as blue fields with vines and orchards. This a symbol to the poem because it is meant to represent that her father has passed away, and this is his heaven. The narrator also says that she is dreaming of him in peace. It seems that this is also a way to show that even though he is not physically with her, she knows of his presence within her mind. She also knows that her father is happy in a better place than Earth.
The second symbol that is very important to the story is the black walnut tree. It is a symbol of family. The mother and daughter could not get rid of the tree because it was a symbol of the father and husband that they loved so much. It was a powerful tree, and that represents the power of family. The mortgage payment keeps coming, but they are happy in the presence of their lost loved one. With the power of family people can over come anything. This tree symbolizes that money is not what is important. The life and memory of a loved one is where the real importance in life can be found. Mary Oliver uses this poem to illustrate the importance of family, and keeping them alive even in death.
I really enjoyed your blog. I think that you did a good job explaining the literal meaning that the author was talking with. I also really enjoyed the part of your blog where you talked about the symbols and their meaning to the poem. I think that they added strength to the points the author was making. Nice blog!
I agree that the beginning of the poem is very litera as the women discuss their options. I also agree that the tree is the symbol of their family and that is why they are so unwillingly to part with the tree. The tree has not too much a family signifcance to the women which is why they were unable to cut it down. Great job!
Wow! You analyzed this poem beautifully! I like how you incorporated so many poetic devices such as imagery, tone, color symbolism, symbolism, and shift. By analyzing all of these elements, I think you successfully unlocked the deeper meaning of the poem. That is very impressive! I love how you related the tree to the family member who passed away. Great blog, Megz!
A mother and her daughter are faced with a tough decision concerning the walnut tree in their yard. They have the opportunity to sell the tree for the lumber, which would pay off the mortgage on the house. The decision seems simple enough economically, however the tree is an important symbol to women that they do not wish to part with.
The beginning of the poem explores the logical side of the tree's situation. The women seem to be in agreement that it would be beneficial to cut down tree. It would be much less work for them and they would not have to worry about the roots destroying their basement, but most importantly the lumber would pay off the mortgage on their house. Their decision seems to be mutual and definitive however the words, "likely" and "debate" suggest that their decision is not final. The tone is grave and disheartening evident from the phrase, "two women trying in a difficult time to be wise."
The poem then shifts at the line "But something brighter than money" were the two women explore the real meaning behind the tree. It seems that the women believe that their ancestors would want them to pay off the mortgage without selling the tree. Their ancestors want the to "dig and sow" which suggests that they work harder to make the money. The tree is in essence the family tree, it shows linage and the history of their family throughout the years. It has withstood the test of time and hardships. Cutting down the tree is symbolic for ending the family line and removing their family line.
The dream suggests a happier time possibly foreshadowing that the mother and daughter's lives would improve in the future. Also the relatives are present in the dream showing that the tree represents their family and that it is paramount that the tree stays. The mother and daughter also know that they would, "crawl with shame in the emptiness" meaning that they would be ashamed of the whole the tree would leave in their yard and hearts if it were cut down.
The poem ends on a more dreadful note as it is clear that the mother and daughter are continually struggling financially. However, they both know that cutting down a tree would leave a whole in their lives that could not easily be replaced, while the money is something that they could eventually fix.
Great poem analyzing! This is so impressive! I like how you analyzed several poetic devices to unlock the deeper meaning of the literary work. I really enjoy how you interpreted the dream. I really like your interpretation and how you depicted some of the symbolism. I also like you defined the symbolism of "dig and sow". That they would work harder. That is deep and very true! Good work, Michaela!
After reading your blog, this poem just got a whole lot more clear for me. Your uses of poetic devices really opened the deeper meaning of the work as Rachel said. Your interpretation of the dream was also very accurate and made the blog flawless. Nice job!
I see what you did there, Mrs. Messineo. It may be a stretch, but I see a correlation between "The Black Walnut Tree" and Brideshead Revisited. They both have to do with the matter of letting something go. A mother and a daughter debate whether or not they should cut down the black walnut tree in their backyard for money to pay of their mortgage. In Brideshead Revisited, Sebastian debates whether or not he should let go of his childhood and/or his family.
Anyway, the main poetic device that I think illustrates the mother and daughter's controversy over the tree is the shift in line 16, "But something brighter than money..." The lines before this discuss all of the negative aspects of the tree, and why the family should cut it down. Then the shift uses subtle imagery in a simile that says, "an edge sharp and quick as a trowel that wants us to dig and sow." I researched what a "trowel" is, and I discovered that it is a tool used to remove plants from the earth. It makes perfect sense. The figurative language, at first, appears to suggest that the family urgently wants to cut the tree down by using the words such as "trowel" and "dig and sow". But it is figurative language, and of course it is not literal.
The shift foreshadows the family's decision. When it mentions the "trowel" and "dig and sow", it is not indicating the roots of the black walnut tree, but rather, the roots of the family tree. It means that the mother and daughter want to carry on the tradition of "their fathers' backyard". The girl uses imagery in a dream she has about her forefathers that describes "blue fields" and “vines and orchards”. The lines following the shift indicate that the mother and daughter are attached to the tree because of its rich history of their family. It almost seems as if it symbolizes their family tree. The last lines of the poem state that the mother and her daughter chose the tree over paying off their mortgage with beautiful personification such as the tree enduring “leaping winds” and “bounding fruit”. Perhaps, the deeper meaning of the poem is that family is much more valuable than money.
I saw the comparison between this and Brideshead Revisited too, now that you had mentioned it. And that paper I still have to write is probably not going to be pretty. Anyways your last line made a very good point. Family is much more valuable than money, even when you are in a financial crisis. Nice blog this week!
Ha! Nice comparison, a bit of a stretch I agree, but good eye. Anyways, I totally agree with the importance of that one middle line. It totally transforms the tone of the poem from that point on. I feel like this poem is really interesting because, unlike most of our blogs, all of the answers to this prompt are totally varied. I totally would never had made that Brdieshead correlation if you had not pointed it out.
It took me a while to finally get the just of this poem, but basically what it is saying is that the family is in a debate whether to get rid of the tree or not. While other families may get rid of it for a heartbeat, this particular family is attached to the tree because it holds a sense of unity among them.
The first part of the poem states the initial situation: should the family uproot the tree to pay off their mortgage, or should they keep it up? The poem opens with words such as black, smashing, dark, slowly, and difficult, all symbolizing what a heck of a decision they have to make. The imagery in the first part here is pretty straight forward. The tree is old and can possibly ruin their house, and, after doing some research, I found out that black walnut tree wood can be sold at a favorable price. The first part of the poem is biased toward cutting down the tree and paying for the mortgage. Obviously the family wouldn't need to cut it down if they were not poor, but with the use of reason, the answer should be straight forward.
The poem shifts when the word but is introduced. The word makes the family think in retrospect. They are talking about their memories with the tree when they say that it is greater than money. This is why they don't want to sell the tree, because it symbolizes something greater than money itself. The tree is a symbol of the family's unity throughout generations, from the fathers to the current generation.
That's why they don't want to sell it. So now at the third part of the poem they decide to leave the tree as it is. They don't say anything about the family's financial crisis after they make a decision, except for that the tree was the whip crack of the family's mortgage. Honestly, I have no clue what that means. I'm guessing that it gave the family a rough time paying back the mortgage, but since they said that it sat there for months and days and nights and all, I'm guessing they found a way to pay off the mortgage. If the tree was so expensive and dangerous, you would think that another family would cut it down if they had the chance. But I'm assuming that another family never took ownership of the property.
It took me a while to grasp the gist of the poem is. It took even longer for me to accurately articulate what I wanted to say. It seems as though our analysis of the poem wwas fairly identical but your wording in this on line encompasses it perfectly:
"The tree is a symbol of the family's unity throughout generations, from the fathers to the current generation"
Really nice job, Matt. You encompasses how I felt about the poem in one sentence.
Okay, I pray this is correctish.
ReplyDelete"The Black Walnut Tree" by Mary Oliver describes the struggle of a woman and her daughter to decided whether to sell a tree which grows on their property.
The start of the poem introduces the debate outright. However, as the narrator of the piece, or the author herself, makes her case it seems rather one sided, all arguments are in favor of cutting down the tree. All of this imagery is fairly literal, all making reference to the physical damages that could be caused if the tree remains, however, the author employs words such as "likely" and "anyway" which add not only a casual and conversational element to the piece, but one too of doubt. These words are speculative and thus show that the women do not have their minds made up in regards to the tree as it appears they do.
The poem shifts as the author writes "but something brighter than money moves in our blood- an edge sharp and quick as a trowel." Here is where the author begins to employ figurative imagery as this "something" is making reference to the symbolic meaning behind the tree. As the poem continues the narrator makes reference to dreams of her father and her and her mother's willingness to crawl with shame in their "fathers backyard." Harvesting from the tree, as suggested by the piece, is a way of connecting with the agricultural ways of their forefathers. The tree is their connection to the past and the debate is not so much over the mere life of a tree, but between living comfortably and sticking to their roots.
One contrast that appears evident is that between the images in the first half of the poem and the second half. The first half concentrates on the present and describes things as they could be in a mundane and realistic sense. However, the second half refers to the life of her forefathers in a more pleasant and grand light, describing the "blue fields" and "fresh and generous Ohio." There is a romanticism about the past, and that is where the conflict over the tree lies.
The end of the poem speaks about the tree as it continues to remain in the yard. The author describes the way her mother and her would "crawl in shame at the emptiness we'd made." if they were to sell the plant. As the poem comes to a close the author writes "So the black walnut tree swings through another year of sun and leaping winds, of leaves and bounding fruit." This passing of time is representative of the joys and sorrows, the rise and falls of a life where they live with the presence of the tree, a life where they live in a way that remains close to their roots and their family. However, the closing words of the piece make references to the tree and the way it continues to endure the "cracking whip of the mortgage" suggesting that the struggle continues on.
As an additionally symbol, the poem speaks continually of the masculine presence in the two woman's life. The tree is not representative of their life, but of that of their fathers. Of men. The walnut is a common symbol of great masculinity because of its hard outer shell. However, the black color in the title is a foreshadowing of the struggle which the family faces in regards to the tree.
Danielle,
DeleteYour blog was very interesting this week. I also observed that the beginning was very literal about the struggle. The images from the first half are so much different than that of the second. I liked your discussion on the masculine presence of the tree. It was really interesting. I didn’t see that. I took the tree as more of a family symbol than one of just a specific sort of masculine figure. That was really interesting to read. Nice job!
Danielle,
ReplyDeleteI think that you did a great job analyzing the poem. The description that you had for the beginning of the poem was exactly what I noticed. I think that the author was using a literal meaning to describe the beginning of the poem. The way that you analyzed the second half of the story was interesting. I could not think of the reason the author included this part in the poem, but the way that he was reminiscent of the past was very interesting. Great job!
The Black Walnut Tree was a very interesting poem. The poem had both literal meanings and meanings that had underlying connotations. The poem also has a shift in it from present tense and how the family will pay the mortgage to the past tense and how the father of the family would feel about selling the tree.
ReplyDeleteThe poem begins with a sad and depressing tone. The title of the poem uses the color black for the tree. This sets the tone for the entire poem because black is a color that sparks sadness in people. The author then begins the poem discussing the families situation. It becomes evident that the family is poor and they are looking for a source of funds to pay off the mortgage. The black walnut tree is a type of wood that could be sold for a high profit, but the family does not want to part with the tree. This is the reoccurring theme of the poem.
The poem can be split into two different sections. The first section is the present tense of the story. The mother and daughter are the only two people present in this section and they are trying to make a decision of whether or not they should sell the tree. They come up with some reasons for getting rid of the tree. They say that not only do they need the money, but they also know that the roots are going to ruin the plumbing. They convince themselves that this must be done.
The second part of the poem deals with the past of the family. The father is no longer with the family, and they think about how it would affect him had he still been around. They realize that the tree was a symbol of their family and the unity and memories that they had. They do not know if the money is worth ruining everything that they had as a family. This is the problem that the family faces.
The tree seems like something that could easily have been forgotten and sold. Many people now would not think twice about getting rid of a tree for money. The family in the poem are very hesitant to get rid of the tree. The main reason that they will not get rid of the tree is because it shows the unity the family had. They do not want to lose all of the memories that they had. It symbolizes everything that the family had.
Kraus,
DeleteNice job! I think that you did a really nice job analyzing the poem. I want to start with the symbolism of the tree. I also found it to be a symbol of the family. I said that it was also a symbol of the power of family because that tree never falters. I also like that instead of just discussing past and present you thought of it as two completely different sections. That was such a good idea. Great blog!
Kraus,
DeleteI found it very interesting that you thought of the poem as two different sections. I found the first part of the poem to be very literal while the second part of the poem is much more figurative. I also found that the tree signified the family as well as their ancestors. I think that you did an excellent job anaylzing the poem. Great blog!
The Black Walnut Tree is a story not only of struggle but of the power of family.
ReplyDeleteThe beginning of the poem is very literal. The author of this poem, Mary Oliver, comes out and says exactly what she wants the reader to know, and nothing more. She depicts the image of two women sitting together and discussing the fate of this tree that lives in their backyard. It seems to be a danger to the property where it lives. The overall tone of the beginning is a very somber tone. The use of the color black serves to set the mood as rather depressing.
There are also some images that are used in the beginning of this poem that create a negative image in the reader’s mind. The author says things such as smashing the house and roots in the pipes. Both of these images make the reader think that it is time to cut down the tree. The woman and daughter are trying to make the right decision because it could change the mortgage. It seems to be the impossible choice. Do they pay off the mortgage or do they keep this strong and large tree in their yard.
There is an obvious shift after this, however. The tone of the poem suddenly becomes more upbeat. The author uses the phrase “something brighter than money runs in our veins.” This gives the tree a new level of significance to the poem. It is suddenly a symbol of the father and husband that passed away. The tree belonged to him while he lived on Earth, and now the family doesn’t seem to be able to part with this tree. It stands for so much that they could never replace once it is gone. The daughter realizes this when she says “we would crawl with shame in the emptiness.” She realizes that without that tree it is like her father is no longer there.
There are two very strong symbols in this poem. One of them is her fathers Bohemia. The author describes it as blue fields with vines and orchards. This a symbol to the poem because it is meant to represent that her father has passed away, and this is his heaven. The narrator also says that she is dreaming of him in peace. It seems that this is also a way to show that even though he is not physically with her, she knows of his presence within her mind. She also knows that her father is happy in a better place than Earth.
The second symbol that is very important to the story is the black walnut tree. It is a symbol of family. The mother and daughter could not get rid of the tree because it was a symbol of the father and husband that they loved so much. It was a powerful tree, and that represents the power of family. The mortgage payment keeps coming, but they are happy in the presence of their lost loved one. With the power of family people can over come anything. This tree symbolizes that money is not what is important. The life and memory of a loved one is where the real importance in life can be found. Mary Oliver uses this poem to illustrate the importance of family, and keeping them alive even in death.
Megan,
DeleteI really enjoyed your blog. I think that you did a good job explaining the literal meaning that the author was talking with. I also really enjoyed the part of your blog where you talked about the symbols and their meaning to the poem. I think that they added strength to the points the author was making. Nice blog!
Megan,
DeleteI agree that the beginning of the poem is very litera as the women discuss their options. I also agree that the tree is the symbol of their family and that is why they are so unwillingly to part with the tree. The tree has not too much a family signifcance to the women which is why they were unable to cut it down. Great job!
Megan McKenna,
DeleteWow! You analyzed this poem beautifully! I like how you incorporated so many poetic devices such as imagery, tone, color symbolism, symbolism, and shift. By analyzing all of these elements, I think you successfully unlocked the deeper meaning of the poem. That is very impressive! I love how you related the tree to the family member who passed away. Great blog, Megz!
A mother and her daughter are faced with a tough decision concerning the walnut tree in their yard. They have the opportunity to sell the tree for the lumber, which would pay off the mortgage on the house. The decision seems simple enough economically, however the tree is an important symbol to women that they do not wish to part with.
ReplyDeleteThe beginning of the poem explores the logical side of the tree's situation. The women seem to be in agreement that it would be beneficial to cut down tree. It would be much less work for them and they would not have to worry about the roots destroying their basement, but most importantly the lumber would pay off the mortgage on their house. Their decision seems to be mutual and definitive however the words, "likely" and "debate" suggest that their decision is not final. The tone is grave and disheartening evident from the phrase, "two women trying in a difficult time to be wise."
The poem then shifts at the line "But something brighter than money" were the two women explore the real meaning behind the tree. It seems that the women believe that their ancestors would want them to pay off the mortgage without selling the tree. Their ancestors want the to "dig and sow" which suggests that they work harder to make the money. The tree is in essence the family tree, it shows linage and the history of their family throughout the years. It has withstood the test of time and hardships. Cutting down the tree is symbolic for ending the family line and removing their family line.
The dream suggests a happier time possibly foreshadowing that the mother and daughter's lives would improve in the future. Also the relatives are present in the dream showing that the tree represents their family and that it is paramount that the tree stays. The mother and daughter also know that they would, "crawl with shame in the emptiness" meaning that they would be ashamed of the whole the tree would leave in their yard and hearts if it were cut down.
The poem ends on a more dreadful note as it is clear that the mother and daughter are continually struggling financially. However, they both know that cutting down a tree would leave a whole in their lives that could not easily be replaced, while the money is something that they could eventually fix.
Michaela Cashmer,
DeleteGreat poem analyzing! This is so impressive! I like how you analyzed several poetic devices to unlock the deeper meaning of the literary work. I really enjoy how you interpreted the dream. I really like your interpretation and how you depicted some of the symbolism. I also like you defined the symbolism of "dig and sow". That they would work harder. That is deep and very true! Good work, Michaela!
Michaela,
DeleteAfter reading your blog, this poem just got a whole lot more clear for me. Your uses of poetic devices really opened the deeper meaning of the work as Rachel said. Your interpretation of the dream was also very accurate and made the blog flawless. Nice job!
I see what you did there, Mrs. Messineo. It may be a stretch, but I see a correlation between "The Black Walnut Tree" and Brideshead Revisited. They both have to do with the matter of letting something go. A mother and a daughter debate whether or not they should cut down the black walnut tree in their backyard for money to pay of their mortgage. In Brideshead Revisited, Sebastian debates whether or not he should let go of his childhood and/or his family.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, the main poetic device that I think illustrates the mother and daughter's controversy over the tree is the shift in line 16, "But something brighter than money..." The lines before this discuss all of the negative aspects of the tree, and why the family should cut it down. Then the shift uses subtle imagery in a simile that says, "an edge sharp and quick as a trowel that wants us to dig and sow." I researched what a "trowel" is, and I discovered that it is a tool used to remove plants from the earth. It makes perfect sense. The figurative language, at first, appears to suggest that the family urgently wants to cut the tree down by using the words such as "trowel" and "dig and sow". But it is figurative language, and of course it is not literal.
The shift foreshadows the family's decision. When it mentions the "trowel" and "dig and sow", it is not indicating the roots of the black walnut tree, but rather, the roots of the family tree. It means that the mother and daughter want to carry on the tradition of "their fathers' backyard". The girl uses imagery in a dream she has about her forefathers that describes "blue fields" and “vines and orchards”. The lines following the shift indicate that the mother and daughter are attached to the tree because of its rich history of their family. It almost seems as if it symbolizes their family tree. The last lines of the poem state that the mother and her daughter chose the tree over paying off their mortgage with beautiful personification such as the tree enduring “leaping winds” and “bounding fruit”. Perhaps, the deeper meaning of the poem is that family is much more valuable than money.
Rachel,
DeleteI saw the comparison between this and Brideshead Revisited too, now that you had mentioned it. And that paper I still have to write is probably not going to be pretty. Anyways your last line made a very good point. Family is much more valuable than money, even when you are in a financial crisis. Nice blog this week!
Rachel,
DeleteHa! Nice comparison, a bit of a stretch I agree, but good eye. Anyways, I totally agree with the importance of that one middle line. It totally transforms the tone of the poem from that point on. I feel like this poem is really interesting because, unlike most of our blogs, all of the answers to this prompt are totally varied. I totally would never had made that Brdieshead correlation if you had not pointed it out.
Nice blog.
It took me a while to finally get the just of this poem, but basically what it is saying is that the family is in a debate whether to get rid of the tree or not. While other families may get rid of it for a heartbeat, this particular family is attached to the tree because it holds a sense of unity among them.
ReplyDeleteThe first part of the poem states the initial situation: should the family uproot the tree to pay off their mortgage, or should they keep it up? The poem opens with words such as black, smashing, dark, slowly, and difficult, all symbolizing what a heck of a decision they have to make. The imagery in the first part here is pretty straight forward. The tree is old and can possibly ruin their house, and, after doing some research, I found out that black walnut tree wood can be sold at a favorable price. The first part of the poem is biased toward cutting down the tree and paying for the mortgage. Obviously the family wouldn't need to cut it down if they were not poor, but with the use of reason, the answer should be straight forward.
The poem shifts when the word but is introduced. The word makes the family think in retrospect. They are talking about their memories with the tree when they say that it is greater than money. This is why they don't want to sell the tree, because it symbolizes something greater than money itself. The tree is a symbol of the family's unity throughout generations, from the fathers to the current generation.
That's why they don't want to sell it. So now at the third part of the poem they decide to leave the tree as it is. They don't say anything about the family's financial crisis after they make a decision, except for that the tree was the whip crack of the family's mortgage. Honestly, I have no clue what that means. I'm guessing that it gave the family a rough time paying back the mortgage, but since they said that it sat there for months and days and nights and all, I'm guessing they found a way to pay off the mortgage. If the tree was so expensive and dangerous, you would think that another family would cut it down if they had the chance. But I'm assuming that another family never took ownership of the property.
Matt,
DeleteIt took me a while to grasp the gist of the poem is. It took even longer for me to accurately articulate what I wanted to say. It seems as though our analysis of the poem wwas fairly identical but your wording in this on line encompasses it perfectly:
"The tree is a symbol of the family's unity throughout generations, from the fathers to the current generation"
Really nice job, Matt. You encompasses how I felt about the poem in one sentence.
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