Mike Bock
Jan 10th 2010
AP Literature
Ms. Porter The effect of enjambment in “Erosion”
“Ugh,” screamed my mind when I first heard from the other AP Literature class that we would be studying poetry for a while now. But it was not what I had expected when I read “We Real Cool” by Gwendolyn Brooks. And it struck me that the poem was so powerful just because of how its end stops are arranged. Then, I glanced back at the poem “Erosion,” written by Linda Pastan. The use of enjambment by Pastan emphasizes words that are central to the poem.
Reading numerous novels, the people today are trained to read to the end of the line. But a poem is not a written art, it is supposed to be told to in person. Through the usage of enjambment, poets try to establish similar feelings. Taking a look at the first stanza, Pastan employs enjambment in the first two lines. The diction, “underminded,” is emphasized because it is placed in a new line, while if there were no enjambment, the word would have been unnoticed by many. Several times, Paston places emphasis on certain words such as "scythes", "us whole," "nothing," "ark," and "flesh." By doing so, Paston affects theme, rhythm, and the tone.
Through the poem, "Erosion," Pastan conveys to the readers the vulnerability of humans to the passing of time. Let's take a look back at the words that Paston enjambed. On the third line of the second stanza, Pastan uses the word, "continuously," then at the end of the same stanza, she expresses the idea that time is running out. And surely enough, the whole poem focuses on the word. Paston states that "grain by grain... inch by inch" and "as we sleep," we are eroding. The third stanza directly states that By not placing the end stops at the end of the line, it forces the readers to pay attention to the words that are essential to theme of the poem.
Enjambment does not enhance how the theme is presented to the readers, however, also affects the tone of the poem. Yes, the tone can be altered through the choice of diction but even in the case of "We Real Cool," even though Brooks uses simple words, the tone is directly carried. Similarly, in the "Erosion," the vulnerable tone of human beings can be heard. Especially in the fourth stanza, Paston purposefully ends most of the lines with elements from nature to emphasize its power. And expresses her view that even if human beings try prayers and seawalls, they are going to parish under time.
Then, last but not least, the rhythm. Poets utilize enjambment to characterize its own beat. The rhyme scheme through enjambment can, especially, be seen in the fifth stanza. Paston ends each line with a enjambment and also has four consecutive rhymes. By having numerous rhymes, Paston quickens the pace of the poem, which shows that although there is love within the world, it fades.
Just the simple change in the placement of end stops changes can alter so many aspects of a poem. And that is what makes enjambment so powerful. It can easily change the theme, tone, and rhyme of a poem.
I think we pretty much had the same idea. I also thought enjambment is so powerful and effective in one's poem. It plays a major role in changing crucial elements of the poem. (Brian)
interesting that we had similar ideas but different examples. For me the word slippage was the most significant emphasis. (Yet you never even mentioned slippage)(Il-jee)
Jan 10th 2010
AP Literature
Ms. Porter
The effect of enjambment in “Erosion”
“Ugh,” screamed my mind when I first heard from the other AP Literature class that we would be studying poetry for a while now. But it was not what I had expected when I read “We Real Cool” by Gwendolyn Brooks. And it struck me that the poem was so powerful just because of how its end stops are arranged. Then, I glanced back at the poem “Erosion,” written by Linda Pastan. The use of enjambment by Pastan emphasizes words that are central to the poem.
Reading numerous novels, the people today are trained to read to the end of the line. But a poem is not a written art, it is supposed to be told to in person. Through the usage of enjambment, poets try to establish similar feelings. Taking a look at the first stanza, Pastan employs enjambment in the first two lines. The diction, “underminded,” is emphasized because it is placed in a new line, while if there were no enjambment, the word would have been unnoticed by many. Several times, Paston places emphasis on certain words such as "scythes", "us whole," "nothing," "ark," and "flesh." By doing so, Paston affects theme, rhythm, and the tone.
Through the poem, "Erosion," Pastan conveys to the readers the vulnerability of humans to the passing of time. Let's take a look back at the words that Paston enjambed. On the third line of the second stanza, Pastan uses the word, "continuously," then at the end of the same stanza, she expresses the idea that time is running out. And surely enough, the whole poem focuses on the word. Paston states that "grain by grain... inch by inch" and "as we sleep," we are eroding. The third stanza directly states that By not placing the end stops at the end of the line, it forces the readers to pay attention to the words that are essential to theme of the poem.
Enjambment does not enhance how the theme is presented to the readers, however, also affects the tone of the poem. Yes, the tone can be altered through the choice of diction but even in the case of "We Real Cool," even though Brooks uses simple words, the tone is directly carried. Similarly, in the "Erosion," the vulnerable tone of human beings can be heard. Especially in the fourth stanza, Paston purposefully ends most of the lines with elements from nature to emphasize its power. And expresses her view that even if human beings try prayers and seawalls, they are going to parish under time.
Then, last but not least, the rhythm. Poets utilize enjambment to characterize its own beat. The rhyme scheme through enjambment can, especially, be seen in the fifth stanza. Paston ends each line with a enjambment and also has four consecutive rhymes. By having numerous rhymes, Paston quickens the pace of the poem, which shows that although there is love within the world, it fades.
Just the simple change in the placement of end stops changes can alter so many aspects of a poem. And that is what makes enjambment so powerful. It can easily change the theme, tone, and rhyme of a poem.
I think we pretty much had the same idea. I also thought enjambment is so powerful and effective in one's poem. It plays a major role in changing crucial elements of the poem. (Brian)
interesting that we had similar ideas but different examples. For me the word slippage was the most significant emphasis. (Yet you never even mentioned slippage)(Il-jee)