TASK: Explore the methods the poet uses to present violence in the poem. Throughout ‘The Gun’ the poet uses numerous methods to convey her changing attitude towards the violent themes associated with bringing a gun into a household as she becomes more acquainted with the new weapon and it acts as the gateway between power and pleasure. Immediately in the first line we are brought to a sudden emphasis on the word “changes,” the pause in the poet’s voice created by separating the sentence into two lines perhaps indicating to some degree the uncertainty and mixed emotions that she will display towards the change in dynamic the gun instigates in her household – this uncertainty is later elaborated on as the violence changes in nature along with …show more content…
“Soon” there is no lack of violence in the house, the word implying that the downfall is quick and unforeseen but undisturbed as the writer seems to have fully committed herself to it and its commands; the animals killed are no longer individually identified but rather referred to as “creatures”, varying between those who have “run and flown,” showing how there is such a great volume that they no longer individually matter – they together represent the ruthlessness with which she now kills and the lack of care towards this blurring of moral lines. As the “fridge fills” we see that there is an evident danger described about the ease of losing oneself in this violence which has overpowered the earlier atmosphere which seemed to reject the idea of a gun’s presence – it seemed out of place, whereas now it has become part of the routine. By describing their actions (“run,” “flown,”) the poet also shows us the development of the violence as compared to earlier when there was little animation in the gun’s victims, showing how she has moved past the point of compassion to a brutal indifference to the lives she is ending. There is clear reference to the subtle imprints the gun leaves on the user – “your hands reek of gun oil and entrails,” is a line which while seeming like a criticism out of context reads as a mark of pride in the stanza, something which creates an addiction discernable by onlookers. This could almost be seen as ‘marking territory’, showing how the user of the gun has allowed themselves to become part of this convoluted
rapid fire' has a sense of speed to it, which is what the first stanza
‘Weapons Training’ is a monologue about the harsh and dehumanising conditions of the training session for the soldiers. During the poem, Dawe uses a variety of crude words, insults and Australian slang to show the dehumanisation and attitude the soldiers had to endure. Dawe uses both crude words and insult to humiliate both Australian and Vietnamese soldiers. He uses phrases such as “unsightly fat” and “are you queer “to insult Australian soldiers and “little yellows” and “rotten fish sauce breath” to insult the Vietnamese. The slang that Dawe uses is able to show a representation of Australian culture, the slang is “old crown jewels,” “tripe’s” and “copped the bloody lot.” Using these words, the poet is able to show that the culture is strong even during war. All the words that Dawe uses is a way of degrading the soldiers.
Harwood uses “Daybreak:” as the opening into the poem, representing a new beginning, a new experience, which foreshadows the events to come. Negative descriptions such as, “horny fiend” are used by Harwood when the persona is describing herself taking her father’s gun at dawn, which is juxtaposed by the idea of the father at rest dreaming of an “obedient, angel-mind” child.
The second stanza, though only two lines in length and undifferentiate by lack of punctuation, carries a powerful message. the cowboy's virtue is directly compared to the dangerous, criminal potential of a bullet in a simile
School shootings, gang violence, drive by shootings, murder, and thousands of acts of violence are committed every day. Members of our society criticize their own people for this violence while they continue to sit back and do nothing about it. These acts of violence have many contributing factors. Violence in our country today is escalating because we don't control the distribution of the guns sold. There are not enough restrictions on guns sold legally. The illegal purchase of guns through the black market is out of control. There is not enough education on the usage and storage of guns.
Throughout the poem Foulcher retells the emotion and attitude around the room. Once Martin begins to pass the weapon to the students around the room it travels bringing interest as the boys examine it closely, eyes and imaginations widening to the power it is said to have had.
In the African American community, 83 percent of homicides are due to gun violence. In black communities gun violence is commonly misunderstood as gang affiliation, which is false. Studies show over 50 percent of gun crimes committed were not related to a felony, but were due to some disagreement. The gun epidemic in predominantly black communities aren’t just disagreements, but race wars, police brutality, gang related, and even no reason at all.
Everyday 93 Americans are killed by guns. Whether it is due to homicide or suicide, it does not matter. At the end of the day gun violence is increasing exponentially. In numerous states, gun laws have been placed in the hopes of reducing gun violence. But now many people believe that gun violence should be treated as a public health problem. I for one feel that gun violence should be put in the category of public health. Every year more than 30,000 people are victims to gun related incidents. It has become such an issue that gun violence is causing more deaths than some life threatening diseases.
Each year homicide and assault-related injuries result in an estimated $16 billion in combined medical and work loss (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/17/education-gun-violence-presidential-debate-2012_n_1974740.html). Gun violence may be broadly defined as a category of violence and crime committed with use of a firearm, it may or may not include actions ruled as self defense, actions for law enforcement. Gun violence is prevalent in African American Communities, although some might believe that it is not a racial issue ( CNN New’s stated “America’s Gun problem is not a race problem).
It again reinforces the thematic concern of the overall theme. The tone does not change throughout the poem suggesting the constant constraint the poet felt. This is created by words such as "rage", "smouldering" and "furious". Which again highlights the irritation the poet herself felt due to the lack of freedom on the poetic inspirations. Therefore, the tone creates a sense of "life as bleak".
In 2015, 13,367 people lost their lives due to gun violence according to Gun Violence Archive. The Archive also states that out of that number, 693 were children from ages 0-11. We can all agree that there is indeed a problem that we have to address. The solution to that problem, however, has been debated by many. I believe the solution to this problem exists in three parts: Mandatory training and licensing along with more heavily secure gun storage, stricter regulations on the purchasing of a firearm—disabilities and criminal records should be more deeply looked into before transaction—and finally, equipping teachers at highs schools with the right kind of weaponry to prevent mass shootings.
The desperation and destruction continues to escalate throughout part I of the poem until it reaches a close at,
This paper will explore the history of guns, myths and realities of gun violence. Gun violence is a hot topic in America today and some may believe that America was built on gun violence. This country was colonized by the use of violence with guns. We’ve had wars since the invasion of this country. The violence has been around also with the well-known 1775 speech from Patrick Henry, “Give me liberty or give me death” (Jr.). Give me death is a very strong statement that to me means this is of a violent nature. Since then violence with guns would only escalate from taking land to taking lives whether it be homicides, suicides or threats of violence against one another. With the violent history of gun violence in America and so many different opinions, who or what is responsible for the destruction on self and society and what are the some of the ways to discourage these behaviors.
causes the poem to flow, and thus lightens up the dark and serious issue of war. The lines "But ranged as infantry, And staring face to face, I shot at him as he at me, And killed him in his place." are easy to read; however, their meaning is extremely
Also, when she talks about the "Woods being Sovereign", it gives a sense of control. This all gives me the impression that being a "loaded gun" she is harmless until her master takes possession of it (her). And in the line, "And every time I speak for him/ The Mountains straight reply", it represents language to