surfie compared to the surfer
surfie compared to the surferSurfie vs The Surfer
two poems, two themes and how poetic techniques develope them
Surfie, by Jane Marshall, and The Surfer, by Judith Wright, are quite obviously both poems about surfing. The subject matters in each poem are the same.
Both authors have managed to write a poem about surfing, only to create different impressions, formed by their many poetic techniques, within two different themes.
these themes are:
Surfie - This poem is about a surfer who is taking on some of the characteristics of the wave he is riding. With it he has wealth. He the surfer can be wealthy with the richness that surfing has to offer but he cannot ever be as powerful due to the oceans unpredictability. It can choose to resume its own respected status of undeafetable power, anytime. He is merely a man riding the wave. Who is only to be thrown around in a mess of broken waves and white water.because he is underpowered by the waves unpredictability. Whereas ‘The Surfer’, is about the the paradox that can arise from the mystique of the ocean. The sea in this surfers eyes is an object of beauty and controllability, not a monster of momentarily shared wealth and unpredictabilty, but a figure that is not totally understood. It is an object of serenity. One easily likened to the rest of natures many beauties. But to one who is sitting upon the shore, a spectator, the sea and its waves can be seen as a snarling monster. The wave holding the power rather than the surfer. The sea is untame, true. But only with out a rider.
Surfie is a poem, rich with the use of constructive and thoughtful sound devices. The author has used these sound devices to describe and make point of the uncertainty surrounding an object as powerful as the ocean.
The sound of a breaking wave is an uncertain noise. Firstly there is a silent rise in the ocean, the lip curls over and drops without noise, then all of a sudden there is a gigantic roar, an expression of power. This power of uncertainty has an effect on the surfer. He is unsure as to the direction or ending of his ride and to the power at which he is being granted. Onomatopoeia, in this poem, describes it wonderfully. ’sway sway’. These are words which clearly express themselves. They are words of uncertainty and a lack of power. This surfer is trying to retain his footing and keep up with the rich ride he is apon. Even the rhyme in this poem is influenced by the uncertainty that this immensely powerful wave produces. Its uncertainty is linked to the feeling that the wave produces, it can do what it wants, when it wants. Unstructured, unpredictable and powerful. Just like the wave. The surfer is not as powerful as the wave and that it what it is expressing...
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