Naming Of Parts Essay

Henry Reed’s poem “Naming of Parts” is based around the military, possibly even speaking of war times. Reed discusses the effects of military or war times of the young men who desire to enjoy their lives. Reed uses the weapon to represent the symbolism of getting to know the weapon before being able to use it. In the first stanza Reed recaps the weeks’ training and even gives a brief insight on what the rest of the week will hold. However, he continues to remind the soldiers or recruits the other days were in the past or in the future and tries to get them to concentrate on today. The poem is taking place in the spring, as Reed mentions the “neighboring gardens”. Spring is thought of to be a time of new beginnings as flowers begin to bloom during this time. Perhaps, the recruits are a little distracted by …show more content…
The drill sergeant or instructor that is speaking is using the swivels as the symbolism of the foundation of the branches of the trees. This symbolism is showing the reader the swivels are an important part of the rifle as it is what holds the sling to rifle just as the branches are what holds the garden in their “silent, eloquent gestures”. The recruits or soldiers have not received the slings yet so at this point they do have the ability to secure the weapon to their body. The third stanza talks about the safety-catch on the weapon. The instructor goes through the proper way to release the safety-catch “with an easy flick of the thumb”. The safety is compared to the beauty of the blossoms in the garden. Reed talks about the sensitivity of the safety and blossoms. The blossoms are “fragile and motionless” just as the safety should be released in the same manner. The safety is sensitive to touch and the blossoms are described as being fragile in garden as well, this shows another example of symbolism of sensitivity between the safety and