The Use of Literary Devices to Present Anti-War Sentiment in ‘I’m Explaining a Few Things’ by Pablo Neruda
In ‘I’m Explaining a Few Things’, Pablo Neruda passionately expresses his anti-war attitude through a variety of literary techniques, such as his manipulation of structure and dramatic change of tone. The poem describes the atrocities committed in the Spanish town of Guernica during the early Spanish Civil War and details Neruda’s objection to the Nationalist faction of the war. ‘I’m Explaining a Few Things’ is a blatantly critical response to the bombing of Guernica and is one in which Neruda denounces the Nationalist forces of Spain.
Neruda introduces ‘I’m Explaining a Few Things’ by addressing the reader: “You are going to ask: and where are my lilacs?”- he refers to the stark contrast between ‘I’m Explaining a Few Things’ and his usual poetry, that often can be characterized by being metaphysical in nature- “and the poppy-petalled metaphysics?”. The tone of the first stanza is harsh and grating, as shown by Neruda’s usage of cacophonous vocabulary: “and the rain repeatedly spattering/ its words and drilling them full/ of apertures and birds?”. This alludes to Neruda’s self awareness of his poetry evolution, …show more content…
Neruda again makes reference of dying children- something of which is a sensitive subject- while talking about the Nationalists. The poem concludes with a repetition: “Come and see the blood in the streets./ Come and see/ the blood in the streets./ Come and see the blood/ in the streets!”. Neruda tells us that he cannot talk of beautiful things when the view is desecrated by the blood of innocents. But, amongst the gory violence Neruda has painted, he allows the compelling pride of Spain to remain prevalent, consoling us that a sliver of hope remains even in the
In ‘I’m Explaining a Few Things’, Pablo Neruda passionately expresses his anti-war attitude through a variety of literary techniques, such as his manipulation of structure and dramatic change of tone. The poem describes the atrocities committed in the Spanish town of Guernica during the early Spanish Civil War and details Neruda’s objection to the Nationalist faction of the war. ‘I’m Explaining a Few Things’ is a blatantly critical response to the bombing of Guernica and is one in which Neruda denounces the Nationalist forces of Spain.
Neruda introduces ‘I’m Explaining a Few Things’ by addressing the reader: “You are going to ask: and where are my lilacs?”- he refers to the stark contrast between ‘I’m Explaining a Few Things’ and his usual poetry, that often can be characterized by being metaphysical in nature- “and the poppy-petalled metaphysics?”. The tone of the first stanza is harsh and grating, as shown by Neruda’s usage of cacophonous vocabulary: “and the rain repeatedly spattering/ its words and drilling them full/ of apertures and birds?”. This alludes to Neruda’s self awareness of his poetry evolution, …show more content…
Neruda again makes reference of dying children- something of which is a sensitive subject- while talking about the Nationalists. The poem concludes with a repetition: “Come and see the blood in the streets./ Come and see/ the blood in the streets./ Come and see the blood/ in the streets!”. Neruda tells us that he cannot talk of beautiful things when the view is desecrated by the blood of innocents. But, amongst the gory violence Neruda has painted, he allows the compelling pride of Spain to remain prevalent, consoling us that a sliver of hope remains even in the