Reaches of Light - Pugh

Reaches of Light - Pugh

1. 1st Stanza

   • "sun wells up". Tech: Metaphor.
     • "wells up" gives idea of overflowing and links to crying.
   • "last light". Tech: Liquid alliteration.
     • "last light" seems negative and connotes death.
     • But the 'l' is a gentle, calm and sad sound rather than a negative one.
   • "ribbons out like oil in water". Tech: Simile and metaphor.
     • Literal meaning is that oil and water don't mix together, the oil rests atop the water. This creates a rainbow-like puddle.
     • The symbolism of this is that the rainbow is a symbol  of hope. The light (which we know is hope) is spreading further. This quotes is positive, hopeful and creates a pretty image in the mind of the reader.
     • "ribbons" again is a delicate and pretty picture.
     • The line break after "oil" may be showing the space covered by the light.

2. 2nd Stanza

   • "sky is filling".
     • The brightness is spreading. There's improvement and completeness.
   • "bright flood disperses through winter grey". Tech: Metaphor and adjectives.
     • Symbolising hope infecting the sadness.
   • "reflects in his eyes". Tech: Metaphor.
     • Light does reflect literally, but the second meaning of this is that the man is friendly and so gives off a feeling of happiness and hope.

3. 3rd Stanza

   • "pasing on the light". Tech: Metaphor.
     • The man's making others happy and hopeful. The quotes suggests he's a warm and kind person that's friendly and approachable.
   • "like a lover". Tech: Simile and liquid alliteration.
     • The man is affectionate towards his dog. Again portrays him as kind. The fact that he pets the dog absentmindedly implies that he doesn't have to think about being kind, being gentle comes naturally to him.

4. 4th Stanza

   • reach/the far shores of greyness". Tech: Line break and metaphor.
     • "reach" is at the end of the 3rd stanza and is followed by a line break. The line break displays how far the light (or the symbolic hope) can stretch and conveys its strength.
   • "cosmic courtesy". Tech: Alliteration.
     • "cosmic" = stars, galaxies "courtesy" = politeness, respect. 'c' alliteration.
     • Maybe implies that the universe acknowledges the man's goodness and recognises his achievements.
   • "animate a face, or light a winter." Tech: Metaphor.
     • Conveys the power that this light has. Symbolic of the power of hope.