28258894
Description
Mind Map by Joseph Gianotti, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by Joseph Gianotti
over 3 years ago
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“Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver
- Author Background
- Mary Oliver – b. 1935, d. 2019
- Born in Cleveland, Ohio.
- As a child, Oliver spent much of her
free time outside in order to avoid
her chaotic household.
- As a result, much of her
poetry focuses on nature.
- She was once called “an
indefatigable guide to the natural
world.”
- She remained a prolific writer
throughout her life; as such, she
won a number of writing awards
over the years.
- Ex. She won the Pulitzer Prize in
1984 and the National Book Award
in 1992.
- Ex. She won the Pulitzer Prize in
1984 and the National Book Award
in 1992.
- She remained a prolific writer
throughout her life; as such, she
won a number of writing awards
over the years.
- She was once called “an
indefatigable guide to the natural
world.”
- As a result, much of her
poetry focuses on nature.
- As a child, Oliver spent much of her
free time outside in order to avoid
her chaotic household.
- Born in Cleveland, Ohio.
- Mary Oliver – b. 1935, d. 2019
- Poem Background
- Published in 1986 in "Dream
Work", Oliver’s 7th collection of
poetry.
- The poem explores similar
themes to her other poems.
- Notably, she explores the
relationships and
connections between
humans and nature.
- Her work stands out in the
period after the 1960s and
1970s as very
straightforward and
contemplative, as opposed
to more avant-garde works.
- Her work stands out in the
period after the 1960s and
1970s as very
straightforward and
contemplative, as opposed
to more avant-garde works.
- Notably, she explores the
relationships and
connections between
humans and nature.
- The poem explores similar
themes to her other poems.
- Published in 1986 in "Dream
Work", Oliver’s 7th collection of
poetry.
- Breakdown of the Poem
- You do not have to be good.
- You do not have to walk on your knees
- for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
- You only have to let the soft animal of your body
- love what it loves.
- Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
- Meanwhile the world goes on.
- Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
- are moving across the landscapes,
- over the prairies and the deep trees,
- the mountains and the rivers.
- Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
- are heading home again.
- Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
- the world offers itself to your imagination
- calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting -
- over and over announcing your place
- in the family of things.
- These last two lines connect back to the idea of
having a home in the world. Oliver tells readers
that they are a part of the natural world no
matter what. If they feel lonely or adrift, then they
only need to seek out nature to feel grounded in
something real and dynamic.
- These last two lines connect back to the idea of
having a home in the world. Oliver tells readers
that they are a part of the natural world no
matter what. If they feel lonely or adrift, then they
only need to seek out nature to feel grounded in
something real and dynamic.
- in the family of things.
- Oliver emphasizes that everyone has a place in
the wide world. She uses the words "harsh and
exciting", which brings to mind the pain and
pleasure in life (duality).
- over and over announcing your place
- calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting -
- the world offers itself to your imagination
- Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
- The first mention of the title. Oliver likely mentions
geese in particular, because of their migratory lives. She
is reassuring readers that they always have a home to
come back to, even if it isn’t a typical “home.”
- are heading home again.
- Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
- the mountains and the rivers.
- over the prairies and the deep trees,
- are moving across the landscapes,
- Oliver is reminding the reader that even as
humans have their worries, despair, and
problems, the natural world moves on. It is a
steady constant in a crazy, hectic life.
- Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
- Oliver is ready and willing to share
the reader’s burdens.
- Meanwhile the world goes on.
- Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
- Oliver then begins exploring the
connection between humanity and nature
("soft animal"). She is reminding readers
that humans, too, can simply worry about
basic instincts rather than more "worldly"
concerns.
- love what it loves.
- You only have to let the soft animal of your body
- for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
- The first few lines are a reassuring
statement. The first part is a reminder
that you do not have to be perfect or
overly self critical.
- You do not have to walk on your knees
- You do not have to be good.
- Wild Geese Analysis
- Structure
- 1 stanza – 18 lines
- Free verse, not
particularly complex
- Free verse, not
particularly complex
- 1 stanza – 18 lines
- Perspective
- Written from the
perspective of someone
addressing someone
else.
- Oliver establishes an
intimate feeling in the
poem by addressing the
reader directly.
- Oliver establishes an
intimate feeling in the
poem by addressing the
reader directly.
- Written from the
perspective of someone
addressing someone
else.
- Poetic Devices
- Metaphor
- Ex. "the soft
animal of
your body".
- Oliver’s use of
metaphor
connects
human beings
with nature.
- Oliver shows that
humans, too, have
natural instincts. We
should sometimes just let
ourselves simply exist in
the world and give into
basic impulses.
- However, Oliver probably
isn’t suggesting that people
live without morals.
Rather, humans shouldn’t
have so many worries.
- However, Oliver probably
isn’t suggesting that people
live without morals.
Rather, humans shouldn’t
have so many worries.
- Oliver shows that
humans, too, have
natural instincts. We
should sometimes just let
ourselves simply exist in
the world and give into
basic impulses.
- Oliver’s use of
metaphor
connects
human beings
with nature.
- Ex. "the soft
animal of
your body".
- Simile
- Ex. “calls to you
like the wild
geese, harsh
and exciting”.
- Oliver compares
the opportunities
awaiting the
reader to the call
of the wild geese.
- This call, similar to
wild geese, is a
harsh and exciting
sound
- It is inviting the
reader to see
wonder in the
world, despite their
loneliness or
suffering.
- It is inviting the
reader to see
wonder in the
world, despite their
loneliness or
suffering.
- This call, similar to
wild geese, is a
harsh and exciting
sound
- Oliver compares
the opportunities
awaiting the
reader to the call
of the wild geese.
- Ex. “calls to you
like the wild
geese, harsh
and exciting”.
- Imagery
- Ex. “walk on
your knees
for a
hundred
miles
through the
desert
repenting.”
- This image is
very harsh
and brings to
mind a kind
of religious
feeling.
- “Repent” is a
word related
to asking for
forgiveness à
especially for a
sin or poor
behavior.
- There is also a sense of
regret in the word
“repenting.” Oliver is
telling readers that they
do not have to
focus/linger on past
actions.
- There is also a sense of
regret in the word
“repenting.” Oliver is
telling readers that they
do not have to
focus/linger on past
actions.
- “Repent” is a
word related
to asking for
forgiveness à
especially for a
sin or poor
behavior.
- This image is
very harsh
and brings to
mind a kind
of religious
feeling.
- Ex. “walk on
your knees
for a
hundred
miles
through the
desert
repenting.”
- Repetition
- Ex. “over
and over”.
- This
repetition
emphasizes
the
constancy of
the call of
the world
and the call
of the wild
geese.
- This
repetition
emphasizes
the
constancy of
the call of
the world
and the call
of the wild
geese.
- Ex. “over
and over”.
- Anaphora
- Ex. “You do
not have to…”
“Meanwhile
the…”
- In two
instances,
Oliver
repeats a
phrase at the
beginning of
a line. This
gives the
poem a
conversational
tone.
- And “Meanwhile the…”
connects the world, the
natural landscape, and
the wild geese into the
same idea of constancy
and dependability.
- And “Meanwhile the…”
connects the world, the
natural landscape, and
the wild geese into the
same idea of constancy
and dependability.
- In two
instances,
Oliver
repeats a
phrase at the
beginning of
a line. This
gives the
poem a
conversational
tone.
- Ex. “You do
not have to…”
“Meanwhile
the…”
- Alliteration
- Ex.
“meanwhile”
“mountain”
“moving”.
- Oliver
places
gentle
emphasis
on these
sounds.
- Oliver
places
gentle
emphasis
on these
sounds.
- Ex.
“meanwhile”
“mountain”
“moving”.
- Enjambment
- Ex. “harsh and
exciting - /
over and over
announcing
your place / in
the family of
things”.
- There are more
examples of
enjambment in the
poem. • But the
final two lines are
broken up to
emphasize these
final thoughts.
- The last line is “in the
family of things.” • The
poem truly is one
where Oliver shows
how everyone does
have a place in the
world, just like the wild
geese.
- The last line is “in the
family of things.” • The
poem truly is one
where Oliver shows
how everyone does
have a place in the
world, just like the wild
geese.
- There are more
examples of
enjambment in the
poem. • But the
final two lines are
broken up to
emphasize these
final thoughts.
- Ex. “harsh and
exciting - /
over and over
announcing
your place / in
the family of
things”.
- Asyndeton
- Ex. “Meanwhile
the sun and the
clear pebbles of
the rain are
moving across the
landscapes, over
the prairies and
the deep trees,
the mountains
and the rivers.”
- Asyndeton is
the lack of
contractions
between
phrases.
- There is a slight use in
the above lines –> “the
deep trees, / the
mountains”
- There is a slight use in
the above lines –> “the
deep trees, / the
mountains”
- Asyndeton is
the lack of
contractions
between
phrases.
- Ex. “Meanwhile
the sun and the
clear pebbles of
the rain are
moving across the
landscapes, over
the prairies and
the deep trees,
the mountains
and the rivers.”
- Metaphor
- Structure
- Themes and Symbols
- Comfort in
Nature
- Nature is a comfort
for Oliver and she
wants others to see
comfort in it, too.
- She writes about and
stresses the wonders
of the natural world.
- The natural world
moves forward no
matter what à Oliver
emphasizes how
dependable nature is in
the face of a crazy life.
- The natural world
moves forward no
matter what à Oliver
emphasizes how
dependable nature is in
the face of a crazy life.
- She writes about and
stresses the wonders
of the natural world.
- Nature is a comfort
for Oliver and she
wants others to see
comfort in it, too.
- Human
Vulnerability
and Suffering
- The way Oliver
writes about
human suffering
is very simple.
- Ex. “You do not have to be
good.” – The first line of
the poem is a simple, yet
powerful statement.
Oliver points out how
flawed and imperfect
humans are (and
therefore vulnerable), but
in the same breath
asserts that it is okay to
NOT be perfect.
- Ex. “Tell me about despair,
yours, and I will tell you
mine.” For Oliver, despair
is something that anyone
might be feeling. She
makes it feel normal, too,
by offering to share her
own human suffering.
- Ex. “Whoever you
are, no matter how
lonely,” Oliver
connects human
suffering to the idea
of loneliness. Even
the loneliest person
can find comfort in
nature.
- Ex. “Whoever you
are, no matter how
lonely,” Oliver
connects human
suffering to the idea
of loneliness. Even
the loneliest person
can find comfort in
nature.
- Ex. “Tell me about despair,
yours, and I will tell you
mine.” For Oliver, despair
is something that anyone
might be feeling. She
makes it feel normal, too,
by offering to share her
own human suffering.
- Ex. “You do not have to be
good.” – The first line of
the poem is a simple, yet
powerful statement.
Oliver points out how
flawed and imperfect
humans are (and
therefore vulnerable), but
in the same breath
asserts that it is okay to
NOT be perfect.
- The way Oliver
writes about
human suffering
is very simple.
- Finding Purpose
- Oliver also seems
to comment on
the idea of
purpose in life. o
Humans are
relentlessly
reminded each
day that they
should have
some reason for
living. o If you do
not have a
purpose then
your life may feel
strange.
- But Oliver lets
readers know
that it is okay to
just exist. o
Everyone has “a
place / in the
family of things.”
- But Oliver lets
readers know
that it is okay to
just exist. o
Everyone has “a
place / in the
family of things.”
- Oliver also seems
to comment on
the idea of
purpose in life. o
Humans are
relentlessly
reminded each
day that they
should have
some reason for
living. o If you do
not have a
purpose then
your life may feel
strange.
- Wild Geese
- The geese are the only
specific animal
mentioned in the poem.
- The wild geese
display their freedom
through their “harsh
and exciting” call.
- Wild geese represent
the beauty, freedom,
and constancy that
Oliver sees in the
natural world. However,
geese have a special
characteristic. Oliver
mentions how the
geese “are heading
home again.” They are
free, but they also have
a home, they have a
place in the world.
- Wild geese represent
the beauty, freedom,
and constancy that
Oliver sees in the
natural world. However,
geese have a special
characteristic. Oliver
mentions how the
geese “are heading
home again.” They are
free, but they also have
a home, they have a
place in the world.
- The wild geese
display their freedom
through their “harsh
and exciting” call.
- The geese are the only
specific animal
mentioned in the poem.
- Comfort in
Nature
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