The poem does not follow any rhyme scheme, it is a free verse. The Black Walnut Tree Summary
The poem does not follow any rhyme scheme, it is a free verse.
See lessEnglish Notes Latest Questions
-
This answer was edited.
-
The poem examines the advantages and disadvantages of selling a significant black walnut tree. Although the tree on their land reflects their family history and the labor their ancestors put in to build a home there, the speaker and her mother are pondering selling it. The speaker had a dream aboutRead more
The poem examines the advantages and disadvantages of selling a significant black walnut tree. Although the tree on their land reflects their family history and the labor their ancestors put in to build a home there, the speaker and her mother are pondering selling it. The speaker had a dream about her “fathers,” who immigrated to Ohio from Europe to work, which serves to reinforce the idea that they would have to live with unrelenting guilt if they cut down the tree. The two make the decision to retain the tree, at least temporarily.
See less
-
Enjambment: occurs when the poet cuts off a line before its natural stopping point—for example, the transition between lines two, three, and four. Alliteration: the use of the same consonant sounds at the beginning of words. For example, “brighter” and “blood” are in lines sixteen and seventeen. ImaRead more
- Enjambment: occurs when the poet cuts off a line before its natural stopping point—for example, the transition between lines two, three, and four.
- Alliteration: the use of the same consonant sounds at the beginning of words. For example, “brighter” and “blood” are in lines sixteen and seventeen.
- Imagery: for example, “my fathers out of Bohemia / filling the blue fields” and “fresh and generous Ohio / with leaves and vines and orchards.”
- Simile: a comparison that uses “like” or “as” to compare two, unlike things. For example, “an edge / sharp and quick as a trowel / that wants us to dig and sow.”
-
The theme of this poem is individualism. It revolves around venturing out into the world by one’s self and discovering who they are for themselves. The Journey Summary
The theme of this poem is individualism. It revolves around venturing out into the world by one’s self and discovering who they are for themselves.
See less
-
The theme of this poem is individualism. It revolves around venturing out into the world by one’s self and discovering who they are for themselves. The Journey Summary
The theme of this poem is individualism. It revolves around venturing out into the world by one’s self and discovering who they are for themselves.
See less
-
This poem has a myriad of poetic devices, some of which are as follows: Hyperbole: The phrase “the whole house/ began to tremble” is an example of exaggeration or hyperbole. Personification: In the phrase “the wind pried/ with its stiff fingers”, the wind is personified. Visual Imagery: One examplRead more
This poem has a myriad of poetic devices, some of which are as follows:
- Hyperbole: The phrase “the whole house/ began to tremble” is an example of exaggeration or hyperbole.
- Personification: In the phrase “the wind pried/ with its stiff fingers”, the wind is personified.
- Visual Imagery: One example would be the vivid descriptions in the lines “the stars began to burn/through the sheets of clouds”.
See less
-
The central idea of the poem is one’s own self, the only life one could “save”. The Journey Summary
The central idea of the poem is one’s own self, the only life one could “save”.
See less
In order to explain how the speaker thinks about the tree or her ancestors, Mary Oliver utilizes a black walnut tree as a symbol to illustrate the issue of how the past may still have an adverse impact on the present and the future by creating difficulty. The Black Walnut Tree Summary
In order to explain how the speaker thinks about the tree or her ancestors, Mary Oliver utilizes a black walnut tree as a symbol to illustrate the issue of how the past may still have an adverse impact on the present and the future by creating difficulty.
The Black Walnut Tree Summary
See less