In the poem The School Children, author Louise Gluck successfully creates for the reader an image of the children, their mothers and the position that they hold in their society. Her simple, yet descriptive words suggest a more in depth meaning that allows one to look past the simple story line of the poem and actually look into the entire situation the poem discusses. The story line simply tells of mothers who pick apples and send their children off to school with them, in hopes that they will receive an education in return. After completion of the poem, the reader comes to the realization that the apples are the center of the poem, around which the true meaning revolves. Through seemingly simple words, Gluck conveys a meaning to the reader throughout the poem that is camouflaged, so to speak, within the apples, as well as within her words.. Gluck’s use of simple diction and imagery deceptively display the powerful emotion, desperate hope, and passionate meaning held within the apples.
In the first stanza, Gluck describes the apples the mothers have collected as ?words of another language?. This tells the reader that the apples have another meaning, they are used for expression, possibly an expression of the mothers? thoughts, feelings, or intentions. This line alone allows the reader to question what the apples actually represent. By describing the apples in this way, Gluck tells the reader that the apples mean more than what the surface of the poem tells us, we can then infer that the poem itself also has an alternate meaning. Therefore, with this line, Gluck is not only beginning to use descriptive diction to imply meaning, but also to excite …
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…of the poem by expressing to the
reader the seriousness and significance of the situation.
It is clear that true meaning behind the poem is contained within the apples. Recalling that Gluck described the apples of ?words of another language? in the first stanza of the poem, we now understand that Gluck herself used the apples as words of another language. By using the first description of the apples to excite the reader?s curiosity, by using the apples to keep the teacher?s happy, and by creating an image of the apples as ammunition, Gluck has successfully used diction and imagery to create an underlying meaning to the poem without ever actually stating it. In conclusion, Gluck has deceptively used the apples, coupled with her excellent use of diction and imagery, to display a far more in depth meaning in a unique, yet entertaining way.
Imagery of Sacrifice in The School Children
Imagery of Sacrifice in The School Children
Sacrifice. One simple word brings to mind two completely different images. Today, sacrifice is most often thought of as a noble and beautiful act, but also one painful-emotionally, mentally, and physically-involving the surrender of something highly valued for the sake of something deemed of superior value. On the other hand, when done in the name of religion, sacrifice may involve the offering of a gift to some deity in worship or propitiation. Usually when sacrifice involves the latter, the connotation of the term darkens, for the dominant image is of ritual slaughter. Generally, we do not think of mothers or children as being the victims of this type of sacrifice. Imagery in Louise Glück s poem The School Children, however, depicts mothers sacrificing their offspring and themselves for the benefit of the children.
The first stanza begins by stating, The children go forward . They are leaving their mothers behind, going to a place inaccessible to them. At the moment the children are on their way to school, but as they progress, they will begin to move past the achievements of their parents. Instead of becoming resentful, the mothers do all they can to ensure this progress continues. All morning the mothers have labored . They exert themselves strenuously for the benefit of their children. They put forth much time and energy at manual labor. The mothers labored in giving birth to their children, and are laboring to raise them to adulthood. They sacrifice themselves so that their children may have a future better than their own.
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…d, for the fruit trees gray limbs do not provide much ammunition in their battle for their children s future. The mothers will not be able to earn enough money at such menial jobs to provide escape for their offspring or for themselves. Escape will in the end hang on the aptitude and resilience of the children.
The School Children presents a heartbreaking depiction of sacrifice and devotion. In a few short lines, Louise Glück portrays the desperate love of mothers for their children. The mothers sacrifice of themselves and those they treasure, while painful for all, is an act of love, noble and beautiful. The imagery of The School Children paints pictures of labor, separation, and sacrifice, but ultimately of determination, devotion, and love.