Comparing Green Beret and Pig tail Essay Example
Comparing Green Beret and Pig tail Essay Example

Comparing Green Beret and Pig tail Essay Example

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  • Pages: 4 (1069 words)
  • Published: October 8, 2017
  • Type: Paper
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The idea that war is a barbaric and inhumane method of attaining justice is my belief. The act of endangering lives simply to acquire land and assert one's dignity is devoid of sense. These poems revolve around the Vietnam War, a conflict that claimed numerous lives during the 1970s. The poems consist of vivid descriptions of the experiences endured by the soldiers in the Vietnam War and the challenges they confronted.

Upon reading Green Beret, I discovered that this poem possesses elements of both tension and drama.

The author's choice of words in this unidentified poem reflects her personality. Though we only know that the author is a Vietnamese woman, we can still analyze the stanzas, examine the language used, and compare the two poems.

In the opening of the stanza, it is mentioned that the protagonist is twelve years

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old and their name is unknown. Both the protagonist and their unidentified father were kidnapped by mercenaries. The speaker, presumably the poet, emphasizes their lack of knowledge about the identities of the boy and his father.

The quotation indicating that the mercenaries had captured both the boy and his father suggests that they may have had a specific purpose for targeting them or that the boy and his father had potentially engaged in some illicit activity with the army. This provokes curiosity and entices readers to continue reading, making it an excellent opening line for the poem.

The text begins by mentioning that the sentence starts off with "One morning upon the High Plateau". This gives the impression of a joyful and pleasant beginning until the mercenaries state that scaring him will make him talk. This indicates that

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the boy has been silent, potentially out of fear or bravery. The poem progresses to the point where the mercenaries begin to intimidate the boy, saying, "Tell us where they are, tell us where or your father - dead." As a result, the boy's eyes fill with terror. However, despite this, the boy remains silent, implying that he is brave or may not comprehend the English language spoken by the American soldiers.

"Ok boy, you have ten seconds to tell us where they are," said the silver hand. In a sudden burst, the sky and the forest of trees shattered. The Green Beret yelled to kill the old guy, and the sound of shots echoed out. This passage from the poem reveals that they continue to menace him until they ultimately murder his father. It is almost palpable, the boy's anguish as he witnesses his own father being shot from behind the protective barrier of the green forest wall.

The soldiers remained silent while the boy howled in pain, a moment that seemed to pause time just for him. The individual who had cherished his existence for twelve years had disappeared from his life. Unbeknownst to the boy, they had unnecessarily murdered the elderly man. A soldier expressed this resentment at the end of the first verse, prompting readers' curiosity about what would transpire in the following verse.

Verse 2:

Unexpectedly, it was revealed that the boy was fully conscious of what happened. This disclosure is both shocking and bewildering - if he was aware, why didn't he save his father? Being mute did not stop him from saving others or speaking out; instead, he showed an inclination towards

conserving many lives rather than solely focusing on one - his father's.

This composition employs potent and expressive language effectively conveying the young boy's torment.

I was particularly struck by the scene where soldiers silently observed a boy as he cried out. This event seemed to carry considerable weight for the narrative, suggesting that everyone had an understanding of what had transpired. Interestingly, this poem doesn't conform to usual rhyming or poetic formats, which begs the question: why is it considered a poem?

The answer lies in its utilization of free verse - a style with neither consistent rhyme nor rhythm pattern. Additionally, there's observable repetition of certain phrases within the poem. For example, "I don't know his name," is repeated in the initial two lines and mentions of a green beret are present throughout. The final stanza repeats "he knew all along", reinforcing the dramatic tone of the piece. Thus concludes my succinct analysis of Green Beret.

Pigtail
I am currently focusing on analyzing the poem "Pigtail." First, I will analyze stanzas one, two, three, and four. Then, I will concentrate on the language aspects such as metaphors, repetitive words, and similes used by Tadeusz Rozewicz, the author of "Pigtail." While reading this poem, I have discovered numerous points to discuss. Rozewicz has employed incredibly imaginative words that evoke feelings of sympathy towards the pain endured by these women.

Tadeusz Rozewic's works have been translated into various foreign languages including English, French, German, Serbian, Serbo-Croatian, Swedish, Danish, and Finnish. Additionally, his poetry has been recognized with Polish state prizes and foreign awards. I have been studying the English translation of his poem, thanks to Adam Czerniawski. Rozewicz was born

in Radomsko in 1921.

In Stanza 1 of the poem, the narrative returns to the time of war where women were separated from men. The reason given for shaving their heads was to prevent lice from spreading, although this turned out to be false, as it was a ploy to bring them into the camp. The stanza mentions the transportation of women, implying that they had to leave their loved ones behind - husbands, brothers, and uncles. Additionally, it mentions workmen cleaning the floors.

This information signifies that not all the individuals inside were women. Despite their initial belief of going for work opportunities, it is revealed that they were actually being transferred to a German camp. The poem emphasizes how the workmen collected all the hair, creating a sense of permanence in the loss. It portrays as if they were gathering up the essence and identity of these women.

Stanza 2:
The speaker shifts to their present time, observing the vast collection of hair displayed in a museum, safely enclosed behind a large glass case. The use of "childish" terms like "stiff" and "cleans" conveys the impression of innocence. I believe that the mention of the clean glass highlights the clarity with which the hair, which has remained there for countless years, can be seen. Additionally, the word "stiff" accentuates the notion that the hair will forever remain undisturbed.

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