IAR - Practical Criticism - Figurative Language

Welcome to my blog,

This blog is part of our study. This Thinking activity is based on IAR - Practical Criticism - Figurative Language was assigned by Dr. Dilip Barad sir Department of English MKBU. In this task, we have to Study reading material on Figurative Language in the first post and then, we have to Study the poem which matches our roll number. we have to problematize the poem by doing veral close reading and then justify it with the help of arguments given by IA Richards in this essay.

Bonsai Tree

A Work of Artifice

The bonsai tree

in the attractive pot

could have grown eighty feet tall

on the side of a mountain

till split by lightning.

But a gardener

carefully pruned it.

It is nine inches high.

Every day as he

whittles back the branches

the gardener croons,

‘It is your nature

to be small and cozy,

domestic and weak;

how lucky, little tree,

to have a pot to grow in’.

With living creatures

one must begin very early

to dwarf their growth:

the bound feet,

the crippled brain,

the hair in curlers,

the hands you

love to touch.

-Marge Piercy

Brief introduction of the poet:

Marge Piercy

Marge Piercy is a prominent American poet, novelist, and feminist activist. She was born in 1936 in Detroit, Michigan, and is considered one of the most important feminist writers of the 20th century.

Piercy is the author of numerous books of poetry and fiction, including the novels "Woman on the Edge of Time" and "Gone to Soldiers." Her work often explores themes of social justice, feminism, and political activism, and she is known for her strong voice and commitment to activism and political change.

In addition to her writing, Piercy is also known for her activism and political activism. She has been involved in numerous political and social justice movements, including the feminist movement, the anti-war movement, and the civil rights movement.

Throughout her career, Piercy has received numerous awards and honors for her work, including the American Academy of Arts and Letters Award in Literature and the Lannan Literary Award for Poetry. She continues to be an influential figure in contemporary American literature and a powerful voice for social justice and political activism.

The poem raises several important issues and questions about societal expectations and limitations, gender roles, and the impact of cultural norms on individuals.

Problematize the poem:-

1. The crippled brain / the hair in curlers

These both suggest that the poem is explicitly talking about women, not just humans in general.

2. "Could have grown Eighty feet tall"

This statement is not biologically feasible, as bonsai trees are not a species of tree with a natural height of 80 feet.

3. Domestic and weak

This interpretation is subjective and could be challenged by those who see bonsai trees as strong and resilient due to their ability to thrive in small containers and survive harsh pruning.

Analysis of the poem: 

American poet and writer Marge Piercy (1936-) grew up and came of age in the Midwest. She first began publishing her poems in the 1960s, and much of her writing reflects the social and political themes of that time, especially as they related to women’s lives. In 1976, Piercy published Woman on the Edge of Time, which has since been credited as the birthplace of the cyberpunk genre.

Piercy’s poem “A Work of Artifice” similarly engages with the role of women in society. It begins by discussing a bonsai tree that must be cultivated and guided in order to form its shape. Without the care of man, the tree would grow much larger and appear much wilder than it does from in its pot. It quickly becomes evident that the narrator is hardly talking about a tree at all. For the narrator, the way that men control the bonsai tree is a metaphor for the way in which women have been controlled through “bound feet” and other standards of beauty and respectability. In this case, being loved and “pruned” means that neither a bonsai nor a woman will be allowed to reach her full potential.

Metaphors in the poem:

1. The Bonsai Tree

In Marge Piercy's poem "The Bonsai Tree," the bonsai tree serves as a metaphor for the societal expectations and limitations imposed on individuals, particularly women. The tree's potential for great height and strength is limited by the gardener's pruning, just as individuals' potential for growth and fulfillment is limited by societal expectations and norms.

2. "The bound feet" and "the crippled brain." 

These restrictions symbolize the limitations imposed on individuals by societal expectations and norms, particularly for women.

3. "hair in curlers" and "the hands you love to touch" 

These metaphors are for societal expectations and norms around beauty and gender roles. The poem critiques these cultural norms and expectations, suggesting that individuals should resist these pressures and assert their individuality.

Rhyme scheme: 

Free verse

Aim of the poem:

The aim of "The Bonsai Tree" by Marge Piercy is to critique societal expectations and limitations imposed on individuals, particularly women, and encourage them to break free from these pressures in order to reach their full potential and lead fulfilling lives.

Thank you for visiting...