“The Last War” by Katherine Gallagher Essay

Ladies and Gentlemen, my name is Tatsuya Shiihara, and today I go out be presenting to you my interpretation of the poem The perish War, written by Australian poet, Katherine Gallagher. This poem expresses the feelings of the ami fitted countries before, during and after the Second beingness War and the anticipation which the end of the war built. Born in 1935, in the town of Maldon, in Victoria Gallagher went through the 2nd World War as a child, and as a result, experienced many adversities that came with it, such as alarm of loved ones non coming main office and rationing of food. I believe that this poem is unique in the way that it represents an important point of diorama on the ending of the 2nd World War, not just because it is Australian, but because it too conveys a mold of acceptance and sorrow over the remainder caused by the atomic bombing on Japan. Gallagher uses many techniques, notably metaphors, to represent emotions felt by nation, emphasising their desp eration when waiting for watchword in the line Ears keyed to the radio receiver and Ghost Towns, used to aid readers visualise the devastating situation, allowing for them to understand the ravages of the war.The final line, the pit of ash on a lower floor our tongues, is a distinctive metaphor in that I believe it to not notwithstanding represent the equaliser of atomic fires, but similarly the inescapable legacy that had been passed down, which is indisputably the objectionable usage of the devastating bomb. Symbolism a care helps share Gallaghers perspective on the war. The line our instructor joining in symbolises how even adults celebrate the event by having fun, something which they would not have been able to do for many years. This generates a sense of jubilance, and have with Gallagher effectively positioning the reader as though they are actually in the situation themselves, World War 2 ended and celebrations everywhere, the reader can understand how joyous people were when the war was lastly declared over. With the poem being written in first person, weve won and The bomb entered our conversation, Gallagher also uses personification in the lines The bomb entered our conversation, a stranger who refused to leave, to clearly convey that the bomb is unwanted, a symbol of guilt and fear, by making it personal with the reader.Whilst this effectively reflects her personal attitudes towards the war, remorse and acceptance, the reader also starts to question their own attitude towards the war. However, it is the juxtaposition within the layers of the poem that most entices the readers attention. The cutting contrast between the cheerful and happy celebrations that the war was over, to the suddenly sombre regulate that comes with the realisation of the deaths that were the damage of war combined with the existence of the atomic bomb which spreads fear. It effectively engineers turmoil within the reader. With no beatnik or rhyming scheme within th e poem, the poem is a free-verse, following the rhythm of natural idiom with no consistent meter patterns. Thus, Gallagher uses precise language and strong phrasing in order to return her point across quickly and concisely, such as the lines Japan bombed, gigantic clouds curling, skies burnt scarlet -total destruction . . . and The War over.This short, sharp rhythm is very effective as it doesnt let the readers mind wander from the point, thereby successfully demanding the readers attention at all times. Tatsuya Shiihara English Poetry Year 11 Term 2 Semester 1 2014 1 Poem Annotation The Last War There was only one war, and it was finishing any day soon. Ears keyed to the wireless, we waited. Then the news Japan bombed, gigantic clouds curling, skies burnt scarlet total destruction . . . Weve won, weve won, a conga-chant round the schoolground, beating tins, sticks our teacher joining in flags, jumbled cries uncles and cousins coming back. The war over. Hiroshima, Nagasaki gh ost towns now. Over two hundred k people ghosts too. We couldnt imagine it. The bomb entered our conversation, a stranger who refused to leave.Only years on did we drop dead aware of the pit of ash beneath our tongues. Katherine Gallagher Taken From http//www.poetrylibrary.edu.au/poets/gallagher-katherine/the-last-war-0646045 observe u1 emblematic represents the anticipation that everyone had waiting to distinguish the news that the war had ended therefore the suffering and death as well had ended. input signal u2 emblematical represents that this Comment u3 Short, sharp rhythm gets straight to the point instead of wandering, doesnt let readers mind wander from the point. Comment u4 exemplary represents that there was nearly nothing left after the explosion, everything had been decimated.Comment u5 Symbolic represents the jubilance felt by those who were relieved that the war had ended, generating a sense of relief Comment u6 Symbolic represents how even the adults ce lebrated the event by having a little fun something they had not been able to do for many years. Comment u7 Symbolic- represents how separated families got back together after the war Comment u8 Symbolic represents how the cities were literally empty no, with nothing at all left untouched. Comment u9 Symbolic represents that how many people were lost Comment u10 Symbolic represents how, in the countries that won after the war, as the people there could not feel the direct effects of how the war was ended (atomic bomb), and no-one could imagine it, people celebrated, instead of mourned.Comment u11 collocation sharp contrast from cheerful and happy that the war was over to suddenly a sombre tone that was full of guilt and sadness. Comment u12 First person generates a point of view of the poet Comment u13 Symbolic represents the guilt that was felt for having to decimate over 200000 people in order to win this war and the fear because of the atomic bomb existing Comment u14 Pers onification human nature Comment u15 Symbolic represents how, only after the people of the winning countries realised the extent of the Comment u16 Metaphor represents the never-ending guilt over the destruction caused. Comment u17 No rhyming pattern detected Comment u18 Structured to be like a story, many symbolic words and phrases. Comment u19 * English Poetry Analysis Commentary * positive draft