Margaret Atwood
INTRODUCTION TITLE AND THEME INTERPRETATION OF POEM COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS CONCLUSION REFERENCES
GROUP MEMBER PRADHASHINI MURUGAN 2122021020048 DARVIKKA SUBRAMANIAM 2062023070006 JOCEY ANAK MANI 2112024020033 ANNABELLE LONNIE 2112024020041
THIS GUIDEBOOK CONTENT TABLE OF CONTENTS. IN ADDITION, THIS GUIDEBOOK CONTAINS AN INTRODUCTION WHICH IS A SYNOPSIS OF THE POEM. THIS GUIDEBOOK CONTAINS THREE PARTS. PART 1 DISCUSSES ABOUT TITLE & THEME AND INTERPRETATION. PART 2 HIGHLIGHTS FURTHER DISCUSSION. LASTLY, PART 3 DISCUSSES THE CONCLUSION. MARGARET ATWOOD IS A CANADIAN AUTHOR BEST KNOWN FOR HER NOVELS, WHICH INCLUDE ORYX AND CRAKE AND THE HANDMAID'S TALE. SHE WAS BORN IN 1939. SHE HAS PUBLISHED EIGHT CHILDREN'S BOOKS, TWO GRAPHIC NOVELS, NINE COLLECTIONS OF SHORT FICTION, EIGHT NOVELS, EIGHT BOOKS OF POETRY, ELEVEN BOOKS OF NONFICTION, AND SEVERAL SMALL PRESS EDITIONS OF BOTH FICTION AND POETRY SINCE 1961."THIS IS A PHOTOGRAPH OF ME," COMES FROM MARGARET ATWOOD'S DEBUT COLLECTION OF POEMS, THE CIRCLE GAME, WHICH WAS RELEASED IN 1964 WHEN SHE WAS STILL ONLY IN HER MID-TWENTIES. INTRODUCTION
SYNOPSIS MARGARET ATWOOD'S POEM "THIS IS A PHOTOGRAPH OF ME" DESCRIBES A BLURRY PHOTO OF A WOMAN WHO TRAGICALLY DROWNED IN A LAKE CLOSE TO THEIR "SMALL FRAME HOUSE." THE FIRST-PERSON SPEAKER OF THE POEM OPENS BY DISCUSSING HER PHOTO. IT FEATURES FUZZY LINES AND BITS OF GREY. THE SHOT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN TAKEN A LONG TIME AGO, AND THE PRINT IS SMUDGED. THAT IS UNTRUE, THOUGH. THE SPEAKER MAKES IT APPARENT THAT THE PICTURE WAS SHOT THE DAY FOLLOWING HER DROWNING IN A NEARBY LAKE. THE SUSPENSE IN THIS PIECE IS INCREASED BY THIS STARTLING DESCRIPTION. THE SPEAKER INVITES READERS TO LOOK AT THIS PICTURE AND, IF THEY ARE ABLE, LOCATE HER.
LITERAL AND METAPHORICAL MEANING LITERAL AND METAPHORICAL MEANING
MEANING LITERAL While it might seem simple at first, with a full understanding of Margaret Atwood’s writing, specifically the writing included in The Circle Game, it becomes clear there is more at work in this poem than it might’ve initially seemed. As the poem progresses, the photograph comes to represent those who have been overlooked throughout history, marginalized people (often women). Recorded history has limitations, the poet suggests. A blurry photograph (or corrupted view of history) can only be so accurate. Margaret Atwood’s ‘This Is a Photograph of Me’ is a feminist poem that uses the extended metaphor of a drowned woman to describe the way that women have historically been overlooked in society.
M E TAPHOR I C AL M EA N I N G The poem's narrator recounts a snapshot by displaying the entire grainy image at first, then highlighting different features within the charming setting. But the speaker's dead body is also depicted in the poem, if scarcely visible, around halfway through. As the image's story grows more sinister and intricate, the speaker highlights the limitations of documenting history. The poem suggests that it needs to be simplified to highlight some experiences while erasing others and thereby erasing others with less authority. The border is 'This Is a Photograph of Me's most significant literary device. The lines are connected internally using it. The usage of this method is evident to readers throughout.
Themes
CONNECTION BETWEEN THE TITLE AND THEMES This poem is spoken from the perspective of a first-person pointof-view. It is an example of a lyric poem. Apart from that, it does not have a specific metrical pattern. Readers can find a mixed-use of iambic-trochaic meter along with some spondee and pyrrhic feet. The speaker essentially functions as a guide, steering the audience through the photograph. Because the speaker spends about half of the poem pointing out the corpse’s position within the image, it is safe to say that the speaker wants onlookers to understand what this photograph really captures “under the surface.” However, the speaker establishes that the corpse is difficult to make out and as a result, the photograph initially presents a very different scene.
POETIC FORMS & STRUCTURE TECHNICAL ASPECTS & SOUND
Lines 1-5 MEANING F O R EACH LINE S "It was taken some time ago. At first it seems to be a smeared print: blurred lines and grey flecks blended with the paper;" Meaning : The poetic persona or the speaker points at the photograph by saying it was taken a few years ago. It has a smeared print, just like one can see in an old photograph.Some “grey flecks” are blended with the paper of it. The features create an image of a photograph that belongs to an old family album. Atwood uses the epithets such as “blurred” and “grey” to help readers imagine the appearance of the photo. After reading the next few lines, they can imagine what’s there in it.
Lines 6–12 MEANING F O R EACH LINE S then, as you scan it, you see in the left-hand corner a thing that is like a branch: part of a tree (balsam or spruce) emerging and, to the right, halfway up what ought to be a gentle slope, a small frame house. Meaning : In the left corner, there is a thing appearing like a branch of a tree. It seems here the speaker is referring to her family tree. She is an integral part of the image, like a tree branch. Whatsoever this emerging branch can be of balsam or spruce. As the image is blurry, it is hard to say what tree is there. While on the right side, there is a small house.The onlookers do not have to move their eyes all way long to the right. It appears just halfway to the right. The speaker might be a member of that house.
Lines 13–18 MEANING F O R EACH LINE S In the background there is a lake, and beyond that, some low hills. (The photograph was taken the day after I drowned. I am in the lake, in the center of the picture, just under the surface. Meaning : Atwood depicts the image’s background showing a lake. Beyond it, there are some low hills. It can be referred to that the speaker might live in that place or somewhere nearby. From line 15, there is a roundabout shift in the subject matter. It topples the mental image of the photograph in a reader’s mind. In this line, the speaker casually says that it was the photograph taken after her death. To be specific, it was taken the day after she drowned.
Lines 19–26 MEANING F O R EACH LINE S It is difficult to say where precisely, or to say how large or how small I am: the effect of water on light is a distortion. but if you look long enough eventually you will see me.) Meaning : The penultimate section of the poem delves deeper into the image on which ‘This Is a Photograph of Me’ is based. According to the speaker, it is difficult to locate her precise position inside the lake, but if readers are attentive enough, they can visualize the image/the true state of the world and the lives/histories of marginalized groups.
STANZA Stanza is a group of lines forming the basic recurring metrical unit in a poem. In the poem, there are 2 stanzas followed by 26 lines in total. Symbols Rhyme scheme “a small frame house” exemplifies man-made objects which have predominance over women, the “low hills” represent the challenges of female prejudice, and “a lake” is emblematic of society Resembling a branch in the left-hand corner: a balsam or spruce tree portion emerging. Extremely slight rhyming draws emphasis to the speaker's first concrete vision by connecting verbs that describe the forms as they materialize with those that describe how they start to take shape. (The resonance is rather faint, though, because the "ing" sound in "emerging" is unstressed.)
Alliteration hyperbole Comma's blurred lines and gray flecks," and "In the background there is a lake," and "but if you look long enough," Endless existence is embraced by echoes of eternity, while solitary solitude envelops the submerged ego. A soft light drifts through life's landscape, highlighting the complex interactions between illusion and identity. A snapshot captured in time, hiding memories from the past within its frame and revealing hidden nooks of consciousness. “Think that”, “look long”. "The murmuring memories captured here roar like a tidal wave, threatening to engulf all of existence." "Within this frame, I am not just a person but a colossus, towering over time with unparalleled grandeur."
POETIC FORMS & STRUCTURE MEANING & IMAGES OF WORDS
metaphor “the effect of water on light is a distortion” - means that women provide light to others through their service but society distorts this Tone Margaret Atwood has a feminist's perspective photograph gradually develops leading to the reader’s realization of her death Atwood who seems alive but is actually dead in the poem, explores the facades that women accept in order to conform in patriarchal society – she explains the appearance and reality of women women have always been looked down upon (intellectually disregarded) the brackets imply the stance of and deemphasizes women reinforces rces that she (women in general) performs only as the supplement to the photograph of our society she wants people to not limit themselves to superficiality but notice the real essence, importance and profound significance of women the diminishing image and identity of the poetess reflect the state of women 1939 -> present, Ottawa, ON won many awards, such as the Governor General's- twice!
colons /semi colons how large or small I am:" and "blended with paper; Brackets "(balsam or spruce)" and "(The photograph...you will be able to see me.)" Atwood describes the photograph using descriptive language which can be easily visualized by the reader the photograph was basically taken the day after she drowned; her corpse rests in the lake
This Is A Photograph Of Me by Margaret Atwood Digging by Seamus Heaney Digging by Seamus Heaney
Connection to the past Exploration of themes Both "This is a Photograph of Me" by Margaret Atwood and "Digging" by Seamus Heaney deeply delve into themes of identity, memory, and connection to the past. Both establish a profound connection to the past, Atwood through personal reflection on a photograph, Heaney through ancestral customs.
Both offer reflections on human nature and our relationship with identity and history, Atwood focusing on self-perception and memory, Heaney on familial heritage. Sense of Loss Both evoke loss - Atwood of self-identity over time, Heaney of traditional ways of life and ancestral practices. Use of Imagery and Symbolism Vivid imagery and symbolism are used to convey themes, with Atwood employing water and reflections, while Heaney uses digging and earth Reflection on Human Nature
Perspective Atwood's perspective is deeply personal, focusing on individual memory and self-perception. Heaney's perspective is broader, exploring identity within the context of family and tradition. Representation of Loss Atwood's poem deals with the internal loss of self-identity over time. Heaney's poem laments the external loss of traditional ways of life and ancestral practices.
Narrative Voice Atwood employs a reflective and introspective voice. Heaney's tone is more analytical, observing familial conduct and customs. Imagery and Symbolism Atwood uses water imagery and reflections to symbolize memory and time. Heaney relies on metaphors of digging and earth to represent familial ties and ancestral customs. Form and Structure Atwood's poem is concise and organized. Heaney's poem is more descriptive and sprawling, immersing readers in the landscape and customs of rural Ireland.
CONCLUSION In conclusion, Atwood's 'This Is a Photograph of Me' and Heaney's 'Digging' both explore identity, memory, and connection to the past. Atwood prompts reflection on memory and identity with vivid imagery, while Heaney celebrates ancestry through sensory detail. Together, they offer profound insights into human existence, encouraging introspection on our relationship with the past and its impact on our sense of self.
REFERENCES Digging by Seamus Heaney | Poetry Foundation. (1966). Poetry Foundation. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47555/digging Digging - Digging Poem by Seamus Heaney. (n.d.). Poem Hunter. https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/digging-8/ Margaret Atwood | Poetry Foundation. (n.d.). Poetry Foundation. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/margaretatwood This Is a Photograph of Me. (1995). Poets.org. https://poets.org/poem/photograph-me Times, Y. (n.d.). Poem Of The Week: “Digging” By Seamus Heaney. https://yorkshiretimes.co.uk/article/Poem-of-the-WeekDigging-by-Seamus-Heaney