Amends By Adrienne Rich

Adrienne Rich American Woman Active feminist From the 1960’s onwards wrote many poems about women’s role in society, racism, and the Vietnam War Father encouraged her to write Felt unfulfilled due to conflicting roles/ambitions (poet & mother)

Title Amends = Reparation Putting things right Improvement Forgiveness

Stanza 1 The moon shines bright: in such a night as this, Nights like this: on the cold apple-bough A white star, then another Exploding out of the bark: On the ground, moonlight picking at small stones ‘nights like this’ = Merchant of Venice, Act 5 The moon shines bright: in such a night as this, When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees, And they did make no noise, in such a night, Troilus methinks mounted the Troyan walls, And sigh'd his soul toward the Grecian tents, Where Cressid lay that night.

Stanza 1 “cold” = “white star” = “then another” = Atmosphere Night Nights like this: on the cold apple-bough A white star, then another Exploding out of the bark: On the ground, moonlight picking at small stones “cold” = Atmosphere Night Harsh “white star” = Blossoms/moonlight “then another” = Keeps happening Many blossoms/light beams

Stanza 1 “exploding” = “moonlight picking” = “small stones” = Violent Nights like this: on the cold apple-bough A white star, then another Exploding out of the bark: On the ground, moonlight picking at small stones “exploding” = Violent Incongruous Loud Harsh “moonlight picking” = 1st mention Personification Reflecting off some stones more than others “small stones” = ‘Zoomed in’ Small range of view

Stanza 1 Mood = No rhyming Colons = Busy Itemise/list progression Sky Nights like this: on the cold apple-bough A white star, then another Exploding out of the bark: On the ground, moonlight picking at small stones Mood = Busy No rhyming Colons = Itemise/list progression Sky Tree Ground

Stanza 2 “Greater Stones” = “rises with surf” = “laying its cheek” = As it picks at greater stones, as it rises with the surf Laying its cheek for moments on the sand As it licks the broken ledge, as it flows up the cliffs As it flicks across the tracks “Greater Stones” = ‘Zoomed out’ “rises with surf” = Reflects Transparent effect Bobbing “laying its cheek” = Relaxing Touch Femininity

Stanza 2 “moments” = “sand” = “licks” = “broken” = Longer than picking As it picks at greater stones, as it rises with the surf Laying its cheek for moments on the sand As it licks the broken ledge, as it flows up the cliffs As it flicks across the tracks “moments” = Longer than picking Sand more than stones “sand” = Relaxation “licks” = Semi-appeal to taste Femininity (caring, motherly figure) “broken” = Confirms motherly nature Moonlight trying to make amends

Stanza 2 “flows up the cliffs” = “flicks” = “tracks” = Water As it picks at greater stones, as it rises with the surf Laying its cheek for moments on the sand As it licks the broken ledge, as it flows up the cliffs As it flicks across the tracks “flows up the cliffs” = Water Lots of reflection Cliffs common near beaches Uncontrolled Relaxed, calm (no violent language) “flicks” = Little reflection “tracks” = Common near beaches Relaxing environments Nature

Stanza 2 “picks”, “licks”, “flicks” = Mood & Rhythm = Rhyme As it picks at greater stones, as it rises with the surf Laying its cheek for moments on the sand As it licks the broken ledge, as it flows up the cliffs As it flicks across the tracks “picks”, “licks”, “flicks” = Rhyme Light touches Femininity Mood & Rhythm = Relaxed Calm

Stanza 3 “unavailing” = “pours” = “gash” = Pointless Too weak As it unavailing pours into the gash Of the sand-and-gravel quarry As it leans across the hangared fuselage Of the crop-dusting plane “unavailing” = Pointless Too weak Continuously “pours” = Lots of light “gash” = Wound in nature

Stanza 3 “quarry” = “leans” = Links to gash Destruction of nature As it unavailing pours into the gash Of the sand-and-gravel quarry As it leans across the hangared fuselage Of the crop-dusting plane “quarry” = Links to gash Destruction of nature Too weak Continuously “leans” = Reflection off plane Lack of balance

Stanza 3 “hangared fuselage” = “crop-dusting” = Body of plane As it unavailing pours into the gash Of the sand-and-gravel quarry As it leans across the hangared fuselage Of the crop-dusting plane “hangared fuselage” = Body of plane Plane ‘sleeping’ Links to “sleepers” “crop-dusting” = Poisons (insecticides etc.) Damage nature

Stanza 4 “soaks” = “cracks” = “trailers” = Saturated in light As it soaks through cracks into the trailers Tremulous with sleep As it dwells upon the eyelids of the sleepers As if to make amends “soaks” = Saturated in light Gathering more energy Like water “cracks” = Light is ever-present Cannot be destroyed “trailers” = Caravans Poor people

Stanza 4 “tremulous” = “dwells” = “as if to make amends” = As it soaks through cracks into the trailers Tremulous with sleep As it dwells upon the eyelids of the sleepers As if to make amends “tremulous” = People are afraid Contrasts with the moon “dwells” = Gentle word Protecting the “sleepers” “as if to make amends” = Uncertain why Inanimateness of the moon Light comforts the “sleepers”

Whole Poem No full stops (periods)= “it” = Constant use of “as” = Continuous “it” = Moonlight Reader forgets “it” is the moon Constant use of “as” = Adds to the itemising affect caused by the colons in stanza 1 Provides a source of animation for the light

Themes Femininity versus masculinity The destruction of nature by man The relationship between humanity and the environment The powerlessness of nature to retaliate against man’s actions

Essay Questions How does Adrienne Rich describe the environment to present a theme in the poem Amends? How is femininity expressed in the poem Amends by Adrienne Rich? What figurative techniques are used to help express Adrienne Rich's opinions of the moon in the poem Amends?

THE END