The Cod Head C

Miscellaneous weed strands, stems, debris— firmament to fishes— where the yellow feet of gulls dabble oars whip ships churn to bubbles— at night wildly agitate phospores- cent midges—but by day flaccid moons in whose discs sometimes a red cross lives—four fathom—the bottom skids a mottle of green sands backward— amorphous waver ing rocks—three fathom the vitreous body through which— small scudding fish deep down—and now a lulling lift and fall— red stars—a severed codhead between two green stones—lifting falling A

Firmament- the vault of heaven; sky Midges- Small Diseased Fly Flaccid- lacking force; weak Fathom- a unit of length equal to six feet Amorphous- lacking definite form; Shapeless Mottle-to mark or diversify with spots or blotches of a different color or shade. Skids-a low mobile platform on which goods are placed for ease in handling Vitreous- resembling glass, as in transparency Lulling- to put to sleep or rest by soothing means CC

Life is average and in ways the same. “Miscellaneous weed strands, stems, debris— firmament to fishes— where the yellow feet of gulls dabble” The ocean images are used to show repetition. “body through which— small scudding fish deep down—and now a lulling lift and fall—“ We all get stuck in a cycle that we should get away from “now a lulling lift and fall— red stars—a severed codhead” C

Point of View: Third person (detached) Mood: Calm Tone: “The Cod Head” has a relaxed and calming tone. The poem flows in stanzas of 3 lines that are short and have little climax. The words come together to create a poem that is like water. “now a lulling lift and fall—” Brings upon a sense of calmness “between two green stones—lifting falling” Constant image that seems to be relaxing. Williams wants the reader to understand that life is a flow of events that are often quite similar to each other and apart from some crises we flow in the same way. He uses a detached third person point of view to show similarity because this person is observing at a distance thus being able to see the events affecting some and all. The poem flows in a specific way that gives it a peaceful and calming vibe. A

Allegory: It uses the constant idea of the ocean to reflect the constant idea of life. “oars whip ships churn to bubbles” Reoccurring event that is always going on in the ocean, there will always be boats moving about causing a stir in the water which could be a symbol showing how our daily life gets “churned” and that not everything is smooth sailing. “to fishes— where the yellow feet of gulls dabble” Another event that reoccurs daily. Fish will always be there and the seagulls will always be there as well, always interacting. This can be how people interact with nature, the people like fish “swim” along with their daily lives as nature interacts with us like the gulls. Williams wants the reader to understand that life is a flow of events that are often quite similar to each other and apart from some crises we flow in the same way. He uses a detached third person point of view to show similarity because this person is observing at a distance thus being able to see the events affecting some and all. The poem flows in a specific way that gives it a peaceful and calming vibe. CC

Allegory: It uses the constant idea of the ocean to reflect the constant idea of life. “moons in whose discs sometimes a red cross lives” This could relate to how being hurt or sick is a part of life although it doesn’t occur all the time. This quote also relates to the midges (diseased flies) which could be used to symbolize things that we are plagued by in life which can be more than being hurt or sick. “—a severed codhead between two green stones—lifting falling” This could be an allegory to how we may lose ourselves in the daily life cycle that we all go through. The fish head is in a constant motion that remains the same which shows the way we get stuck in repetitions that drag us back and forth. Williams wants the reader to understand that life is a flow of events that are often quite similar to each other and apart from some crises we flow in the same way. He uses a detached third person point of view to show similarity because this person is observing at a distance thus being able to see the events affecting some and all. The poem flows in a specific way that gives it a peaceful and calming vibe. CC

Imagery: Ocean Imagery is used throughout the poem: Fish, Gulls, Oars, Ships, Fathom, Skids, Sand and Water Symbolism: Water: The flow of daily life that we follow. Fish: People Gulls: Nature Oars/Ships: Things that affect you Midges: Things that plague people Cod Head: Being stuck in the same repetition The images come together to create a picture of water and how it is constantly flowing and things are always happening which applies to the deeper meaning of the poem. These common interactions between these images relate to the interactions that we face in our lives. So in the way the water flows is similar to the way our lives flow and follow a certain pattern that is occasionally stirred by situations we face. A/C

Satire: The way the poem ends is unlike the rest of the poem and that adds to the way life can get you stuck. The poem for the most part is relaxing and smooth, and it seems ironic how this dark image pops up and finishes the poem. This overall interaction between calm and startling images relates to the overall deeper message of the poem. “body through which— small scudding fish deep down—and now a lulling lift and fall— red stars—a severed codhead between two green stones—lifting falling” The use of satire sets up a shock to the reader because throughout the poem there is a peaceful tone that doesn’t have much climax until it reaches the end of the poem. This creates an emphasis on this part of the poem which can serve as a lesson on how no to get stuck in a cycle. So by making this part completely different from the rest of the story it gives the criticism of being in a repetition. C

End-Stopped: Many lines in the poem contain or end in dashes. “Miscellaneous weed strands, stems, debris— firmament” “to fishes— where the yellow feet of gulls dabble” Syntax: The lines are put in a similar pattern (vary slightly) from stanza to stanza. Purpose: The poem is set up like this to give more depth to the idea of water. The poem flows in a way that looks similar to waves so it exemplifies the deeper meaning. The poem sets up a constant repetition of structure because each set stanza is almost the same length. “fathom—the bottom skids a mottle of green sands backward— amorphous waver ing rocks—three fathom the vitreous body through which— small scudding fish deep down—and CC

Miscellaneous weed strands, stems, debris— firmament to fishes— where the yellow feet of gulls dabble oars whip ships churn to bubbles— at night wildly agitate phospores- cent midges—but by day flaccid moons in whose discs sometimes a red cross lives—four fathom—the bottom skids a mottle of green sands backward— amorphous waver ing rocks—three fathom the vitreous body through which— small scudding fish deep down—and now a lulling lift and fall— red stars—a severed codhead between two green stones—lifting falling Purpose: The poem is set up like this to give more depth to the idea of water. The poem flows in a way that looks similar to waves so it exemplifies the deeper meaning. The poem sets up a constant repetition of structure because each set stanza is almost the same length. Pattern/Stanza: Each stanza is 3 lines long, and the lines contain a pattern that looks like waves in the way they vary. A

Consonance: Repetition of the “s” sound “Miscellaneous weed strands, stems, debris— firmament” The sound of “bble” “to fishes— where the yellow feet of gulls dabble oars whip ships churn to bubbles— at night wildly” Williams does this to further extend the idea of water and the flow of life. At points it picks up and other drops and this constant rise and fall could be similar to the way life is seen. CC

Rhythm : Like the structure the poem flows and sounds the way water does. It picks up at certain lines and draws down in others. It also has lines that are a little longer than others which symbolizes the climax of the wave. “fathom—the bottom skids a mottle of green sands backward— amorphous waver ing rocks—three fathom the vitreous body through which— small scudding fish deep down—and” Williams does this to further extend the idea of water and the flow of life. At points it picks up and other drops and this constant rise and fall could be similar to the way life is seen. C

Use of Nature to reference life “The Widow’s Lament in Springtime” “Spring and All” “Seafarer” Strong use of imagery “A Woman in Front of a Bank” “The Eyeglasses” “The Mind Hesitant” Historical Context: Published in “Collected Poems ” in 1934 CC

Each group is going to be given one stanza and in your group you will draw a picture according to that stanza. After everyone is done we will put them together to form the poem. A

The poem ends in a way that seems to say that you eventually get stuck in repetition and that you need to get away from this. And the constant flow of life takes a toll unless you can get out of the cycle. And break out of the lift and fall like the cod head eventually will. C