Analyzing Garner's Poem 'A Small Needful Fact'

Vidash Khelawan

Professor Rachael Benavidez

ENG 130

08 FEB 2023

Title Line 1 (Humans Compared to Nature)

Title Line 2 (Accountability is What defined us)

This poem “A Small needful Fact” addresses the life and death of Eric Garner. Moreso, the speaker refers to the man’s job at the Horticultural Department. While there, he relates the love for nature, using his “big hands” to place them “gently” in the soil. The speaker suggests that some of these flowers might still be growing. This contains our ecological system, meaning the way of life. Uses free verse, meaning it doesn't have a regular metrical rhythm. This relaxed style fits the poem's images of quiet, peaceful activity. The from being used, a consistent 15 lines, demonstrates –

The comprehension of writing style and various poem technique plays a huge role in understanding the tone of this poem. As literary terms, Such as Allusion – “An indirect way to reference meaning,” Imagery – “Visual Description being used,” contrast – “This is a state of being something else” and repetition – “Repeating words to make a point.”

As freshman readers familiarized themselves with these literary terms, It will be more a more in depth knowledge on how this author – uses literary devices to compose this poem without being too vague about Eric Garner death. THESIS: Analyzing this poem: by Eric Garner, portrays how the speaker, used different form of writing style, and literary devices to elude Eric Garner death, which revolves around nature, The diction utilized in this poem denotes how one’s life can be cut short.

Analysis Paragraph

By denoting “like converting sunlight into food, like make it easier, for us to breath” (Gay) generate the ideology to signify Eric Garner death, while the imagery of nature was being used to create contradicting the meaning of what we may think of Eric Garner. EVIDENDE: Line 1- 3 “Small” and “need” are two carefully selected words used to give visualization of the storm of events that follow Garner Death. ANALYSIS: After Garner Body became lifeless on the ground, officers tried to turn him on his side to ease his breathing. The speaker might be providing us as readers some insight towards Eric Death, not only using a form of allusion, in the last four lines of poem the speaker tone of this poem changed,changed, which is leaning towards “Life and Hope.” The Allusion being used by the speaker from the beginning of the poem, alludes to the life and impact of Eric Garner, this might be providing to us as readers some insight towards Eric Death. EVIDENCE “Like making it easier for us to breathe.” (Gay) - By reviewing the tone, this line – the Speaker mention, the word “breath,” this bring to ask the question, isn’t Eric Garner last words were “I can’t Breathe”? The speaker is giving us a hint of Eric Garner last words, by indirectly referencing it with the use of nature. ANALYSIS: Maybe some of these plants are still growing, potential to have a normal life, considering how Garner met