Summary Of The Essay 'Shoulders'

The essay “As Canadian as…” claims that the Canadian voice and literature has an inherit doubleness, and this could not be more true with the poem “Shoulders” by Shane Koyczan. Double meaning embodies the ideas of the poem, used as a form of discourse, and lies in its visual presentation. The poem presents its central ideas and theme through double meaning, using literary devices such as metaphors. The title itself, “Shoulders,” does not simply mean what it means; provided with the context of the poem, it holds an entirely different meaning. As the author of the essay suggests, context allows the double meaning to be graspable. Through the use of metaphor, the title is able to contribute to the overall idea of the poem. Throughout the poem the theme is rarely stated but, rather, implied. Using double meaning and metaphors, the theme of the poem is conveyed. Lines such as

The author conveys his message of unity and responsibility through a clever mask of double-talking and double meaning. Going back to the quote, “We are Atlas” (2), the author tells the reader that humanity is responsible for the world, and everyone need to take actions for this great responsibility together. Double meaning is able to confront, to co-opt, to compromise, to authorize, and to protest, just as the essay suggested. Irony is used to communicate a political message, exposing the faults in our ways. “There will be no reset button, no new operating system, no downloadable upgrade / We will not be allowed to trade in our world for a new one with climate control or better fuel efficiency” (2). This is a form of constructive irony, it is a trasgressive and positive critic. The irony works to unite us by giving us the realization our ways is what is causing the crisis, and these same ways can not be used to solve it. The doubleness allows alternative meanings to be suggested, raising doubts and questions to one’s