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Symbolism In Ingrid Jonker's Daisies In Namaqualand

748 Words3 Pages

In her poem, “Daisies in Namaqualand,” Ingrid Jonker uses the blue Namaqualand daisy as a symbol for peace and prosperity, and describes its role in a war-torn or oppressed society. While the poem begins with a rather ambiguous question about the purpose of the daisy, Jonker’s use of poetic devices engrains into one’s mind the true role of the daisy. Through her reference to the daisy throughout the poem, Jonker reveals the theme that a sense of hope is imperative, and will always exist even when it may seem lost. The first four lines of the poem serve as the essential question and the base from which the theme develops. This is seen in the diction of the word “why,” carefully placed at the beginning of the poem to make known that it is indeed a question. In this stanza, the daisy represents peace, while listening to the …show more content…

Metaphorically, this completes the theme, as the symbol of hope, peace, and prosperity is revealed behind hardship. There is once more a distinct tonal shift to support this, as the use of words like “green mantis,” and “small blue Namaqualand daisy” indicate the lively tone seen before in the first stanza. This distinct tonal shift brings focus to the contrast between the struggles of war, and the prevailing peace that lays behind it. The repetition of the word “something” in the phrase “answering something, believing something, knowing something,” placed at the end of the poem, creates room for interpretation in the purpose of the daisy, highlighting the fact that its emanating hope can reach whoever it needs to. Along with this repetition, the daisy is personified once again, having human traits that are seen as comforting. The combined used of repetition and personification at the end of the poem solidifies the peaceful nature of the daisy, which stands alone with open arms during times of

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