ipl-logo

What Is The Tone In The Convergence Of The Twain

451 Words2 Pages

In “The Convergence of the Twain”, the speaker, Thomas Hardy, describes the sinking of the Titanic by contrasting the materialism of mankind and powers of nature. With the utilization of poetic devices, the speaker suggests that the boarders of the ship and the Titanic itself, were victims of human vanity over the forces of the Earth. Throughout the poem, the speaker maintains a satirical tone because man’s overconfidence is what caused the shipwreck.

In the first stanza, Hardy begins the poem by describing the ship’s current state using personification. By using the word “she” and “her”, the speaker is able to characterize the ship as a casualty of human vanity and of inseperable fate with the iceberg. The Titanic has physically sunk “in a solitude of the sea”, but he also adds that “... the Pride of Life that planned her, stilly couches she.”, which implies that human arrogance had prompted the sinking of the ship. …show more content…

Pridefully, the makers of the Titanic had the audacity to deem the Titanic as unsinkable with high hopes. Because of such arrogance and anticipation built around the Titanic, the passengers focused on irrelevant lavish novelties such as their “jewels in joy designed”, and disregarded the eventual strength of nature. Now the opulents’ luxuries “lie lightless… sparkles bleared and black and blind” at the bottom of the sea. By illustrating the jewels’ transition from being ravishing to dull in appearance, the speaker provides a reflection of how the passengers’ misguided values had caused them to die and become worthless in the end. The speaker also portrays nature’s apathetic viewpoint towards the sunken jewels such as “the sea-worm crawls - grotesque, slimed, dumb, indifferent” to further emphasize how pointless human superficiality

Show More
Related

Summary Of Magnificent Isolation By Elsa Gabbert

509 Words | 3 Pages

The author starts with a tone of exhilaration and curiosity being “I suddenly obsessed with the story of the Titanic.” Slowly though she slides into a tone of slack jawed awe and morbid fascination with how “It is awesome that we built them; it is awesome when they fell.” To illustrate this she uses many tools such as facts and figures. Gabbert pulls many of her examples from historic acts of human failure like the Titanic or challenger. To further her point she uses eyewitness accounts and personal experience from these people such the North Tower man who said, “Perhaps I should have continued down that hallway.”

Read More

Deception And Deception In Mark Twain's Pudd Nhead Wilson

881 Words | 4 Pages

Following the conclusion of Pudd’nhead Wilson, a novel written by Mark Twain in 1894, but taking place in the 1850s, it is obvious that the book was inundated by a myriad of differing themes. However, there is a theme that stands out the most in terms of the most influential message conveyed by Twain. This theme is that deception and foolishness, two themes that go hand in hand, do not have preferable repercussions. In recognizing these themes, I was able to choose one specific scene from the novel that truly represents these two themes. The scene that most symbolizes the backfiring of deception and the disadvantages of foolishness is in the scene where Tom gets sold down the river.

Read More

A Rhetorical Analysis Of Satire Essay By Mark Twain

798 Words | 4 Pages

Through his vivid metaphors which he calls “experiments” he pulls his readers in an emotional level. He persuades his readers to examine the ill traits of humanity and see the world through his eyes. One example of this is when he describes an article about how three monks were burnt to death, and another “put to death with atrocious cruelty “(Twain). He then asks the question, “Do we inquire into the details?”(Twain) He answers: no, otherwise we would find out the fourth monk was “subjected to unprintable mutilations” (Twain). Through this metaphor he makes his readers feel sorrow for the monks, anger that people acted so viciously, and anger that the media withheld information.

Read More

Individualism In An Inspector Calls

2206 Words | 9 Pages

Thus allowing the audience to reflect how problematic it was. One way this is done is through Birling’s speech “the Titanic… forty six thousand eight hundred tons… unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable”. The Titanic represents the greatest technological advancement at that time frame and thus could represent the Birling family, as Mr Birling is an industrialist, and thus the middle class. The repetition of the word “unsinkable” may portray their true and ingrained belief in the Titanic and through it, themselves. The word “absolutely” may show the lack of consideration for other options and thus shows the unchanging and narrow visioned nature of those individualists such as Mr Birlings, which will be their undoing similar to how the Titanic sinks.

Read More

Night To Remember Comparison

796 Words | 4 Pages

The Titanic, most definitely man’s greatest accomplishment, is made in Belfast, Ireland, where it is then set off into the open ocean, and set for Southampton, England. From there, on April 11, 1912, 2:00 p.m., the Titanic sets sail for New York. All seems well, and it looks for the first time, that man has built the “unsinkable ship.” However, the hopes, lives, ship and all are cut down by an iceberg and now rest at the bottom of the Atlantic. This horrendous fact was shown in both the book and the movie, “A Night to Remember,” along with many other facts and stories.

Read More

Fenimore Coopers Rhetorical Analysis

429 Words | 2 Pages

Mark Twain, an 18th century humorist, was known for his critical and satirical writing. In one of his most famous essays, “ Fenimore Coopers Literary Offenses” Twain addresses Coopers inability to realistically develop a “situation” and his failure to effectively back up his stories in order for them to be more plausible. To dramatically convey his unimpressed and sarcastic attitude, he applies biting diction, metaphors and hypophora throughout this work . By continuously using biting diction, Twain develops a mocking tone towards Fenimore Cooper’s incapability to create even the simplest of storylines. In the title of the work a sarcastic tone is evident; the word choice is utilized to reinforce the argument stating how Coopers work is an offense to the world of literature.

Read More

Imagery In Mark Twain's Life On The Mississippi

659 Words | 3 Pages

For instance, “That slanting mark on the water refers to a bluff reef which is going to kill somebody’s steamboat one of these nights, if it keeps on stretching out like that; those tumbling ‘boils’ show a dissolving bar and a changing channel there…that tall dead tree, with a single living branch, is not going to last long, and then how is a body ever going to get through this blind place at night without the friendly old landmark?” (44-51). Here, the reader is able to comprehend that by contemplating about the negative aspects of the river and how it would result in certain obstacles for a pilot of a steamboat, Twains initial view of the Mississippi River was ultimately diminished. Therefore, the author contemplates whether possessing knowledge about the beauty of an aspect and its true connotation truly belittles it compared to only seeing its beauty without thinking. Likewise, Twain contemplates the position of doctors relating their possible viewpoints towards a patient with his circumstances.

Read More

David R. Slavitt's The Convergence Of The T

1024 Words | 5 Pages

He identifies the fact that the world has not mourned the loss as it should, but rather creating stories for the future generation to enjoy that will “give them a good cry,” (Line 10 and GRAMMAR?). Sarcastically, he continues to say that the sinking is “not so bad after all” (11). For these moments in the poem, he speaks as if he is someone who has romanticized the tragedy, simply to show how absurd it is to glamorize such an event. While Slavitt uses sarcasm to object the perspective of the Titanic’s legend, Thomas Hardy uses reverence. Throughout the poem, he acknowledges the beauty of the Titanic, speaking of its “jewels in joy designed to ravish the sensuous mind” (10-11).

Read More

Examples Of Dramatic Irony In An Inspector Calls

747 Words | 3 Pages

One of the several themes that Priestley has introduced to the play is ‘Time,’ and this theme not only interlinks with some others like ‘Age and Youth’ and ‘Social Responsibility,’ but also introduces a very important drama technique into the play for the audience called the dramatic irony. In Act One, Mr. Birling, as a representative of the older generation of the play and the head of the family, is talking to the others about the progress humanity is making and mentions the liner, Titanic saying it is “unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable.” The word ‘absolutely’ in this context shows just how confident in his words Mr. Birling is, without understanding that it will all change. As the play is set back in 1912, but is performed much later in 1946, after the audience knows, and finds it ironic that Mr. Birling, thinking he is an old, wise man says such nonsense, as time will show.

Read More

Martin Luther's Accomplishments

522 Words | 3 Pages

Born in Germany on the 10th November 1483, Martin Luther was an Augustinian friar who made a great impact on christianity when he started the Protestant Reformation in 16th century europe. Luther was originally setting out to become a lawyer to please his father. Also, because of his efforts to receive a Master of Arts degree while studying at the University of Erfurt. He was certain to become a lawyer. But one day, a monstrous storm changed his life ambition.

Read More

Watch That Ends The Night

610 Words | 3 Pages

This conflict between the baker and the rats is another example highlighting the futile efforts of a person trying to keep an unwanted force from ruining carefully constructed plans. Ultimately, despite their conflict aboard the ship, the rats and the Baker suffered the same fate, drowning at the hands of the iceberg. In conclusion, “The Watch That Ends The Night” demonstrates through the retelling of the Titanic the theme of how people attempt to control their environment to avoid feeling vulnerable to fate. They want to believe they can be in control of their own destiny.

Read More

Anne Fadiman Under Water Summary

1273 Words | 6 Pages

Anne Fadiman’s “Under Water” strikingly relates a particularly morbid, yet surreal experience: the death of a teen, Gary, in a freak canoeing accident. From writing about this particular incident, Fadiman reflects her own development and maturation as a person, from an “impatient” person to one who is “no longer in a hurry.” However, in a more general sense, the essay also deals with how people react to death. In the seventh paragraph of “Under Water,” Fadiman’s use of personification and the use of a metaphor describing the body of Gary highlights how individuals insistently attempt to detach themselves from death, refusing to accept the truth of the situation, ultimately damaging themselves in the process.

Read More

Titanic David R Slavitt Analysis

948 Words | 4 Pages

Irony is presented in numerous ways that help to contribute to the theme. The theme of death in the poem “Titanic” can be backed up and further explained by many poetry elements that are hinted to throughout the poem. David R Slavitt’s “Titanic” is about a tragedy that affected the lives of many people during the time it occurred. Slavitt uses the first stanza of his poem to ask a question to the readers: ”Who does not love the Titanic?” Most readers would answer, saying they love the story of the Titanic, but would not have liked to be on the ship for its first and, inevitably, final voyage.

Read More

What Is The Tone In The Convergence Of The Titanic

577 Words | 3 Pages

Every person sees an event through a different perspective which can lead to different interpretations of an event. “The convergence of the twain” by Thomas Hardy and “Titanic” both bring differing perspectives of the wreck of the titanic. Each poem conveys a different attitude towards the same situation; however, while one displays a more grim tone, the other establishes more of an unpitiful tone nonetheless both poems connecting to each other. “The Convergence of the Twain” gives a somber attitude towards the wreck of the Titanic. The poet uses numerous amounts of imagery language throughout the poem to help convey the mood and attitude.

Read More

Robinson Jefferss: Their Beauty Has More Meaning

1272 Words | 6 Pages

However, in the eyes of the speaker they see the opposite. Because the ocean is such a strong, powerful force of nature, the speaker thinks that whether the ocean is ferocious or serene, it is still something worth worshipping or admiring. Perhaps the admiration comes from the ocean’s ability to change its reputation so quickly, yet be adored and treasured by people all over the world. After listening to the speaker’s portrayal of the ocean, it is noticeable that they are absolutely awestruck. The speaker talks about the ocean with such veneration, making it evident that the ocean, being a strong force of nature can eventually make others appreciate its mere

Read More

More about What Is The Tone In The Convergence Of The Twain

Related Topics

Open Document