Arthur,
Thanks, this is helpful. I have printed out to read again in the future.
BW
Colin
PS In Praise of Limestone is my favourite Auden poem.
----- Original Message -----
From: "arthur seeley" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, February 21, 2003 8:29 PM
Subject: Re: newsub/market ( Colin)
> Lord of the Flies is an extended metaphor, yes , I would say so, although
> more of a fable I suppose. There are metaphors embedded in it also, the
> decaying corpse of the pilot with his parachute, Piggy, Ralph, all
emblems,
> symbols. A superb novel, for me almost poetic in its structure and
> exposition. It's a nice question. Perhaps a symbol is more of a single
> element in a composition written, painted, whatever but the symbol brings
> with it connotations that are to large extent dependent on the culture
> within which the symbol is employed, the symbol then becomes in a way
larger
> than itself. I shall never forget my sense of puzzlement when I was told
> that Leda and the Swan was Yeats analogy for Mary, the dove descending and
> the virgin birth. I do not know the Auden piece but I will 'google 'it and
> see what I think.
> If I said that the following is my notion of an extended metaphor would it
> help:
>
> Potting On
>
> He's four years old, my grandson,
> big for his age, yet needs a box
> to reach and watch as I show him how to
>
> first half-fill a pot with crumbs of peat
> -rub it through our fingers
> smell the centuries unlock-
>
> take a young plant
> -wee green hands beseech the light-
> be careful of the roots-important , roots.-
>
> they nourish and support-
> seat the plant straight
> more peat, press in, water.
>
> His turn now.
> Gently I correct his small hands
> or nod approval as he proceeds.
>
> We fill our tray with eighteen pots,
> then to the thick warm air of the greenhouse
> -wonder at the weeping glass-
>
> discuss how long to keep them there,
> I explain about late frosts,
> the sun mockingly warms our backs;
>
> consider position in the garden,
> hardening off, feeding and, later, weeds.
> He dashes off to chase an early butterfly.
>
> Regards Arthur.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Colin dewar" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, February 21, 2003 5:35 PM
> Subject: Re: newsub/market ( Colin)
>
>
> > Arthur,
> >
> > I wonder if an extended metaphor is the same as what I mean by "symbolic
> > monolgue". If so I should switch to the conventional term now that I
know
> > what it is. Is the poem, "In Praise of Limestone" by Auden an extended
> > metaphor? Is "Lord of the Flies" by W Golding an extended metaphor? What
> is
> > the difference between a metaphor and a symbol? Is my poem on the
turning
> of
> > the tides an example of a metaphor pushed and pulled to ill effect?
> >
> >
> >
> > Colin
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "arthur seeley" <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2003 7:26 PM
> > Subject: Re: newsub/market ( Colin)
> >
> >
> > > The secret behind the extended metaphor, once chosen, is to stay
> objective
> > > and let it do its work. Push it and pull it the way you want to go and
> > > people think they are being sermonised and turn off. IMHO. Arthur.
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "Colin dewar" <[log in to unmask]>
> > > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > > Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2003 6:48 PM
> > > Subject: Re: newsub/market ( Colin)
> > >
> > >
> > > > I tried to make the account as objective as possible but human
frailty
> > > > always creeps in and can be turned to advantage, I hope.
> > > >
> > > > Thanks,
> > > >
> > > > Colin
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: "arthur seeley" <[log in to unmask]>
> > > > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > > > Sent: Wednesday, February 19, 2003 8:30 AM
> > > > Subject: Re: newsub/market ( Colin)
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > This is a beautifully drawn extended metaphor. Apart from an
> evocative
> > > > > picture of a time and place it casts a bright beam wider. Thanks
> > Arthur
> > > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > > From: "Colin dewar" <[log in to unmask]>
> > > > > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > > > > Sent: Monday, February 17, 2003 6:49 PM
> > > > > Subject: newsub/market
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > > Market Place, Wuhan.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I have only come for some new potatoes,
> > > > > > though any excuse will do
> > > > > > to stroll through the market,
> > > > > > with its tapestry of flesh and earthy veg-
> > > > > > stalls selling any food you could imagine,
> > > > > > dog meat for instance or woodland fungi,
> > > > > > all of it unprocessed.
> > > > > > You get your hands dirty
> > > > > > if you want chicken.
> > > > > > Buying it is just the beginning.
> > > > > > Then you must kill it and pluck it and gut it.
> > > > > > Back home when you buy it,
> > > > > > the work is half done.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I walk slowly,
> > > > > > careful where I place my feet,
> > > > > > watch vendors hot-faced, yelling
> > > > > > as if they must be paid in blood.
> > > > > > They have worked long in all weather,
> > > > > > their skin purple-brown.
> > > > > > I don't want to worry them
> > > > > > when I come to haggle for half an hour.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I linger by fish
> > > > > > that I don't know by name,
> > > > > > guess at where they lived,
> > > > > > if sediment or surface
> > > > > > from shapes of mouth and fin.
> > > > > > However they lived all
> > > > > > will be eaten.
> > > > > > For now they survive in basins,
> > > > > > less water than fish.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I bought one once, a toothless type
> > > > > > with a head like a rock,
> > > > > > almost broke my hand knocking it out,
> > > > > > was told
> > > > > > it would have died out of water.
> > > > > > I recognise eels.
> > > > > > Their heads are impaled on nails
> > > > > > and their bodies stripped clean.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Fifteen frogs flop together
> > > > > > in a net bag, used for oranges at home,
> > > > > > gather dust on sweating skin.
> > > > > > Someone buys a bag and uses his shoe as a club
> > > > > > to beat them to death.
> > > > > > A pig squeals from a corner
> > > > > > that I don't go into.
> > > > > > Then a rat drops when a box is moved,
> > > > > > and dodges among the tomatoes.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I am distracted by a fight in the vegetables.
> > > > > > Half an hour of bickering over prices
> > > > > > has led to a fracas,
> > > > > > a couple of women with such abuse
> > > > > > I don't have to know their speech.
> > > > > > A ragged leek whips the offending cheek
> > > > > > and then potatoes are thrown in turn,
> > > > > > the ones I had wanted to buy.
> > > > > > I will shop here for another half year,
> > > > > > go home to my own barbarities.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Wuhan. P.R.C. 91/92
> > > > > > _________________________________________________
> > > > >
> > >
>
>
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