sloth in poetry
Many poems written include some of these same characteristics that help to find a theme within it. One main aspect of these poems is the portrayal of a character or characters acting sloth. Sloth is the aversion to work or lack of exertion. It could also be defined as laziness or indolence. Examples of this can be found repeatedly throughout great poet's work such as W.H. Auden's "Musee des Beaux Arts" and in David R. Slavitt's "Titanic". Both of these poems show how sloth can be destructive. It also exhibits how people can disregard those around them, further leading to a society's downfall. The first poem "Musee des Beaux Arts" shows the use of sloth through the bystanders. These characters don't pay any attention to Icarus who is in dire need of help. Icarus is a person who is falling from the sky and there is no one willing to take the time out of his or her day to help someone in need. Icarus can not swim and is pleading for help from anyone and gets no response. The people around that hear the cries are too lazy to respond. The author goes on to write, "The plowman may have heard the splash, the forsaken cry, but for him it was not an important failure". (1183 Auden) The
picture that coincides with the poem clearly shows that the plowman has visual contact with Icarus. The reaction of the plowman symbolizes how this poem portrays the use of sloth because no one went to the aid of Icarus. This is not the only example of laziness within the poem. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ In the poem "Titanic" sloth is as every bit evident as in "Musee des Beaux Arts". David R. Slavitt states "who would not buy (passage for the Titanic)." This is demonstrating that David R. Slavitt assumes that people are too arrogant to steer clear from the Titanic if the ever had a chance. That is further implying that people would be too indolent to try and save themselves almost certain death. Any type of person who would buy a ticket to sail on the Titanic, knowing that they probably would die, is probably too lazy to try and save themselves. Even when the time comes to when they are sinking. The end of the poem shows how Auden incorporates sloth within his works. To backup the evidence of sloth Auden places another example of similar sort. "And the expensive delicate ship that must have seen something amazing, a boy falling out of the sky, had somewhere to get to and sailed calmly on". (1183 Auden) Simultaneously with the plowman's actions, there is a ship in the harbor very close to where Ica
Some common words found in the essay are:
David Slavitt, Beaux Arts, Sloth Poetry, Auden Simultaneously, July Auden, Slavitt's Titanic, Icarus Auden, beaux arts, musee des, des beaux, musee des beaux, des beaux arts, david slavitt, Auden's Musee, save themselves, Arts David, poem musee des, arts david, help icarus, sloth auden, implying people, beaux arts david, poem musee, try save themselves,
Approximate Word count = 925
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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