"dead boy" by John Crowe Ransom
History
The Fugitives were created in order to show that southerners can carefully, craft something of sentimental value. This movement was originated in the early 1900s. A group that helped this movement were the Agrarians. Some of these types of poems were published through newspapers since the south wasn't that huge on modern technology. John Crowe Ransom was one of the biggest influences there was when it comes to this generation of poets and their work.
Analysis
The poem "Dead Boy" by John Crowe Ransom is about the death of a little black boy. In the poem it tells us that the boy had done nothing to die, but didn't deserve to live. They called him a waste of breath. Many people that knew the little boy were trying to reason with the fact that he was dead. Ransom seems to be on the boys side though. He makes it feel as if he may feel sorry for the boy, or is grieving. This connects to the Fugitives movement because Ransom discusses something that can be sensitive to talk about and heartfelt. It shows that everyone can get a little sentimental at times.
Literary Devices
It reads "but this was the old tree's late branch wrenched away". This is to say that it was time for the boy to die because the 'tree' was already giving away. Although it doesn't make it fine that he died, it gives us a better understanding of why it happened. Another idiom is when they say "a sword beneath his mother's heart". This one was used in order to express the pain that the mother has to deal with due to the death of her son. Although it isn't needed in the poem, it helps with showing the pain people are suffering from his death. The Euphemism is when they say "O friendly waste of breath!". They are trying to sugar coat the fact that the boy was doing no good, and didn't serve a purpose of living. Without it, we may be lead to believe that the boy was somewhat good and had a purpose in the slightest bit, which isn't the case.
"Dead Boy"
http://www.poemtree.com/poems/DeadBoy.htm
The Fugitives were created in order to show that southerners can carefully, craft something of sentimental value. This movement was originated in the early 1900s. A group that helped this movement were the Agrarians. Some of these types of poems were published through newspapers since the south wasn't that huge on modern technology. John Crowe Ransom was one of the biggest influences there was when it comes to this generation of poets and their work.
Analysis
The poem "Dead Boy" by John Crowe Ransom is about the death of a little black boy. In the poem it tells us that the boy had done nothing to die, but didn't deserve to live. They called him a waste of breath. Many people that knew the little boy were trying to reason with the fact that he was dead. Ransom seems to be on the boys side though. He makes it feel as if he may feel sorry for the boy, or is grieving. This connects to the Fugitives movement because Ransom discusses something that can be sensitive to talk about and heartfelt. It shows that everyone can get a little sentimental at times.
Literary Devices
It reads "but this was the old tree's late branch wrenched away". This is to say that it was time for the boy to die because the 'tree' was already giving away. Although it doesn't make it fine that he died, it gives us a better understanding of why it happened. Another idiom is when they say "a sword beneath his mother's heart". This one was used in order to express the pain that the mother has to deal with due to the death of her son. Although it isn't needed in the poem, it helps with showing the pain people are suffering from his death. The Euphemism is when they say "O friendly waste of breath!". They are trying to sugar coat the fact that the boy was doing no good, and didn't serve a purpose of living. Without it, we may be lead to believe that the boy was somewhat good and had a purpose in the slightest bit, which isn't the case.
"Dead Boy"
http://www.poemtree.com/poems/DeadBoy.htm