Th-Act Richards Figurative Language ( Practical Criticism )

 This blog task is given  by Dilip Barad sir, as a part of practical criticism. Task Link

as a part of this task I select poem no 3 ' One Eyed'. 

I.A. Richards was a prominent literary critic known for his work on figurative language and the practical criticism of poetry. Let's analyze Meena Kandasamy's poem "One-Eyed" using Richards' approach, focusing on figurative language and its effects.

       

Analysis Using I.A. Richards' Approach Poem, Teacher's Blog

                                                   

                               Poem                                                     

One-eyed (A Poem by Meena Kandasamy)

the pot sees just another noisy child

the glass sees an eager and clumsy hand

the water sees a parched throat slaking thirst

but the teacher sees a girl breaking the rule

the doctors sees a medical emergency

the school sees a potential embarrassment

the press sees a headline and a photofeature

dhanam sees a world torn in half.

her left eye, lid open but light slapped away,

the price for a taste of that touchable water.

Sense

Sense refers to the literal content and the meaning conveyed by the words in the poem.

Description: The poem narrates the story of a young girl, Dhanam, who faces violence and discrimination due to her caste.

 Dhanam's act of reaching for water and the subsequent slap from the teacher are central to the poem.

The poem describes her innocence and vulnerability through phrases like "clumsy hand" and "fair cheek," emphasizing her unjust treatment.

 Feeling

Feeling delves into the emotions and attitudes expressed in the poem.

 The poem evokes empathy for Dhanam, anger at the injustice she faces, and sorrow for her plight.

 The poet's portrayal of Dhanam's innocence and the teacher's harshness creates a stark emotional contrast.

Words like "clumsy," "noisy," and "slap" convey feelings of vulnerability, indifference, and violence, respectively.

Tone

Tone reflects the poet's attitude towards the subject and the audience.

The tone is critical and compassionate. The poet criticizes the systemic oppression and expresses deep empathy for Dhanam.

The use of simple yet powerful language emphasizes the poem's message. The personification of the pot and the stark description of the slap highlight the poem's serious and critical tone.

 The tone engages readers by evoking strong emotions and prompting them to reflect on social injustices.

Intention

Intention encompasses the purpose and desired effect of the poem.

 The poet aims to shed light on caste-based discrimination and systemic oppression faced by marginalized communities in India.

 The poem seeks to evoke empathy, raise awareness, and inspire action against injustice.

 By depicting Dhanam's simple need for water and the cruel response she receives, the poet underscores the urgency of addressing social inequalities and injustices.

Conclusion

Analyzing "One-Eyed" through I.A. Richards' framework of Sense, Feeling, Tone, and Intention helps us understand the poem's literal content, emotional impact, critical attitude, and purposeful message. Meena Kandasamy effectively uses these elements to highlight the harsh realities of discrimination and advocate for social change.

Doubt: 

Understanding "One-Eyed" by Meena Kandasamy can be challenging due to its depiction of caste-based discrimination and systemic oppression. in this poem i found three lines which i can't understand and doubtful. these are three lines:        "The pot sees just another noisy child"

                                                         "Her left eye, lid open but light slapped away" 

                                                         "Dhanam sees a world torn in half" 

The poem's cultural context, intense emotional content, and use of personification and symbolism require careful interpretation to fully grasp its themes of innocence, vulnerability, and societal indifference.