Lyla 13K

English Lit. (HL)

Mr. Simon Lawrence

MIDSUMMER, TOBAGO COMMENTARY

Midsummer, Tobago by Derek Walcott explores the ideas of nostalgia and longing
of something that is gone or lost. Through Walcotts stylistic features of the title
reflects the nostalgia prominent in the poem. This is because the title sets a time
and place which resembles a diary entry. The effect of this is it reflects a yearning
for something from the past that cannot be retrieved, and the only way to hold onto
what is lost is to remember it.
The first stanza of the poem is different stylistically from the rest of the poem as it is
the only stanza with one line, whereas the rest have couplets. The effect of this
stylistic choice is it highlights the setting of the poem and it gives a smooth
entrance for the rest of the poem. Furthermore, the poem starts off with Broad sunstoned beaches, through the use of the plosive alliteration of the bs contrast with
the soothing sibilance of sun-stoned, the effect of this contrasts captures the
ambiguity of the images of the poem.
In the first 3 stanzas Walcott presents elements of paradise, however, it is
contrasted with unconventional imagery. Walcott describes a green river and a
white heat that is surrounding the area. Rivers are usually associated with a calm,
serene atmosphere; however, by describing the river as green makes something
that is usually delicate and calm seem much heavier and murky, almost resembling
a swamp. White heat also resembles something powerful and dangerous, as the
noun white makes the phrase seem blinding. The phrases are made up of noun
phrases which makes the descriptions resemble little snapshots or images, the
effect this has is it makes the whole poem seem like a memory or a diary entry. In
addition, the style of the title fixes it in a time and place which resembles a diary
entry and it shows a reflective nature. Consequently, the diary entry similarities
emphasize the longing and yearning atmosphere of the poem.
In the fourth stanza there is a transition from the more concrete, tangible ideas in
first 3 stanzas to more abstract ideas. Through the use of sibilance of summersleeping, makes the atmosphere appear calm and relaxed as the soft s sound
can resemble the sound of waves lapping and crashing on the shore. Furthermore,
this relaxed state is also emphasized by Walcotts use of diction in the 7 th line of the
word drowsing. The word drowsing may reflect no purposefulness and laziness,
which also reflects the relaxing nature of the beach and sea. This stanza is a
transitional stanza for the poem as the beginning of the poem the persona appears
to be joyous and is appreciating the surroundings, however afterwards the persona
appears to be more nostalgic and has a longing tone. This steady transition is
reflected through the use of longer sentences which slows down the poem.
Furthermore, when looking at the title Midsummer is a time period in the middle
of summer and there is about to be a change, a transition to another season, and
this transition is reflected throughout the poem.

Lyla 13K
English Lit. (HL)
Mr. Simon Lawrence
The use of the anaphora in stanza 5 emphasizes the longing for what the persona
has lost, it gives a sense of nostalgia. Furthermore, the contrasting verbs of held,
and lost, at the end of lines 8 and 9 brings up the idea of memory. This is because
held, might reflect remembering and lost, might reflect something forgotten.
However another interpretation would be that the persona is longing for what is
gone, as the verb lost, suggests that there was no intention for it to go away.
The last stanza of the poem further delves into the nostalgic nature of the persona.
Through the use of the simile days that outgrow, like daughters, shows a
protectiveness of the persona and the use of daughters, gives a sense of a male
persona. Furthermore, the use of daughters, might suggest how what is gone
might have left willingly but the persona wanted it to stay, as daughters at a
certain usually leave the parents to live their lives. In addition, through the persona
reminiscing on the past suggests how they dont want to let go and the only way
they can cling on is through memories. Furthermore, the last line of the poem is
my harbouring arms, the use of the word harbouring, suggests that the persona
will always be there for what is gone, which again emphasizes the protectiveness of
the persona.
In conclusion, this poem brings the ideas of losing things and the only way to cope
is to reminisce. This nostalgic atmosphere is reflected through the use of detailed
imagery in the beginning of the poem, as the use of imagery suggests how well the
persona remembers the past.