Q.

EXPLORE THE WAYS in which rich uses images to create powerful effect in the poem
‘amends’

Command words: explore,

Implication of the command word – what do these images do, and how is it being done.

Keywords: powerful effects, images

Explain in a few short sentences what. The question means: reveal how these images bring
out important aspects in the poem, like the quiet nature.

Topic sentences Explain the topic Examples to Significance of example Significance of the
sentences (different support TS (quotes (devices) example with topic
points of analysis) + paraphrased sentence/point of
details from the analysis)
poem)
The poet uses Adrienne Rich uses 1.”laying its cheek The images describe how In the absence of
delicate these imageries to for moments” the moon seems to be man, everything is
imageries to show the beauty of 2.”rises with the making every insignificant beautiful. The poet
highlight how the world without surf” object significant and creates a romantic
tranquil the world humankind, 3.”moonlight beautiful. The world also atmosphere by
is without something no one picking at small seems united with the highlighting the
humankind. stops to see during stones” moon as it “rises with the otherworldly nature
the day. surf” and journeys across of every aspect in the
the world. It also seems like setting, that it almost
the world and the moon seems like the
have long existed before modernization of
humankind. mankind is
unnecessary.
By juxtaposing The poem shows 1.”white star…out In 1. And 2. We see how Rich contrasts the
the images of images of how of the bark” there is a kind of energy beauty of nature with
nature with those indifferent mankind is 2.”flows up the and life within nature. The the artificial and harsh
of to the damage cliffs, flicks across moon seems to be nature of the modern
industrialization, they’ve done to the the track” traversing across lands. (3.) world. The fricative
the poet portrays world. 3. “pours into the The images suddenly turn sound emphasizes
how mankind has gash” to man-made creations like this harshness.
left long-lasting the quarry, and its Industrialization has
imprints on the descriptions are harsh, literally created a
face of the Earth. indicating how unnatural “gash” on the land,
(conflict) these structures are leaving a long-lasting
scar.
By describing the The moon tries to 1.”dwells on the We see how the moon The poet brings out
gentle nature of make “amends” with eyelids of the travels across vast lands to the forgiving nature of
the moon, we see mankind despite sleepers” reach the resting place of the moon and helps
how despite all everything we have 2.”as if to make humans and does its best to us despite everything
this damage, the done to it, amends” provide peace to the done against it. It Is
moon attempts to highlighting its pure sleepers since it is the only making amends with
fix the harm and nature. thing it can do. humanity. The fact
reconnect with that it has to travel
humanity. huge distances
indicates how
mankind has
separated itself from
nature, but that
doesn’t stop the
moon from helping
us. The entire poem
praises the moon and
shows how it has
many more purposes.

1. – ts : the aural imagery used in the poem crates a languid rhythm and pace in the
beginning of the poem. This pace creates an atmosphere of peace and tranquilty,
showing that the moon makes “amends” by softening
2. Ts-the poet uses harsh visual images to portrays the futility of the moonlights
attempt lessen the horrific impact of man’s greed on the natural world – the poet
uses harsh visual images to describe the distorted physical setting of a quarry. A
quarry denites a place where man has mined the and, thus showing the impact of
man’s materialistic