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Analysis of Imtiaz Dharker's "Blessing"

The poem 'Blessing' by Imtiaz Darker highlights the transformative power of water in a drought-stricken slum, emphasizing its sacredness. Through various literary devices such as free verse, similes, and metaphors, the poem captures the desperation and joy of the community as they experience the miraculous arrival of water. The imagery and sound devices create a vivid portrayal of the struggle for survival and the unifying effect of this precious resource.

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70 views4 pages

Analysis of Imtiaz Dharker's "Blessing"

The poem 'Blessing' by Imtiaz Darker highlights the transformative power of water in a drought-stricken slum, emphasizing its sacredness. Through various literary devices such as free verse, similes, and metaphors, the poem captures the desperation and joy of the community as they experience the miraculous arrival of water. The imagery and sound devices create a vivid portrayal of the struggle for survival and the unifying effect of this precious resource.

Uploaded by

jt31415926535
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

ENGLISH---literature poem analysis

Blessing
[summary]
The poem blessing written by Imtiaz Darker revolves around the miracle that the water can
bring to people who live in drought-stricken slum, thereby conveying the sacredness of water.

[form]
Free verse: irregular rhyme scheme & irregular stanza length
- The irregularity of free verse serves to mirror the sudden and unexpected outburst of water
-> facilitate the unfiltered and straightforward presentation of the miserable struggle for water
in a drought-stricken community
- Facilitate the free flow of overwhelming joy and excitement
- Mirror the chaotic and frantic scene when the crowd are reaching for containers to collect
water

[Consonance] [simile] “The skin cracks like a pod”


The repetitive “k” evokes a plosive sound to mimic the cruel and brutal reality as a result of
the drought and water scarcity. This is further reinforced by the simile which liken the skin to
the cracking pod, conjuring up a visual imagery of physical dehydration and the dryness of
soil.
The end-stop line further serves to evoke a sense of desperation. And finality as the line is
punctuated abruptly, much like how people’s lives are also disrupted by the lack of water and
natural disaster

[Simple present tense] “cracks” “is”


Ongoing scene + sense of urgency and immediacy

[Negation] “There never is enough water”


Create an emphatic tone on the constant scarcity and severity, conveying an impression that
people in the area are trapped in this perpetual struggle

[Asyndetic listing] “the drip of it, the small splash, echo in a tin mug, the voice of a kindly
god”
Quicken the pace -> Arouse a sense of continuity and fluidity to mimic the immense
enjoyment and immersion in imagining the presence of water

[Sibilance] “small splash”


Soothing sound which delivers a sense of ease and comfort to present the significance and
healing effect of the water

[Religious imagery/metaphor] “Imagine the drip of it, … the voice of a kindly god.”
Elevate the presence of water to a divine, sacred, and transcendent status, indicating the life-
giving and nurturing quality brought by the transformative water. Readers would be given an
impression of the holiness by conjuring up a divine imagery. This aligns with the title of the
poem “blessing”, forming a consistent religious present of water throughout the whole poem.
Additionally, by using a lowercase in referencing to the God to suggest that there is no
manifestation and the divine blessing is out of reach. (“Sing” - manifestation)

[Metaphor] [enjambment] “Rush/ of fortune”


The metaphor compares the presence of water with “rush of fortune”. As “fortune” connotes

Tara’s review materials (2024updated) 1


ENGLISH---literature poem analysis

wealth and luxury items, significant value is attached to water, indicating the scarcity of
water. Apart from that, the lexical choice of “fortune” can also be interpreted as spiritual
blessing.
“sudden” - Unexpectedness & abruptness
“Rush” - rapid velocity + overwhelming - large amount of water
Moreover, the enjambment in “the sudden rush/ of fortune” creates a sense of continuity to
mirror the flow of water, embodying the large volume of water.

[Caesura] “of fortune. The municipal pipe bursts,”


The caesura creates a pause to highlight a sense of certainty over the importance and of water
- transformative power

[Plosive sound & consonance] “municipal pipe bursts”


Mirror the forceful impact of Brocken pipe - outburst of joy and elation - set the celebratory
tone to the imminent of joy

[Metaphor] “silver”
color imagery of “silver” connotes a sense of purity and sacredness - conjure up an
enchanting imagery of shimmering water - precious & divine

[Dynamic & Strong verb] “silver crashes to the ground”


Dynamic & Strong verb - powerful and forceful

[Enjambment] “silver crashes to the ground/and the flow has found…/…”


Fasten pace - intensity & urgency to store of water

[Zoomorphism & onomatopoeia & personification] “A roar of tongue”


- Conjure up a fierce animal imagery - Violence & lively& ferocious
- Mimic the sound of people rushing and clambering to collect water - create a cacophony -
chaos
- Imbue flow of water with human capability - Liveliness and activeness of water

[Metaphor] “congregation”
Compare the gather of people who rush to collect water with religious gathering & worship
of “congregation” - a sense of unity and community - a sense of solidarity
Conjure up a religious imagery - Sacredness & holiness

[Asyndetic listing] “every man woman/ child for streets around”


Quicken the pace - no separation and division between people & blur the line between age
and gender - universal experience - highlight how water brings cohesion and unity -
sacredness of water

[Asyndetic listing] “with pots, brass, copper, aluminum, plastic buckets, frantic hands”
Quicken the pace to build a sense of urgency to reflect instinctive reaction of people to gather
the water with any containers they can get their hand of
Cumulative effect highlights the franticness of people and chaotic scene - highlight the
outburst of joy & embody the resourcefulness of indigenous people (use limited resources to
accomplish the goal)

Tara’s review materials (2024updated) 2


ENGLISH---literature poem analysis

[The stanza ends with a comma]


Maintain the ceaseless and never-ending feeling brought by asyndetic listing - to signify the
Endless chaotic scene
The comma and stanza break make the sentence fragmented to mirror the franticness

[Stanza break]
create a pause to elongate the passion and joy to collect water - create a sense of immersion
for readers

[structure] “and naked children”


The fact that the poet uses conjunction of “and” with lower case at the start of the stanza -
signifies the continuous image - highlight the progression

[Visual & auditor imagery] “screaming in the liquid sun,”


The metaphor compares the presence of water with “Liquid sun” - represent the brightness
and the warmth brought by the water, resembling to the hope and vitality brought by the sun
[Plosive sound alliteration]
Highlight the outburst of vibrancy and radiance - forceful impact
Smooth surface - seamless - the presence of water brings perfection
Miraculous image - water brings transformation

[Semantic field of light and illumination] “silver””liquid sun” “flashing light”


Underscore the sense of hope brought by the outburst of water
Dynamic movement connotes a sense of energy and vitality

[Present participle] “shimmering” “flashing” “blessing”


Ongoing - immediacy - unfold right in front of the reader - impactful & create a sense of
endlessness

[assonance] [personification] “blessing sings?问⽼师”


The assonance creates a soft and soothing sound to mimic the musically and rhythmic
auditory imagery of the children’s joyous and celebratory wake of a drought ad suffering.
The sense of comfort is further reinforced by the sibilance which creates soothing melody to
mimic the imagery of pleasure, contributing to a sense of serenity. This is extended by the
personification which endows water with human ability to sing, making water to be a free
agent that has a mind of its own - suggest the holy and divine of water is dynamic and
energetic - capable of enlivening and enriching people’s lives

[Enjambment]
creates a continuous quality to indicates the water’s flow can facilitate liveliness, striking a
stark contrast with the previous stagnant

[Echo with the title] 作⽤待确定

[Synecdoche] “Small bone”


Compare the child in the arid area to “small bone” which connotes malnourishment and
poverty - highlight the vulnerability of children - by expressing the water can “sing over
small bones” -
The nourishing impact of water which can foster and care for the small bone - sustain life and

Tara’s review materials (2024updated) 3


ENGLISH---literature poem analysis

promote health

[Semantic field of religion] [religious imagery] “sing”

Tara’s review materials (2024updated) 4

Common questions

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Dynamic verbs like "crashes," "found," and "blesses" evoke the forceful and transformative qualities of water, suggesting both physical movement and emotional uplift. These verbs highlight the sudden intensity and immediacy of the water flow, stressing its impact as both a physical phenomenon and a source of communal joy and spiritual renewal .

Religious imagery in "Blessing" elevates water to a holy and divine status, illustrating its essential life-giving and transformative qualities. The reference to water as "the voice of a kindly god" conveys sacredness and suggests that water is a spiritual blessing as crucial as divine intervention. This aligns with the poem's title, "Blessing," reinforcing the perception of water as a miraculous and scarce resource .

Asyndetic listing is used to quicken the pace and highlight the chaotic, instinctive response of the people. Phrases like "the drip of it, the small splash, echo in a tin mug" and "with pots, brass, copper, aluminum, plastic buckets, frantic hands" convey a sense of urgency and desperation. This reflects both the community's dire need and their overwhelming excitement and relief at the sight of water, portraying its importance in their survival .

Enjambment in "Blessing" contributes to the depiction of water by creating a sense of unending flow and urgency. Lines like "the sudden rush/ of fortune" continue seamlessly into the next, mirroring the continuous and overwhelming flow of water when the municipal pipe bursts. This structural choice amplifies the feeling of abundance and immediacy that accompanies the rare access to water .

Auditory imagery in "Blessing" captures the dynamic and overwhelming joy brought by the sudden availability of water. Phrases like "the drip of it, the small splash, echo in a tin mug" immerse the reader in the sounds of water, reinforcing its transformative and restorative power. This imagery creates a rhythm that mirrors both the physical presence of water and the communal relief and unity it brings, enhancing the theme of scarcity turned into abundance .

The metaphor "silver" in "Blessing" connotes purity, value, and sacredness, elevating water to a precious and divine status. Silver's shimmering quality highlights the beauty and necessity of water, casting it as a luxury in drought-stricken areas. This imagery underscores the dramaturgical effect of water, as it symbolizes hope, renewal, and the miracle of life .

The irregular structure of the poem "Blessing"—including its free verse form, irregular rhyme scheme, and varying stanza lengths—mirrors the unpredictable and sporadic nature of water access in a drought-affected community. This structural choice underscores the suddenness and urgency of water availability, reflecting the chaotic and frantic actions as people scramble to collect water as a miracle in their harsh environment .

Dharker uses simile and consonance in the phrase "The skin cracks like a pod" to convey the harsh realities of drought. The simile vividly compares cracked skin to a pod, evoking a visual image of dryness and dehydration. The repetitive 'k' sounds mimic the brutal impact of drought, heightening the sense of visual and tactile harshness faced by the people in the slum .

Caesura, as seen in "of fortune. The municipal pipe bursts," emphasizes the vital role water plays in the community's life. The pause after "fortune" highlights its dramatic, sudden appearance, allowing the reader to absorb the significance of the moment. This break accentuates the stark contrast between the usual scarcity and the sudden abundance brought about by the pipe burst, underscoring water's transformative power .

The phrase symbolizes purity and the raw, unguarded joy brought by water. "Naked children" captures vulnerability and innocence, while "liquid sun" suggests the life-giving, nourishing power of water, similar to sunlight. Together, they reflect a scene of renewal and hope, portraying water as a transformative force that can bring vitality and happiness amid suffering .

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