The Discardment - Poem Analysis

The poet reflects on the giving of an insignificant item of clothing, unwanted by the owner, to the family's Black domestic worker. He is humbled by her excitement and appreciation for something that seemed to him so trivial. Definite Article: Highlights the importance of the relationship between the 2 people. Throw away. → Something that is no longer needed (connotations) The Discardment Indicates that it was a choice to give it away. Her employer or the oppressor. We gave her a discardment Not even named. A trifle, a thing no longer to be worn, Words that clearly convey the woman’s excitement → Creates a tone of EXCITEMENT/GRATEFULNESS Repetition emphasises how trivial, unwanted, and insignificant the item was. Creates a TERSE (sharp) tone. Long sentence = outpouring of emotions Its purpose served, its life done. Enjambment creates a push of emotions/unstoppable joy. Refrain She put it on with exclamations, Alliteration → harsh ‘c’ sound highlights the urgency. Her eyes shone, she called and cried, Twirled The great bulk of her pirouetted Metaphor → She’s a large woman She danced and mimed, sang snatches of a song. Sibilance → mimics sound of music. Brings mood of She called out blessings on her native tongue excitement. She called out to her fellow-servants The strangers and passers-by Hyperbole → magnitude of gratitude creates a humbling feeling. To all the continent of Africa To see this wonder, to participate Oxymoron → The woman’s joy is so overwhelming that she can no longer handle it. In this intolerable joy. And so for nothing Antithesis = contrast of ideas are expressed. What the writer receives Is purchased loyalty and trust Very little equality between servant and employer. And the unquestioning obedience “simplicity” implies nothing out of the ordinary about the item. There’s Oxymoron → Realization Of the earth’s most rare simplicity. nothing about the item to make it stand out &distinguish it as “Rare”. So for nothing The destruction of a world. Loss of pride and destruction of social classes as they learn to accept and expect less. Specifically the servant’s world – they are now trapped in their employers obedience/ trust/loyalty. Last 2 lines slow everything down. The speaker gained this loyalty and trust from nothing. The item was so valueless, but the servant gave the speaker so much trust. Speaker can’t understand how something so little created so much happiness. STRUCTURE: A social commentary on the different classes of South Africa (protest poetry) • • 1 Stanza → Even though everyone is from different social classes, we are all one (united) Free verse rhyme = her response + joy can’t be contained. SYMBOLISM: The thing being thrown away stands for power/being in a position of control/superiority.