Chainsaw Versus the Pampas Grass - Poem analysis

Question 1

Who is ‘Chainsaw Versus the Pampas Grass’ by?

Answer 1

Simon Armitage

Question 2

What does the poem explore?

Answer 2

It considers the relationship between man made, physical objects with nature an the natural world, specifically using the symbolism of a chainsaw to show man’s interaction.

Question 3

Who is Simon Armitage?

Answer 3

Armitage is a Yorkshire-born poet whose early work was often very personal, but over the years his writing style has progression to more often reflect broader societal ideas and issues, as shown in ‘Chainsaw Versus the Pampas Grass’ and its consideration of power and masculinity.

Question 4

Analyse the title. “Chainsaw Versus the Pampas Grass”

Answer 4

• The title of the poem makes the focus very clear, helping to immediately encourage a reader to consider both a “Chainsaw” and “Pampas Grass” and in turn the contrasts between them.
• The use of ‘versus’ helps to add more interest to what would otherwise be an arguably ‘plain’ title, because it indicates that there is going to be comparison, or even some form of battle between the two.
• This helps a reader to recognise the theme of power in the power, and also helps to ensure that this perspective is key from the beginning of the poem, rather than being one that is developed over time.

Question 5

Analyse the structure. (Variation in the line length)

Answer 5

• The 8 stanzas in this poem do not follow a particularly strong pattern.
• Variation in line length - inconsistency could cause confusion for the reader, particularly when coupled with the variation in stanza length.
  The mix of line lengths could also be seen as representing the destructive mature of the chainsaw and it’s reckless and unrestricted power in turn damaging the destroying the structure of the poem, making it look more uneven and fragmented.

Question 6

Analyse the structure. (Enjambment/End-stopped lines)

Answer 6

• NO enjambment between the lines - each one contained within its own section with end-stopped lines.
• In some ways this could be seen as the control of humanity over natural form and structure with unnatural barriers, with some readers perhaps considering the difference in the poem if there were free-flowing stanzas with less end-stopped lines: an arguably more ‘fluid’ and ‘natural’ structure.

Question 7

Analyse the structure. (conversational structure)

Answer 7

• Throughout the poem there is also a conversational structure with a mix of short and long sentences, a generally informal tone with phrases such as “knocked back” and a range in punctuation all combining to create this effect.
• For example - ellipsis in “spider’s wool…” creates an extended pause, whereas the regular use of hyphens further break up the structure of the poem.
• This is likely to be highly effective for the reader if read aloud beacuse it would further enphasise these pauses and breaks in the natural rhythm of speech.

Question 8

Analyse poetic techniques. (Personification)

Answer 8

• Personification - “grinding its teeth” and “it knocked back”.
• These descriptions helped to make the object seem more formidable through the combination of the existing qualities of a chainsaw with the added ability and power of humans.
• Therefore, this could be interpreted as showing a representation of humans and their destruction of the environment.

Question 9

Analyse the poetic techniques. (Sibilance)

Answer 9

• Sibilance - through its connotation of snakes and danger, makes the reader feel wary of the chainsaw and the potential of danger and destruction.
• The inclusion of “juices” on the line adds a natural element linking to death of animals and habitat or even the idea of something carnivorous and hungry.
• Ideas also become more apparent due to the repeated use of certain sounds in the poem such as “felt”, “flesh” and “flare” occurring repeatedly towards the end of the third stanza, which can sound like the humming of an engine, further evoking ideas of power an human machinery.

Question 10

Analyse the poetic techniques (Powerful and dominant language)

Answer 10

• Powerful and dominant language - used consistently with the plosive sound on “dismissed” helping to reinforce this idea, and link to masculine strength.
• Surprisingly these descriptions are not constrained to just the chainsaw, but also to the pampas grass with lines such as “its twelve-foot spears” indicating an overlooked ability of the grass and by extension the natural world, to defend itself.