The discardment Flashcards
(25 cards)
Poem Title & Author
“The Discardment” by Douglas Livingstone
Central Theme 1
Environmental degradation and pollution caused by human waste.
Central Theme 2
Humanity’s destructive impact on nature and the irreversible consequences of our actions.
Central Theme 3
Nature’s resilience versus its finite capacity to heal from human damage; a sense of finality.
Poetic Form & Structure
Free verse. No strict rhyme scheme or meter, which contributes to a natural, observational, almost documentary-like tone.
Speaker & Point of View
An omniscient, detached, and observant third-person speaker, describing the scene and reflecting on its implications.
Tone (Overall)
Initially descriptive and objective, transitioning to resigned, melancholic, and cautionary as the poem progresses.
Literary Device: Imagery (Visual)
Vivid descriptions of waste: “rusting hulks,” “broken glass,” “dead wood,” “empty cans,” painting a desolate picture.
Literary Device: Imagery (Tactile/Auditory - implied)
“Slimy things,” “drowning sound,” suggests the unpleasant texture and muffled noises of the discarded waste.
Literary Device: Personification (The Sea)
The sea is personified as acting with “silent patience,” “nursing” and “knitting itself again,” giving it a sense of agency.
Literary Device: Metaphor (The Discardment)
The discarded items are a metaphor for the unwanted by-products of human progress and consumption.
Literary Device: Symbolism (The Sea)
Represents nature’s vastness and enduring power, but also its vulnerability to human impact.
Setting of the poem
A desolate coastline or shoreline where human refuse has been dumped, creating a stark contrast between nature and man-made waste.
What is “The Discardment”?
The act of throwing away, or the accumulation of abandoned human waste and unwanted objects, specifically at the edge of the sea.
“rusting hulks, old cars, / broken glass, dead wood,” – Analysis
A stark, cumulative list of discarded items, emphasizing the sheer volume and variety of human waste.
“empty cans, old cables, slimy things,” – Analysis
Continues the list, adding a sense of decay and unpleasantness, highlighting the impact on the natural environment.
The sea’s initial action: “The sea, with silent patience, / accepts it all” – Analysis
Suggests nature’s vast capacity to absorb human impact, but the “silent patience” hints at its eventual limit or consequence.
“It seems to nurse them for a time” – Analysis
Personifies the sea, ironically portraying it as nurturing the destructive waste rather than rejecting it, highlighting its passive acceptance.
“A million little hands” (line 9) – Analysis
Metaphor for the relentless, microscopic forces of the sea (currents, waves, erosion, marine life) slowly breaking down the refuse.
“begins to knit itself again” (line 12) – Analysis
Metaphor suggesting the sea’s attempt at self-restoration, implying a slow, gradual process of mending and healing.
The significance of the final line: “But nothing that it had will ever be.”
A powerful and poignant statement of irreversibility. While nature may absorb the waste, it will never be the same as it was before the discardment.
Douglas Livingstone’s characteristic style (briefly)
Known for his precise observation of nature, often focusing on the interaction between humans and the natural world, using vivid imagery and philosophical reflection.
The poem’s message about human responsibility
A cautionary tale about humanity’s disregard for the environment and the lasting, damaging legacy of our waste.
The poem’s message about nature’s resilience (and its limits)
Nature has a vast capacity to endure and attempt to heal, but human impact can inflict permanent, irreparable changes.
