A WOMAN IN FRONT OF A BANK

THESIS

William Carlos Williams uses this ballad to

interpret what the world metaphorically is and what

it revolves around.

STRUCTURE

The poem is a ballad (Narrative poem with 4 lined stanzas).

Very precise punctuation just like a bank would be with money.

Only two periods throughout the whole poem.

Internal Rhyme (Stanza 1 ‘convention, unlike invention)

Syntax

Incremental repetition (End of Stanza 2 and beginning of

Stanza 3)

LANGUAGE

Analysis- through the whole poem Mr. Williams

analyzes the bank and the woman somewhat

comparing them both.

Extended Metaphor (Woman maybe a metaphor

for…)

Irony (Unconventional use of a period by the word

convention)

Juxtaposition of Bank/Woman and Lenin/Darwin

“Solid as a rock” People unsure about their

investments

STYLE

Tone- Sarcastic

Satire

Allusion (Darwin and Lenin)

DARWIN/LENIN

Vladimir Lenin was know for his socialist economic

policies.

Darwin constructed the theory of “survival of the

fittest” that came from Natural Selection.

Williams wanted to compare the economy, by using

Lenin as an example, and life, by using Darwin as an

example.

This adds emphasis to how the world is revolved

around money.

SOUND

Rhyme

Alliteration “L”

Sound of Syllables (They count down)

INTERPRETATION

The world revolves around money. That is how

society sees you is by your income. By what you

wear, look like, and what you can spend. We as

people metaphorically speaking are walking banks.

Also that the world is just self hallucination of

sturdiness and strength. When in reality the world is

doubtfulness and weakness.

INTERPRETATION

Williams compares both a bank and a woman. As a

woman can bare child, one can invest their money. A

child has the potential to be something great and do

something great in the world, money can flourish and

also has the potential to do something great.

The woman’s body is symbolism as the bank

structure itself.

ACTIVITY

You have found $10,000 and you are going to keep

it all. You’re going shopping do you keep the style

you have now? Or do you move to the Gucci, Louise,

and Prada? Why?

You have two job offerings; one for a job that pays

$600,000 a year but all you will be doing something

you hate repetitively and the other that pays $62,000

a year but it is something you love to do. You have a

day to choose. Which do you pick? Why?