by williams carlos williams. the eyeglasses the universality of things draws me toward the candy...
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TRANSCRIPT
“The Eyeglasses”By Williams Carlos Williams
The EyeglassesThe universality of thingsdraws me toward the candywith melon flowers that open
about the edge of refuseproclaiming without accentthe quality of the farmer’s
shoulders and his daughter’saccidental skin, so sweetwith clover and the small
yellow cinquefoil in theparched places. It isthis that engages the favorable
distortion of eyeglassesthat see everything and remainrelated to mathematics-
in the most practical frame ofbrown celluloid made torepresent tortoise shell-
A letter from the man whowants to start a new magazinemade of linen
and he owns a typewriter-July 1, 1922All this is for eyeglasses
to discover. Butthey lie there with the goldearpieces folded down
tranquilly Titicaca-
Williams uses contrasting imagery to
show the difference between the glasses and its observations; this also shows the importance of both to the speaker
Thesis
Examples
Observations
• “melon flowers that open”
• “farmer’s shoulders”• “daughter’s skin”
Glasses
• “in the most practical frame of brown celluloid made to represent tortoise shell”
The speaker sees a lot of great scenes when wearing
his glasses, however he is not wearing them throughout the poem
His observations are also very precious to him
He wouldn't notice these things if he didn’t care
Analysis
Speaker: a person who owns glasses
• a sense of ambiguity because we don’t know if they are a man or a woman
Point of View: Third Person• Unlike some of his other works, it does not have an
internal monologue• By using the owner of the glasses as the speaker, the
reader gets a first-hand account Mood: positive, observant, appreciative Diction: a mix of high and low
• Cinquefoil: five-leaved• Celluloid: a tough, non-flammable thermoplastic• Titicaca: a lake in the Andes on the border of Peru and
Bolivia
Senses: Meaning and Language
Symbols: The glasses• Symbolize his appreciation for the world and for
what they allow him to see Imagery:• Tactile:
- “ daughter’s accidental skin”- “made of linen”
• Very heavy use of visual imagery• Auditory imagery:
- the typewriter
Senses: Imagery and Symbols
The similar number of syllables in each line,
about 6-8, creates unity throughout piece that connects imagery and symbols
There is not a significant use of rhyme
Sound
Very prominent use of enjambment
throughout the poem, extending through stanzas but break off at 5th
End-stopped with dashes in four places• “related to mathematics-”• “represent tortoiseshell-”• “and he owns a typewriter-”• “tranquilly Titicaca”
Structure
The use of juxtaposition by comparing the
natural/organic imagery with the precise/structured imagery is to emphasize the importance of both to the man or woman
The speaker seems to be somewhat in awe of both the glasses themselves and the images they can see with them, leading this poem to be a thoughtful stream of consciousness
Style
July 1, 1922
The actual date provides no significant event in William’s life
However, in 1922, he published which became a literary sensation f overshadowed Williams very different brand poetry
The Date
A lake in the Andes by Peru and Bolivia
Is the largest lake in South America
Peacefulness and tranquility can be reflected in the glasses• Glasses sitting on a table reflect nearby images
on their glass
Lake Titicaca
The imagery used throughout the poem
contrast to emphasize the difference between the glasses and what one can see with them
This poem in particular give the reader a real sense of what the man/woman sees, and what is precious to them
Conclusion
On a sheet of paper, choose and draw
your own representation of a specific scene or image used in the poem
Activity!
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