Deconstruction of Poems

Enter without so much as knocking:

Context

Language

This poem is about how many children never truly

find their true identity as from a young age it is
already shaped for them through influences such as
parents, media and simply expectations. It is showing
how people often go through the motions of life but
never truly find their true identity; they know they
havent found it but feel as if they never can due to
the constructs built up by society. Each stanza deals
with a different problem within the personas life, as it
goes through the life of the person. The desire to
conform is strong we sacrifice our identity in order
to fit in. We are taught what to value; in this case it is
capitalism/ consumerism. Life is a search for
meaningful identity.
Repetition: blink, blink, hello, hello, hello,
Onomatopoeia: beep
Simile: like kids at the circus who never go quite
close enough to the elephants to get kicked
suggesting that children are free and innocent and
full of curiosity but if they step out of the
constructions of society they get kicked.
Hyperbole: one economy-size Mum.
First stanza:
Enter without so much as knocking: speaks of the
rudeness and the way in which we simply enter the
world without any warning and we simply get pushed
into it.
Caesura: deliberately creates pauses and rhythm.
The birth of this child is as if it is mechanical,
predicting the boring and constructed life of the
child.
Bobby Dazzler: the child should be hearing the
mothers voice first and not the radio.
Ellipsis: shift in time
Diction: set-up, acquainted, well-equipped, his life is
set up for him already and he simply has to slip into
his already constructed role.
One economy- size Mum, one Anthony SquiresCoolstream-Summerweight Dad, along with two other
kids: allusion
Second Stanza:
Everywhere you go there are s capitalised orders,
Dawe is being satirical. The constant use of the work
BEEP shows that the mother is not a very good role
model.
Third Stanza:
For the first time the persona enjoys something,
which is nature, once again Dawe talks about how
everything is so constructed in mass that we have to

Structure

get past the controlling of the world to get past the

fake society (the screen).
He likes the stars because it is scattered and has no
order.
Stanza Four:
Begins very casually, dismisses the moment where
he looks at the stars (any pleasure), become
miserable because we are unable to fully express
ourselves. Money has also taken over our faith.
Well thanks for a lovely evening Clare, its good to
get away from it all: having an affair, with no
feelings or meaning simply sexual gratification.
Stanza Five:
Punctuation suggests that there is a tragic ending.
Stanza Six:
The persona has died in the car accident, there is no
emotions or morning, it is just a visage, even in
death he is still constructed and it is very
mechanical. There is a lot of allusion to theoretical
aspects.
Last half of stanza he is finally free more
confinements and restrictions and he is able to finally
be himself, he does not get old but rather dies in his
prime.
Stanza seven and eight:
Cyclical structure, he is blinking and passes away, he
is like a machine which is constant throughout the
entire poem.
There is a cyclical structure as the poem begins with
the line blink, blink. HOSPITAL. SILENCE and
concludes with blink, blink. CEMETRY. Silence. This
structure allows the audience to fully grasp the
context of the poem as it reinforces how mechanical
the world can be and the struggle many people face
to express their identities.

Summary:
Within this poem Dawe explores the theme of identity, in
particular evolving identity. Beginning with the title Enter
without so much as knocking, we are introduced to what
feels like an abrupt and rude poem, and from the first line
the intention Dawe had was to portray the mechanical
world that we will in. A thing such as birth has gone from
chaotic and wild to silent and machine-driven, just as
many childrens Identities. This poem has a strong
emphasis on the idea that from a young age our identities
are shaped for us by outside influences. We never truly
discover our true identities as the desire to conform

becomes prevalent and takes priority as we sacrifice our

identity in order to fit in.
Dawe uses a number of language devices and techniques
in order to successfully cast his theme of identity onto the
reader. The use of Caesura deliberately creates pauses
and rhythm in the first line of the first stanza and puts
emphasize on the birth of this child. It gives the
impression as if mechanical, predicting the boring and
constructed life of the child. The reference to Bobby
Dazzler reinforces the fact that children are treated as
machines. The child should be hearing the mothers voice
first and not the radio. The use of Diction, set-up,
acquainted, well equipped illustrates that his life is set up
for him already and he simply has to slip into his already
constructed role. Although Dawe uses many literary
devices, it is not essential that each one is discussed
indiscriminately as many dont directly add to or helps
develop the overall message of the poem. Those that are
relevant to identity however should be explored; this is as
they provide the reader with further knowledge on the
theme and stipulates a greater depth of understanding.
The devices, which Dawe has used led me to this view of
true identity as each technique used drew attention to the
problem of missing identity. Throughout the entire poem
the reader is able to view the constructs that society
places on children, though in particular the use of caesura
and the cyclical structure of the poem. Caesura helps to
create pauses and incorporates emphasise on the specific
words such as LEFT. NO PARKING. WAIT HERE. NO
SMOKINGWATCH OUT FOR THAT as well as craft and
portray the mechanical world which identity searching
children have to grow up in.
Concluding, Dawe was successful in portraying his dispute
view on the lack of true identity within the society we live
in. However I only agree with it to a certain extent,
although children are somewhat influences by adults,
media and society, we are not completely powerless with
a lack of empathy as the poem dictates. Everyone is able
to make their own choices on the person, who they would
like to be, and in todays society majority of humanity
respect the identity that you choose to possess.

For the Duration:

Title:
Context

Ambiguity
The metaphor is one of imprisonment. It is an
incomplete thought or phrase creating more
questions than answers. Allows the poem to apply to
many situation where is a sense of
disempowerment/entrapment.
Stanza 1:
Who is the we? Literally the prisoners however
metaphorically it is society or human kind.
The first stanza sets up the allusion and metaphor to
imprisonment with the lines the barbed- wire
present, the search light gaze
There is a lack of movement- the symbol of the
searchlight suggests anxiety and fears as the light
traps us. Where we are now, where we have been,
where we will end our days
Stanza 2/3:
Irony= the men are thankful at last for the guards
welcoming us back to the compound
This is as they prisoners want to go out and explore
the world however they are happy that they dont
have to face the struggles that come with it.
They are in a state of comfort and they want to
change but the prospect of change is too frightening.
In stanza 3 we learn that the plan of an escape is
enough- the ideology and dream of leaving suffices
but when it comes to acting, the drive is lost.
As they go over their plan they realise that it is
human to make mistake, the bets that they can hope
for is that they stuff up the escape to indicate that
they are still human. To err is human
Stanza 4:
The word commandant is suggestive of P.O.W camp
or about camp for WW2. These camps showcased the
worst of human nature- he uses these historical
allusions to showcase that we would rather endure
the hardest of hardships rather than use our freedom
due to the fear of the unknown; we would rather be
within the comforts of what we know. The alternative
is much scarier than the unknown. Disloyal human
kindness is paradoxical, this commander is
particularly brutal as he is very controlling and
vicious, however they come willingly back.
Stanza 6:
It is always like this- a sense of the repetitive and
monotony.
Incongruence- the men need to feed their desire,
tone becomes too casual and flippant in for home

and the kids..

Suggests that the men need to find a reason to
leave. Time as a powerful motif- past present and
future collapse into one- equally out of phase. They
have no sense of time, as their lives remain the
same, nothing ever changes.
Stanza 7:
Further irony as they hold onto languages (words.
Individuality_ in case they get to go home. Home is
italicized to show that it is aspirational or perhaps too
far off or utopic it is not tangible or real it is
outside of the realm of their existence.
Stanza 9:
BUT- draws the persona back AGAIN to the prison and
away from thoughts of home. Rhetoric- how can we
deny the present that holds us fast for good or for ill?
Inescapable/ powerlessness. Note the antithesis of
for good or for ill the men cant make a decision,
they are confused and have no autonomy.
Verbs- squint, shrug, dozing, drifting, grinning
images of insanity, loss of humanity, automaton, no
emotions. Have become insensible. They are no
longer living but rather just alive.
Stanza 10:
Resignation: we are not we are not But
Repetition- here we are. Here we will end our days.
Little hope of escape so there is acceptance.

Language Simile: Like the scraps of foreign languages we still

hoard and And the future being as distant again as

they were
Rhyme

Structure

A regular rhyming pattern with 10 stanzas consisting

of 4 lines each. The first 2 lines of the first stanza
begin with where and the last stanzas first 2 lines
begin with We. Once again reinforcing that the
battlefield no longer becomes just a place but
becomes a home.

REFLECTION:
Who or what is to be endured?
Within this poem, Dawe literally speaks of the men
becoming trapped within a prison as the fear of escaping
overpowers their thoughts. They would rather endure the
terrible circumstances of a terrible commandant whom is
vicious and malicious than face the struggles, which follow
with the unknown that freedom holds. Metaphorically
Dawe is referring to people within society, some never
truly express their true identities. We would rather endure

the pressures and constraints of society than express

ourselves and risk the judgement that comes with it.
Enduring the state of fear and anxiety and never perusing
anything that we really want, constantly sitting on the
fence. For some a struggle becomes normal, it becomes so
familiar that it is no longer a struggle but just apart of life.
Who or what is the commandant/ soldier/ gun/ wire?
Literally, they show that the men are imprisoned and
these things are used show control. Metaphorically, fear,
stereotypes, governments, laws, expectations and
constant need to conform control us.
What things can make us prisoner and experience
inertia?
The fear of failure or enduring pain, a sense of familiarity
restricts us from change. The fear of judgement or power,
also not knowing how to do it, lost in direction. We get a
sense of that with men as they have a plan but
continuously go over and over it until they find a fault.
What comment is made on modern society and the
post war period?
It traps us and stops us from having any hope, we are a
pessimistic society. The modern world is nihilistic there is
no hope to change. They accept and enjoy their own
powerlessness.
What is the impact of this world on the identities
conveyed here?
Life-Cycle:
Life cycle talks about children growing up in a family
Context
of football barrackers. How being brought up in a
family of football supporters encourages and enforces
the passion of football. That from the moment the
child is born and through out their life, until death
these people love football because of their up
bringing. It talks about how these families influence
their children so much that the football almost
becomes a religion, where the football grounds are the
church. This poem talks about how from a very young
age we are taught how to talk, walk and act; hence
forming a major part of our identity. It also talks about
how we can become one of the crowd so to speak
that is we can belong to a group and no longer be
identified as individuals but as a whole therefore
destroying what others see as out individuality but not
necessarily out identity.
1) The impact of the external on the personal
identity- how much choice do we really have
2) The Australian/ national identity

Languag
e

Hyperbole: Carn, they cry. Carn

Pun: Ah, hes a little tiger! (And they are) and
wrapped, wrapt and going up the ladder into Heaven
Metaphor: Hes a little tiger
Simile: they are like innocent monsters
Oxymoron: innocent monsters
Alliteration: Pies and potato Crips and passion
persisting
Gently mocking the value, which Australians place
upon the national sport of AFL.
The use of satire
The poem is a satirical look at the effects of national
obsessions on the individual identity
The tone and effect is similar to Enter, Dae
exaggerates the effects of these national past time by
having the poem span an entire life from birth to
death.
To get a feel for what Dawe is talking about the
images he draws upon, watch this advert for the VFL
which Fox sports recently remade the advertise the
AFL.
the reckless proposal after the one-point win. The
wedding and honeymoon after the grand final.
Images:
The images in the poem are either contrasted or
exaggerated to represent those allusions to gods and
biblical/ mythical figures that we recognise as having a
great contribution to the civilised worlds
Mythical monsters are likened to young children: They
are like innocent monsters
Voice of God is like the roar of crowd: like the voice of
God booms from the stands
Maize god is associated with the phrase chicken
smallhorn: chicken smallhorn returns like the maizegod
Resurrection is explored by the arrival of the
Eaglehawk: having seen in the six- foot recruit from
Eaglehawk their hope of salvation
Colour:
The club colours are constantly referred to or hinted at
in phrases like
-Beribboned
-Scarf of light
-Rippling like streamers
The colours are also associated with restriction- there
is little choice in life as the team (identity) is
determined from birth.
Sound/ Onomatopoeia:
Barracking, carn, carn.. Corruption of Come on.
pure flood of soundvoice, like the voice of God
booms from the stands oh you budger. Exaggeration

Structur
e

of the importance of the cheering crowd.

Elderly still loyally crying Cam..(if feebly) until the
very end cycle of the poem represents a life cycle
that is limited to barracking for a sporting team.
Parallels: Religion and Christian
Allusions:
Tigers- Richmond
Demons- Melbourne
Saints- St.Kilda
Lions- Collingwood
Names of the teams are given their literal meaning in
the poem however, to show how much a part of
normal life these names have become. Everyone
knows that if you say on of these names, the FIRST
thought is of AFL and the literal meaning is last.
Parody and Bathos
Parody of: rituals of life; Reckless proposal after the
one point win.
Anzac Ode: Undercut by triviality of rivalry between
Victoria and Northern states, suggesting an
affectionate send0 up. He is not suggesting the ANZAC
ode is not important but puts them, gently and
humorously on the same level=Bathos to mock the
status supporters gives the sports/teams.
Clichs
Language of football:
The home team, the wind advantage, the final team,
the boundary fence, the stand, the ladder, the grand
final.
Exaggerated language:
Use of lofty and grand language that seems to suit the
bible or Shakespearean texts- again to mock the
status given to the sports and teams- hot pies and
potato crisps they will eat is reminiscent of the style
of the bible and, the tides of life is an allusion to
Shakespeare- again Bathos
Title:
A life cycle is a series of event from life to death along
with all of the challenges that comes with it, the title
connotation is saying that the cycle of sport love is
continuous with the rebirth of a new child, however
Dawe is using this as a satire.
This poem has 11 stanzas consisting of 3 lines each
with no rhyming structure.

Satire Cont.
Bruce Dawe loves Australian Rules and so gently mocks
and satirises its followers whose passion has taken over
their lives.

Sport is not glorious; it is enjoyable but not something in

which our whole lives should revolve around.

Americanised:
The poem is trying to say that Australia is a young
Context

Language

country and America is the mother figure to

Australia, it is the country that Australia looks to for
advice or help. It fits in with the theme identity as
Australias identity is being taken over by American
consumerism; therefore Australia is loosing its
identity as it follows America in the post war era.
Australia is losing its identity in order to belong, in
a way, to America. This poem is written in third
person narration from an Australian childs
perspective referring to America as she. As the
poem is in third person we are only able to
experience the emotions from the childs
perspective essentially making it bias. It
emphasizes how the mother imposes on the child.
Just as America is imposes on Australia. Dawe is
trying to show how easily the American culture can
influence the Australian, it shows how easily we
accepted the American culture and by using the
childs perspective this fact becomes highlighted.
Dawe uses the extended metaphor of mother and
daughter to show that even this most basic human
relationship has been perverted by the consumer
culture.
Onomatopoeia: Shoosh shoosh
Ellipsis: of the punctuation creates pauses and
tension, slowing down the poem to really give off
the sense that something is not right as it the
tension builds.
Alliteration: fat friendly features suggests
comfort and warmth and as she is large it shows
that she beams across the table and influences the
child. Plastic pot to show that the child is
powerless before her strength.
Rhetorical question: what child of simple origins
could want more?
And mummys things! What could compare with
that? Rhetorical questions are often asked when
the readers already know the answer, in this case
Dawe used it to show that the child does not leave
the audience room for interpretation but rather
answers the rhetorical question. This is as the child
is in a way trying to convince himself that his
mothers things are all he needs.

Structure

Imagery: consumerism imagery, food imagery to

highlight the American lifestyle and to show how
the Australian culture is adapting to it.
lets in fear at last to beat with bats wings through
the velvet room shows that even though he is
comfortable in the soft velvet room he is being
suffocated by the thick material. It is nightmarish
and gothic, the point, which the child realises that
the mother is not the caring figure, that he thought.
Metaphor: Dawe uses an extended metaphor the
mother is America and the child represented a
younger, developing nation, which is slowly being
imbued with American value systems.
Tense:
Diction:
He uses words such as gloom and darkness near the
end of the poem to show a shift in the poem. The
word beam is strong and direct, almost like a
searchlight. It is inescapable and confronting.
Cultural Allusions:
The references to Pepsi and spam, the laminex table
tops. All cultural things in found in America
Rhythm and Rhyme:
No rhyme until the end of the poem, it increases the
pace and speed of the poem as the child realised
that the mother is not such a great role model. Slow
poem with the use of ellipsis.
Punctuation:
Creates doubt and tension. She love him makes
the reader question.
Mood:
There is a sinister tone; there is facade of good
intention but deep down its evil. Mood of anxiety,
the unnatural control that the mother has over the
child.
This poem has 12 stanzas consisting of 3 lines each
with no consistent rhyming pattern. However a
rhyming scheme becomes apart in the last 4
stanzas. This is due to the fact that at the beginning
of the poem, the child (Australia) is oblivious to the
consumerism of the mother but as the poem
progresses the child becomes aware of this as the
poem becomes more structured through
incorporating a rhyming scheme. The structure is
slow and short showing that it is very childish and
nave.
The structure takes the reader on a journey

Why did he write this poem?

Dawe thinks that the Australian culture is easily consumed
and they are often nave. He is mocking up, but with good

intention as he is trying to warn us. The poem is

persuasive in its power and the anxiety that it makes us
feel about the relationship. He finds that America is
controlling and demanding, America makes the world
seem like children whom have to be nursed back to
health. Even the title sounds as if something which is done
to you or a state, which you are in Americanised.
Reaction to the poem, makes us question the relationship,
which we have with America, we are able to relate to the
poem through the extended metaphor, Australia is
dependent on America for protection such as a mother
protects a child.
To what extent are our identities fragile and open
to challenges?
Conforming becomes a major contributor as we long to
imitate and feel a part of something, especially when
unsure of our own identity and culture. To a great extent,
Dawe portrays this concept in his poem Americanised
through the use of an extended metaphor. This poetic
device allows the reader to relate Dawes idea that the
young country Australia is being consumed by America in
the post war era, by presenting this alliance between the
countries as a Mother and child relationship. The reader is
thus able to comprehend the extend to which Australia
lost their cultural identity as America became like a
Mother figure, nursing, protecting and essentially leading
Australia towards an Americanised society. Significantly
Dawes use of imagery reveals the true extent to which
the Australian culture is being consumed. Exemplified
through the line used in stanza 11 lets in fear at last to
beat with bats wings through the velvet room Dawes
intention for this line was to create a visual image that
although America might seem soft like velvet, in reality
they are simply suffocating Australia with its thick
material. Moreover the alliteration of beat with bats is a
successful sound device that reinforces the harsh and
forceful actions taken by America. The word connotations
associated with are gothic and nightmarish, it enables the
audience to fully comprehend Dawes intention with
regards to the shift in the childs perspective of the
mother as the realisation kicks in that they are being
stripped of their identity. Likewise the use of ellipsis

throughout the entirety of the poem creates pauses builds

tension, it slows down the poem as it makes it evident the
control, which the mother has over the childs identity. For
example the continuous use of She loves him creates
doubt and tension, we as the reader are able to sense that
something is not right, however the child still seems naive
and oblivious as their identity becomes Americanised.

Homo Suburbiensis:
This poem is about a man searching for his identity
Context

within the chaos going on in the world. His garden is

metaphorically the world and as seen through the
poems his thoughts are distorted and confused and
he tries to find himself. The title is paradoxical as
homo meaning one and surburbiensis meaning many.
He is saying that even though you are only one
amongst many we are still making a difference. Many
people go through their everyday lives with the
feeling of insignificance, however the speaker gets to
a point in the poem where he stops in his veggie
garden where he is able to stop and reflect

Language Alliteration: smelling the smoke of somebodys

rubbish
Contrast: smoke not sacrifice
Green confusion
Imagery: Dawe uses words such as clumsy,
clatter, confusion which creates a picture of chaos
within the readers mind.
Metaphor: extended metaphor that his garden is
like his mind.
The voice within the poem is in third person, he is
being observed. Shows that this feeling of
insignificance is not only restricted to him but to
humanity.
The 5th Stanza is short as it gives time for the reader
to reflect, it is making a declaration that this is the
worth of the man .
Personification: the pumpkin flourish clumsy
whips and their foliage sprawls to show that they
are like humans, his thoughts begin to sprawl just like
the pumpkin. Hoarse rasping tendrils It emphasizes
the life in the garden, within the garden he is able to
view life as fertile but he does not have that view till
the end, it is ample.

Structure

Onomatopoeia: whispering of traffic clattering of

peoples dishes. It brings him back to the real world.
He contrasts the noises of nature to society.
He lists of the worlds at the end to emphasise that
there is a lot that we can offer to the world.
5 Stanzas with no rhyme. 7 line Octave describing his
physical situation and a 7 line sextet detailing his
spiritual condition. Short stanzas are used right
through the poem in order to create a long lasting
impact in the readers mind and for the meaning of
the poem to stay in their minds.

Themes and Issues

- Explain one view of identity as it is presented in this
poem (refer to the introduction)
- HOW is this view communicated?
- Do you need to discuss all techniques
indiscriminately?
Or just those that are relevant to identity?
- Explain WHY these devices led you to this view of
identity
- Argue- what aspects do you agree with and why?
What do you do disagree with and why?
- Compare- this poem with Homecoming

Compare and Contrast

Life-Cycle + Enter
Similarities
Differences
- Symbolic and Ironic titles
- Both have a cyclical
structure
- Chronological
- Cultural Illusions
- Predetermination

- Tone
Enter is abrupt/ negative
L-C is satirical/ mocking
- Religion
L-C refers to religion
Enter does not