2. Adrienne Rich American Woman Active feminist From the 1960âs onwards wrote many poems about womenâs role in society, racism, and the Vietnam War Father encouraged her to write Felt unfulfilled due to conflicting roles/ambitions (poet & mother)
3. Title Amends = Reparation Putting things right Improvement Forgiveness
4. Stanza 1 Nights like this: on the cold apple-bough A white star, then another Exploding out of the bark: On the ground, moonlight picking at small stones ânightslikethisâ = Merchant of Venice, Act 5 The moon shines bright: in such a night as this, When the sweet wind did gently kiss the trees, And they did make no noise, in such a night, Troilus methinks mounted the Troyan walls, And sigh'd his soul toward the Grecian tents, Where Cressid lay that night.
5. Stanza 1 Nights like this: on the cold apple-bough A white star, then another Exploding out of the bark: On the ground, moonlight picking at small stones âcoldâ = Atmosphere Night Harsh âwhite starâ = Night Blossoms/moonlight âthen anotherâ = Keeps happening Many blossoms/light beams
6. Stanza 1 Nights like this: on the cold apple-bough A white star, then another Exploding out of the bark: On the ground, moonlight picking at small stones âexplodingâ = Violent Incongruous Loud Harsh âmoonlight pickingâ = 1st mention Personification Reflecting off some stones more than others âsmall stonesâ = âZoomed inâ Small range of view
7. Stanza 1 Nights like this: on the cold apple-bough A white star, then another Exploding out of the bark: On the ground, moonlight picking at small stones Mood = Busy No rhyming Colons = Itemise/list progression Sky Tree Ground
8. Stanza 2 As it picks at greater stones, as it rises with the surf Laying its cheek for moments on the sand As it licks the broken ledge, as it flows up the cliffs As it flicks across the tracks âGreater Stonesâ = âZoomed outâ ârises with surfâ = Reflects Transparent effect Bobbing âlaying its cheekâ = Relaxing Touch Femininity
9. Stanza 2 As it picks at greater stones, as it rises with the surf Laying its cheek for moments on the sand As it licks the broken ledge, as it flows up the cliffs As it flicks across the tracks âmomentsâ = Longer than picking Sand more than stones âsandâ = Relaxation âlicksâ = Semi-appeal to taste Femininity (caring, motherly figure) âbrokenâ = Confirms motherly nature Moonlight trying to make amends
10. Stanza 2 As it picks at greater stones, as it rises with the surf Laying its cheek for moments on the sand As it licks the broken ledge, as it flows up the cliffs As it flicks across the tracks âflows up the cliffsâ = Water Lots of reflection Cliffs common near beaches Uncontrolled Relaxed, calm (no violent language) âflicksâ = Little reflection âtracksâ = Common near beaches Relaxing environments Nature
11. Stanza 2 As it picks at greater stones, as it rises with the surf Laying its cheek for moments on the sand As it licks the broken ledge, as it flows up the cliffs As it flicks across the tracks âpicksâ, âlicksâ, âflicksâ = Rhyme Light touches Femininity Mood & Rhythm = Relaxed Calm
12. Stanza 3 As it unavailing pours into the gash Of the sand-and-gravel quarry As it leans across the hangared fuselage Of the crop-dusting plane âunavailingâ = Pointless Too weak Continuously âpoursâ = Lots of light âgashâ = Wound in nature
13. Stanza 3 As it unavailing pours into the gash Of the sand-and-gravel quarry As it leans across the hangared fuselage Of the crop-dusting plane âquarryâ = Links to gash Destruction of nature Too weak Continuously âleansâ = Reflection off plane Lack of balance
14. Stanza 3 As it unavailing pours into the gash Of the sand-and-gravel quarry As it leans across the hangared fuselage Of the crop-dusting plane âhangared fuselageâ = Body of plane Plane âsleepingâ Links to âsleepersâ âcrop-dustingâ = Poisons (insecticides etc.) Damage nature
15. Stanza 4 As it soaks through cracks into the trailers Tremulous with sleep As it dwells upon the eyelids of the sleepers As if to make amends âsoaksâ = Saturated in light Gathering more energy Like water âcracksâ = Light is ever-present Cannot be destroyed âtrailersâ = Caravans Poor people
16. Stanza 4 As it soaks through cracks into the trailers Tremulous with sleep As it dwells upon the eyelids of the sleepers As if to make amends âtremulousâ = People are afraid Contrasts with the moon âdwellsâ = Gentle word Protecting the âsleepersâ âas if to make amendsâ = Uncertain why Inanimateness of the moon Light comforts the âsleepersâ
17. WholePoem No full stops (periods)= Continuous âitâ = Moonlight Reader forgets âitâ is the moon Constant use of âasâ = Adds to the itemising affect caused by the colons in stanza 1 Provides a source of animation for the light
18. Themes Femininity versus masculinity The destruction of nature by man The relationship between humanity and the environment The powerlessness of nature to retaliate against manâs actions
19. Essay Questions How does Adrienne Rich describe the environment to present a theme in the poem Amends? How is femininity expressed in the poem Amends by Adrienne Rich? What figurative techniques are used to help express Adrienne Rich's opinions of the moon in the poem Amends?
