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STRUCTURE OF POEM (2)

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Parallels and Oppositions: Part of the poem's sophistication lies in the way it sets up all manner of textual parallels, contrasts, repetitions and inversions. You can detect them by reading the poem attentively several times. They involve the poem's metrical pattern, parallels or oppositions in meaning, sound repetitions and the like. We will only explore some of these. Alliterations: i.e. different words beginning with the same sound: e.g. line 11: Met arbeidt avondwaerts; uw afzijn valt te bang. There are more, and you can easily spot them. Parallels: e.g. lines 5 and 6: Verslockt, verslint, verteert...'/ 'En keert, en wendt, en stort...' Note that each word-group here occupies exactly half a line. Their meaning is very similar, but the images that are evoked are quite different. In the verslockt, verslint, verteert the image is that of swallowing, devouring and digesting. En keert, en wendt, en stort suggest an image of overturning and bringing down. Can you see a parallel between >lines 5 and 10? In line 1 the phrase wackre wiecken staech could be read in two ways (Return to the >working version of the poem if you can't remember). Can you spot a very similar phrase elsewhere in the poem? Click >here. Themes: If you have not already done so, now read about the two main themes in the poem: >love and >time.